Gaithersburg, Maryland

Gaithersburg is a city of about 61,000 people 27 miles northwest of Washington, D.C. It's along the Interstate 270 corridor past Rockville to the south. Commutes into D.C. are rough from any suburb, and it will be about a two hour one from Gaithersburg. You might want to strongly consider public transportation options, such as the Washington Metro and the WMTA metrobus, and MARC commuter rail.

Gaithersburg is very diverse and fairly affluent, with about 55% of its population White, 20% Hispanic, 14% Black, 14% Asian, and good mix of others, a high percentage of which were not born in the U.S. (about 34%). Montomery County, of which Gaithersburg is the largest city, is fairly affluent, with an average household income of about $60,000, and an average family income of about $70,000.

It's a highly developed area, as are most communities within a couple of hours drive of D.C., and it has a number of its own companies and industries, including software development, telecommunications, and biotechnology. Of course, just as the urban development spreads out from the U.S. capital, so does the money. A lot of these companies are government contractors and subcontractors. There are also a number of government agencies with their headquarters in Gaithersburg, such as the FDA, NIH, and NOAA. Parts of Gaithersburg remain very family friendly and green.

Apartments and Neighborhoods in Gaithersburg

Rental choices are fairly spread out in Gaithersburg, but the majority of them are near highway 270. Montgomery Club Townhouses on Water Street and Londonderry Apartments on Downing are both very close to 270. Grove Park Apartments and Orchard Pond, both on Clopper Road, are near Seneca Creek State Park. You have a number of other options to choose from.

Things to Do in Gaithersburg

Gaithersburg's city council fights to maintain a good balance with nature amidst the D.C. urban sprawl. It has more than 522 acres of parkland, including Seneca Creek State Park, which includes hiking and biking trails, canoe and kayak rental, playgrounds, equestrian trails, fishing and cross-country skiing in winter months. During the warmer months, City Hall Pavilion has free concerts and other entertainment.

Speaking of which, to celebrate the Christmas season in Gaithersburg, take a drive through Winter Lights, a holiday light display 3.5 miles long. There are many other special events throughout the year. Gaithersburg maintains an old town center, and the Celebrate Gaithersburg in Olde Towne Street Festival gathers everyone there once a year for eating, appreciating arts and crafts, and enjoying family entertainment.