Fortune annually releases a list ranking some of the best places for people to live in the U.S. This year, Silver Spring climbed its way up to the top and earned the bronze medal.
To create this list, Fortune says they evaluated nearly 1,900 cities, towns, suburbs, exurbs, villages, and townships that had approximately 20,000 residents across all 50 states in the U.S. Each place was reviewed with more than 200,000 unique data points across five categories of education, aging resources, general wellness, financial health, and livability.
Per Fortune’s section on Silver Spring:
Located just six miles north of Washington, D.C., Silver Spring residents can enjoy proximity to the nation’s capital without sacrificing the charm of smaller-town life.
While locals can easily commute to D.C. for work or pleasure via public transit options like the Washington Metro or MARC Train, Silver Spring offers plenty to do within its bounds. The suburb prides itself as the site of a state-designated arts and entertainment district, and has worked to woo artists, arts organizations, and other creative companies. It’s home to more than 50 arts and humanities associations, art venues, and entertainment firms.
The city’s downtown area and adjacent Fenton Village neighborhood offer residents a plethora of stores, restaurants, spas, markets, and studios—more than 200 small businesses overall—to peruse. The town also plays host to a range of festivals, including the Silver Spring Jazz Festival, which draws 20,000 visitors a year.
Part of the reason families enjoy Silver Spring is the quality education available within its bounds. GreatSchools gave 42% of local Montgomery County public schools an above-average rating, and nearly nine in 10 students complete high school here.
This is not the first time a Montgomery County city has made it on this list. Last year, Gaithersburg was ranked at 7th, boasting its vast cultural diversity and celebrated community programming.
More information about Fortune’s section on Silver Spring can be found here, and the methodology behind the list selections can be found here.
