Niche has released its 2026 rankings of the Best Places to Live in Maryland, with Montgomery County communities taking many of the top spots.
According to Niche, the Best Places to Live ranking is designed to provide a comprehensive assessment of an area’s overall livability. The rankings take into account several key factors, including the quality of local schools, crime rates, housing trends, employment statistics and access to amenities, in an effort to measure the overall quality of an area.
Kensington was ranked #1 in Maryland, followed by South Kensington, North Bethesda, Bethesda and Four Corners. Montgomery County communities accounted for most of the top 25, including Rockville, Takoma Park, Potomac, Cabin John, several Chevy Chase communities, Forest Glen, Somerset and North Kensington.
Niche’s Top 25 Places To Live In Maryland For 2026:
#25 North Kensington
#24 Columbia
#23 Tuscany-Canterbury
#22 Somerset
#21 Forest Glen
#20 Chevy Chase Town
#19 Martin’s Additions
#18 University Park
#17 Chevy Chase Village
#16 Cabin John
#15 Scaggsville
#14 Potomac
#13 Takoma Park
#12 Rockville
#11 Ellicott City
#10 Fulton
#9 Lutherville
#8 Chevy Chase View
#7 Chevy Chase
#6 North Potomac
#5 Four Corners
#4 Bethesda
#3 North Bethesda
#2 South Kensington
#1 Kensington
The full list by Niche, can be seen here.
