Gaithersburg’s history stretches back to 1765 when it was a small agricultural village called Log Town. Over the years, it would be defined by its proximity to the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and the “Great Road West,” now known as Frederick Avenue, where General George Washington marched with his troops between Frederick, Maryland and Georgetown. What remains of the 18th-century town square is still preserved as Olde Towne Plaza, with the city’s MARC train station and several small shops. Neighborhoods encircle The National Institute of Standards and Technology at the city's center, while most shopping and retail dot along the two major thoroughfares running east to west through Gaithersburg. What was once vast swaths of farmland has now been paved over for developments with an expansion of over 4,000 businesses, becoming a magnet for tech companies. Along Interstate 270 is the BioHealth Capital Region, the nickname for Montgomery County’s hub of life science employers like the National Institutes of Health and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
Gaithersburg has a population of roughly 69,000 people. The city grew by nearly 10,000 new residents from 2010 to 2020 and has developed into an urbanized suburb for D.C.-area workers with popular shopping centers like Rio. At the same time, the city has kept elements of Gaithersburg’s original buildings and history. Shopping destinations and proximity to jobs in town and in nearby Washington have attracted a varied mix of new residents. “It is one of the most diverse, if not the No. 1 most diverse, city in the U.S. People from all walks of life live in Gaithersburg,” says Juan Umanzor, a real estate agent with Long and Foster Real Estate and a 28-year native of Montgomery County. A 2023 study by WalletHub listed Gaithersburg as the most diverse small city in the U.S., specifically by socioeconomic, religious and cultural backgrounds.
The MARC Train will get you where you need to go from West Virginia to D.C. in Gaithersburg.
Olde Towne Plaza, blends both modern conveniences and historic charm in Gaithersburg.
Walter Reed National Military Medical Center employs employees in Gaithersburg.
Kentlands boasts several shopping centers within the boundaries of the neighborhood.
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Bohrer Park for play, and annual festivals in Gaithersburg
The streets of Gaithersburg are populated with permanent art installations and statues, all concentrated within and around the centralized downtown. Arts on the Green hosts various live music performances each year, including the Gaithersburg Chorus, which showcases talented locals who perform various musical styles in homegrown concerts. In addition, the theater at the Arts Barn hosts comedies, musicals, dramas and magic shows. The city also has four galleries that exhibit rotating works by regional artists. Engaging and family-friendly events throughout the year include Oktoberfest in the Kentlands neighborhood, a Winter Lights Festival at Seneca Creek State Park, the Jubilation Day Gospel Concert and others. “A lot goes on in Montgomery County fairgrounds, centrally located in Gaithersburg,” Umanzor adds. The Montgomery County Agricultural Fair is hosted in August on fairgrounds beside Interstate 270 and the Gaithersburg Square shopping mall. The fair brings carnival rides and snack vendors and is a popular family-friendly event.
Bohrer Park is home to Gaithersburg’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture, as well as the city’s oldest building: an early 1800s log smokehouse. The 45,000-square-foot Activity Center features two gymnasiums, three multi-purpose rooms and a fitness center. This tree-lined green space is also home to a miniature golf course, water park and skate park. Seneca Creek State Park offers 6,300 acres of forest and farmland, providing ample opportunity for hunting, hiking and freshwater fishing. Gaithersburg residents can get outside most of the year, and they're used to a humid summer climate with highs around 92 degrees, while winter lows dip into the mid-20s.
Explore the miles of trails in Seneca Creek State Park.
Kids can romp and play at Bohrer Park in Gaithersburg.
The Bohrer Park Activity Center offers indoor and outdoor activities in Gaithersburg.
Main Street Farmers Market happens every Saturday from 9am -1pm in Kentlands.
