What’s up everyone!
Today we’re going to go through my updated pros and cons of living in Silver Spring, MD.
Silver Spring is a diverse and lively community located just north of Washington DC. It is known for its urban energy, cultural vibrancy and thriving community spirit.
Silver Spring is huge so depending on where you live in Silver Spring, you could be close to DC or farther out. The closest Silver Spring zip code to DC is 20910 and 20901. As you go higher in number, you go farther out. So 20903 and then 20904 and finally 20905 and 6 is the farthest Silver Spring zip code from DC.
Let’s break down the pros and cons of living in Silver Spring Md for 2023.
Let’s dive right in
Pros:
Location: Silver Spring sits on the southern border of Montgomery County but is only 6.2 miles from the heart of Washington, D.C. and often feels like an extension of the nation’s capital. Silver Spring’s proximity to D.C. provides residents with easy access to a wide range of job opportunities, cultural institutions, and government agencies.
You are also very close to Rockville, Bethesda, Kensington and Chevy Chase and just west of College Park and Laurel. So the location is excellent because you are so close to everything. A lot of people move to Silver Spring if they work in DC but don’t want to live in the city. Commuting to the nation’s capital is relatively quick and convenient.
So let’s talk about the commute.
Downtown Silver Spring has a metro stop on the Red Line for a very easy commute into Washington, D.C., You also have several bus lines which make it super easy to get into the city
That being said, many Silver Spring residents choose to drive to work. The Capital Beltway is just 2 miles south, making it a quick hop into the capital. And you may prefer that since the Silver Spring Metro stop is the second busiest station, serving 60,000 people each day.
For local travel, it’s common to see residents using bike paths and walking trails to get around the area for leisure.
Moving onto Diversity and Inclusivity:
Silver Spring is renowned for its diversity, with a multicultural population and a welcoming atmosphere. Wallethub named Silver Spring the #3rd most ethnically diverse city in the U.S. for 2023. The city embraces different cultures, languages, and backgrounds, creating a vibrant and inclusive community.
One of my favorite things about Silver Spring is its sense of community. Every weekend, they have a farmer’s market where locals gather to support local farmers and artisans. It’s a bustling hub of fresh produce, handmade crafts, and mouthwatering food. Trust me, you won’t leave empty-handed or with an empty stomach!
Silver Spring is not just a place to live; it’s a place to connect. There is a strong sense of community here, and it shows through the various events and festivals we host. Whether it’s the Silver Spring Jazz Festival, the annual Taste the World event, or the local block parties, there’s always something happening to bring people together.
Outdoor Recreation: Silver Spring offers numerous parks and green spaces for residents to enjoy. From the expansive Rock Creek Park to Sligo Creek Park, you have a plethora of choices to picnic, hike, bike, play sports and enjoy other outdoor activities. You also have an ice skating rink in downtown Silver Spring which isn’t huge, but it’s super cute. And like I said, you’re right next to DC, so you can enjoy all of the green spaces and FREE Smithsonian museums that DC has to offer, including the National Zoo!
Walkability: If you choose to live in downtown Silver Spring, you can enjoy a walkability score of 98. The city is known for its pedestrian-friendly environment. Mind you, Silver Spring is huge and downtown is only a small part of it. It’s more expensive to live there, but you do get all the benefits of city living.
Dining and Entertainment: Silver Spring boasts a diverse culinary scene, with more that 150 restaurants offering cuisines from around the world. From family-owned ethnic restaurants to trendy eateries, the dining scene here has something for every palate.
The city is also home to the Fillmore, a popular music venue that hosts local and international artists, providing residents with a vibrant live entertainment scene as well as the AFI Silver theater and cultural center where you can watch classic movies, independent films and documentaries. They also have a Latin American film festival every September.
As far as nightlife, downtown Silver Spring has a lively nightlife scene with numerous bars, lounges and clubs, including some comedy clubs that are super fun.
And as far as Housing is concerned, it’s still expensive to live in Silver Spring compared to the rest of Maryland, but much less expensive than its neighbors Bethesda and Rockville. Silver Spring is one of the older suburbs of DC so you will find a large range of housing and quite frankly a lot more affordable housing in Silver Spring than you would in a more newly developed area.
Let’s move onto the Cons:
Traffic: Like many urban areas, Silver Spring experiences traffic congestion, especially during peak hours. Commuters who rely on cars may face longer commute times and increased frustration due to heavy traffic. In addition to traffic, parking can be challenging. But like I said, you do have the metro- it just depends where you live in Silver Spring to see if it is convenient to take.
High Cost of Living: The cost of living in Silver Spring can be relatively high, particularly in desirable neighborhoods close to downtown. Best places.net gives Silver Spring an overall score of 131 compared to the US average of 100 and the Maryland average of 112. I know that sounds expensive but if you want to live in Montgomery County and be close to D.C., Silver Spring would be the most affordable place to live when it comes to housing.
Crowded Public Spaces: As a densely populated area, public spaces in Silver Spring can become crowded, especially on weekends and during special events. This can result in a lack of personal space and a more bustling environment.
Older neighborhoods: Like I said previously, Silver Spring is one of the older suburbs of D.C. That being said, if you are not into older homes, you will probably not like it very much. There are a few newer developments but not many. Also, the lots tend to be smaller.
Other cons about Silver Spring are just basic cons of living in Maryland- the summers are super hot and humid. And buggy. But the rest of the year is amazing with the other 3 seasons that make up for the humid summers. Well…we do have pretty bad allergies in the spring, esp pollen, but aside from that- it’s amazing!!
Before we wrap this up, I wanted to talk about the safety factor since I know a lot of you ask this in your comments. This is tricky because what I feel is safe may be very different that what you feel is safe. So, what I will do is provide several links to websites that will give you crime data and you can decide for yourself. I have no affiliation with any of these websites so please do your own due diligence.
I hope you got some value out of today’s video. If you are thinking about moving to Silver Spring or anywhere in Montgomery County MD, DC or Northern VA, and you would like our help, just send us an email, we’ll set up a zoom, we’ll get you started.
If you’re trying to decide between Silver Spring and Rockville, check out this next video!