Rockville
Overview
Rockville, Maryland is located a short distance from Washington, D.C. and is centrally located in Montgomery County, sharing a border with Gaithersburg and Bethesda. Rockville is an excellent choice for future homeowners looking for a robust sense of community and culture.
Real Estate
Rockville has a population of over 61,000 residents residing in over 17,000 homes spread out nicely throughout nineteen neighborhoods. These lucky residents have benefited from appreciation rates that have exceeded the national average. Over the past year home values have appreciated at or just above the national average. Even better, over the past ten years appreciation rates have exceeded 77%, which is well above the national average. These homes were constructed primarily from the 1940s to 1960s and the 1970s to the 1990s. There are a wide variety of housing options including, capes, ranches and townhouses. Rockville's nineteen neighborhoods are primarily located in attractive suburban settings, with a few slightly more urban locations.
Education
The Montgomery County Public School District serves the residents of Rockville. Local students have the ability to attend one of four public high schools: Thomas S. Wotton High School, Richard Montgomery High School, Rockville High School or Colonel Zadok A. Magruder High School. Graduates of these schools receive a suburb education. Richard Montgomery has won recognition as one of the best high schools in Maryland and has been recognized by Newsweek Magazine as the 11th best high school in America. Wotton has also been recognized by Newsweek Magazine as the 17th best high school in all of America. Overall, Montgomery County students consistently outscore their peers throughout Maryland in both math and reading. Students also have the ability to attend any one of the nationally recognized private schools throughout Montgomery County. Rockville is also home to several institutions of higher learning: Montgomery College, University of Maryland University College, Johns Hopkins University and the Universities at Shady Grove.
Shop and Dine
Rockville is a major retail hub, featuring several retail shopping centers. Together King Farm Village Center, Westfield Montgomery, Aspen Hill Shopping Center, Congressional Plaza, and Federal Plaza offer Rockville residents hundreds of retail options. Rockville also offers a vibrant and ever-expanding town center. The town center allows residents to explore a number of retail stores such as Cloud 9, Eco Detail, and Pomegranate & Co. There are also a wide variety of dining options available throughout Rockville, including Carbon Peruvian Chicken Grille, Gorden Biersch, Sushi Damo, and American Tap Room.
Culture
The Rockville community prides itself for the varied cultural opportunities afforded to its residents. Rockville features the Glenville Mansion Art Gallery, with new exhibits displayed yearly, along with a student art exhibit. Rockville has also made it possible for art exhibits to come directly to patrons. Since 1978, the Art in Public Places program has placed paintings, sculptures and other artistic pieces throughout Rockville. This program has helped to enrich the Rockville culture and has created a unique identity for the town.
Rockville also offers several options for your listening pleasure: the Rockville Civic Ballet, the Rockville Chorus, and the Rockville Concert Band. The Glenville Mansion offers a Sunday morning concert series and each year Rockville sponsors "Rockin' the City" a free concert featuring local musicians and bands.
Recreation
Rockville offers a multitude of activities to suit every Rockville resident. Rockville provides a number of biking trails, hiking trails, and community parks. Can't decide what to do? Luckily, Rockville offers one of the most expansive and stimulating civic centers in the Washington, D.C. metro region. The Rockville Civic Center Park features a number of amenities, certain to keep you and your family entertained for years. The Civic Center consists of 153 acres with 2 playgrounds, 4 tennis courts, picnic tables, gardens, trails, climbing gyms and wildlife sanctuaries. In true Rockville fashion, the park also serves as a showcase for an expansive sculpture garden. The Civic Center is also the location of the Glenview Mansion, the Groydon Creek Nature Center, and the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater, whose namesake was known for frequently visiting and staying in Rockville.
Business
Rockville is located along the Interstate 270 Technology Corridor, which makes Rockville an ideal location for businesses to set up their headquarters. Currently, the largest employers in Rockville include: Westat, Human Genome Services, Wolpoff & Abramson, Booz Allen Hamilton, Lockheed Martin, BioReliance, and Banner Life.
Transportation
Rockville is easily accessible by car, rail, or bus. Interstate 270 runs through Rockville and the greater Montgomery County, allowing for a quick commute to Washington, D.C. or neighboring towns. If you prefer to travel using public transportation, the metro red line is accessible via the Rockville Metro Station and the Twinbrook Metro Station. Rockville is also served by the MARC commuter rail, which allows for an expedited trip to downtown Washington, D.C. Metro Bus and the Montgomery County Ride-On also offer several routes throughout Rockville. For longer commutes and trips, Amtrak also services Rockville.
