Pros
1- Beautiful and Peaceful: Potomac is known for its picturesque landscapes, lush greenery, and elegant homes. Driving around Potomac makes for a great afternoon. Just to look at all of the big gorgeous homes with their incredible yards. It really is one of the most beautiful places to live.
2- Location: Potomac is located right outside of Washington DC and right across the river from Virginia so you have easy access to both. You’re also only 15 minutes from both Bethesda & Rockville so you can take advantage of all of the job opportunities, cultural events and entertainment options of all of these places.
3- Schools: The public and private schools in Potomac are very highly rated. Niche.com gives Winston Churchill, the high School that most of Potomac goes to, an A+ rating and Great schools.org gives Churchill a 9 out of 10 for College readiness. You also have Bullis, St Andrew’s and the McLean School if you prefer to go private. But, as I always say, schools are very personal, so definitely check them out for yourself to see if it’s a good fit.
4- Sports: To piggy back off of schools, sports in Potomac are very strong. Whether you’re into lacrosse, soccer, football, field hockey or more, Potomac will have you covered. You can pretty much guarantee that there will be some sport on the weekends whether you enjoy playing them or watching them, it’s always a lot of fun. I grew up here and we used to love going to the Friday night football games when I was in high school and now I see my kids doing the same. So if you’re looking for a community that loves sports, Potomac is a great choice.
5- Arts: But, if you prefer the art scene, Potomac offers you the Glenstone museum which integrates art, architecture and nature into a serene, beautiful environment. They have these outdoor sculptures installed throughout the grounds that bloom at different times. They are super cool. And they offer different art exhibits throughout the year so def check it out. And like I said, you’re only about 20 minutes from the DC border, so you can take advantage of all of the Smithsonian museums DC has to offer.
6-Small Town Feel: Even with the affluence that comes with living in Potomac, it still has a small town feel to it. Our Mecca shopping center is Potomac Village with 2 gourmet grocery shops, a family owned hardware store, the bigger grocery stores and gas stations and some restaurants and bars.
Hunters Inn, a local joint in Potomac village has been there since 1978 and really feels like a bar where you will run into your neighbors. My mom loves going there for happy hour! Their fries are really good too!
7- Parks & Rec: There are so many amazing parks in Potomac. My favorite is Great Falls National Park and the Billy Goat Trail which offers stunning views of the Potomac river and fun hikes and rocks to climb on. You also have Cabin John Regional Park which has hiking and biking trails, picnic areas, playgrounds and sports fields. It also has a popular ice skating rink, tennis courts, and a nature center.
8- More land: If you are looking for a house with more land, Potomac is a great choice. The lots tend to be bigger than Bethesda and Rockville. In fact, you can find a lot of homes that are situated on 2 acres or even more in Potomac. For the same price, in Bethesda you will get an older house with a smaller backyard and in Potomac you will get the 2 car garage and more space.
9- Weather: All 4 seasons. Cherry Blossoms. Azaleas. Snow.
Cons
1- Expensive. Best places.net gives Potomac a score of 192 compared to US average of 100 and for housing a score of 371 compared to 100.
2- No metro
3- Commute/Traffic. Not as close as Bethesda to DC. Rush hour is bad
4- Weather- Hot humid summers snow school closes
5- Limited dining & entertainment. You will find more to do in Bethesda and DC than Potomac.
6- Allergies- High pollen counts
7- With the largest lots does come upkeep.