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Locals dine at Rio or Kentlands Market Square
Restaurants cluster along the major roadways of Interstate 270 and Frederick Avenue, also called Maryland Route 355. “There’s such a diverse food culture here,” says Philip Piantone, a Gaithersburg local and Long and Foster real estate agent with 20 years of experience in the greater D.C. area. “Right across from my office, there are Peruvian, Middle Eastern, Indian and Japanese restaurants.” Mexican and Nuevo Latino cuisines are particularly popular. Residents can purchase locally grown produce and artisan-made goods at Casey Farmers Market and the Main Street Famers Market, the latter open year-round. Located at 136 Boardwalk Place, The Rio Washingtonian Center offers lakeside views, shopping, restaurants, a carousel, a playground, a movie theater and a pond with paddle boats. Locals can order fajitas and margaritas at Uncle Julio’s, a Tex-Mex chain, or get tortas and burrito bowls at Taco Bar El Guero, both at Rio. Folks can also shop at the Kentlands Market Square, the central retail district in the Kentlands neighborhood, featuring over 50 retailers and diners. The Kentlands was built in 1987 and designed to resemble a central D.C. neighborhood on what used to be a 352-acre farm belonging to Otis Beale Kent.
Kentlands has dining options like Shake Shack and many others.
Chill with a coffee and some food at the Brew House in Kentlands.
Dog Haus Biergarten is a trendy burger and hot dog spot in Kentlands.
Guapo's Restaurant will treat you like family in Rio neighborhood.
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A variety of suburban homes in Gaithersburg
Umanzor says, “Gaithersburg is on the newer side of Montgomery County, and the variety of homes are colonials, ramblers, split foyers and split levels. [There are also] Tudor homes and a variety of townhouses and condos.” Within a competitive housing market, homes, sell after an average of 17 days compared to the national average of 41 days. “There is a scarcity in the market due to the volume of people moving here,” Piantone says. “Housing prices have increased due to a lack of inventory.” From March 2023 to March 2024, the average home sale price was roughly $570,000, but home values in Gaithersburg range from $190,000 to well over $1.3 million, varying by square footage and lot size. Buyers can find contemporary-style one- and two-bedroom condos at the low end of the price range or traditional, Craftsman and colonial-style mansions with four or more bedrooms toward the top. Prices differ depending on the neighborhood. Homes in Washingtonian Woods tend to sell on the higher end, ranging from $700,000 to $1.1 million, whereas homes in Shady Grove tend to go for between $350,000 and $550,000.
Large brick colonial home in Kentlands.
Charming rancher style home in Gaithersburg.
Large craftsman home on a quiet street in Gaithersburg.
Townhomes with ample street parking for guests can be found in Shady Grove.
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Things to know
Gaithersburg’s violent and property crime rates run lower than the national average. According to Bestplaces.net, Gaithersburg's violent crime rate is 18.9 incidents per 1,000 residents, compared to the national average of 22.7. The city’s property crime rate is 28.9 incidents per 1,000 residents, compared to the national average of 35.4 incidents per 1,000 residents. According to Gaithersburg’s annual crime analysis reports, the rate of property crime from 2017 to 2021 has steadily gone down, but violent crime has fluctuated up and down each year.
Ranked the second-best school district in Maryland
The Montgomery County Public Schools serves Gaithersburg, earning an A on Niche and ranking No. 2 among the best school districts in Maryland. Renowned for its rigorous curriculum, Montgomery County offers a range of academic programs such as Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, magnet, Career and Technical Education and special language. There are also several high-ranking private schools to choose from, such as Covenant Life School, Church Of The Redeemer Christian School and Rise Hybrid Private Academy.
The Gaithersburg Elementary School is one of the county's most highly top-rated schools.
Gaithersburg Middle School in Montgomery County.
Gaithersburg High School in serves teens in grades 9-12 in Gaithersburg, MD.
Covenant Life School is a private school in Outlying Montgomery County.
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Travel in and around Gaithersburg
Gaithersburg Train Station is a stop on the MARC Brunswick Line, as the trains run from Martinsville, West Virginia or Frederick, Maryland, all the way down to Washington, D.C. Local transit includes Montgomery County Ride On buses along the city’s main roads. Residents can also board trains at the Shady Grove Metro station in Rockville, which offers Red Line access through D.C. and Maryland. Major thoroughfares include Interstate 270 and Maryland Route 355, also called Frederick Avenue. Interstate 370 provides a highway route through the southeastern portion of Gaithersburg. For domestic and international flights, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is 28 miles south, and Washington Dulles International Airport is 30 miles to the southwest.
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