Best Places to Live and Launch 2008: No. 5, Bethesda, Md.
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Diggyou have to have a salary around $150K to be able to enjoy Bethesda.
I have been offered a job in Bethesda but know it is very expensive. Is there a location nearby or a few metro stops away that is nice to live? Cheaper? Access to outdoor activities? Thank you.
As a Navy vet, I’m quite familiar with Bethesda; one of my progeny was born at the National Naval Medical Center. But the cost of living there is horrendous. Better to live in Howard County, about 15-20 miles north of the Beltway.
so glad you like Bethesda! Having only lived here for 4 years, I agree! Its a great place for kids, families, singles, the young and the old!
We have great green space, so close to DC, great arts, restaurants, great facilities, and the public schools are the top!
The funniest things about all these comments are that the insulting ones all come from people who don’t actually live in Bethesda. I live five minutes away from Bethesda and havn’t found much wrng with it or the people that live there. It’s not perfect, but no city is. The traffic may be bad but no worse then other cities.
If Bethesda is number five then that’s bad news for everybody not in the top four. First of all, Maryland, in general, is not business friendly. Montgomery County is one of the least business friendly counties in Maryland. They may offer some incentives to tech companies, but the benefits far from outweigh the costs. The traffic and business congestion in Bethesda and the surrounding areas are terrible.
There is an educated work force in Bethesda, but you’ll pay for it. And if you were to set up shop ten miles south (in Northern Virginia) then you would have a lot less problems with labor unions.
I would recommend not trying to set up shop in Bethesda.
I lived in DC area all my life. DC is very upper class and image city, if you are blue collar or uneduated immigrant, I would not come to the DC area. You have many upper class blacks, but they live in Prince George’s County. DC suburbs are very WASP do not get fool by this international city, the intrenational residents are rich and are dips, they are more American than Joe the Plumber. DC is hard city to live because of traffic, but DC area is very rich area, with very few poor communities, the areas they ghettos like in Washington, DC would be consider middle class communities in New York City. DC is too rich, too snobby, too WASP.
Lived in Bethesda in 1994-1996 and absolutely hated it. Couldn’t wait to get back to the wide west states. Yuck!
Bethesda is a slice of the underworld. Think DC but worse. If New York City took down the planet financially – Bethesda was its backbone.
Bethesda is extremely congested business-wise, plus the people’s republic of Maryland is about as business un-friendly as you can get.
Are you all kidding me!! Bethesda is the best.. those of you that dont like.. are either poor, stupid, ignorant, uneducated , and don’t deserve to live in Bethesda. you guys should go live in Harlem if you want cheap living… fricken sore loosers
Bethesda is very 10 years ago. The startup companies, the incubators mentioned in the article(!), the young people, and the creative workers are in Downtown Silver Spring and Downtown Rockville. Bethesda has real estate agents, mortgage firms, and old money.
To start a business maybe, but not to live. I lived in the DC area for 7 yrs and Bethesda is VERY costly.
Bethesda is a great place to meet thousands of illegal immigrants.
Bethesda is a great area if you don’t have to drive – i.e. if you’re willing to walk and take metro. I feel it is more “civilized” then Virginia. However, it is extremely expensive, not just in the housing, but the costs of most goods and services. For example, we found child care much more expensive here than in DC.
Housing prices are astronomical! Most homes for $700k would be tear downs in any other city on your list. Anything approaching acceptability is about $1.5 million. For what?! Bethesda has some charm, but as a resident of four years originally from Michigan, it’s OVER-rated! Ann Arbor, Michigan is a far better place. Bethesda residents tend to be snooty and they drive like maniacs with no regard for kids or pedestrians. Restaurants are the chain variety and very AVERAGE and expensive. I have since moved to North Bethesda where you get double the apartment space for less money. Downtown Rockville is also more laid-back. As for Maryland: Try renewing your driver’s license at the state MVA: it takes ALL DAY! Bethesda is a southern town that got big but never really grew in its services sophistication. Bethesda can keep its million dollar ugly ramblers, I suggest folks take their money and energy elsewhere!
I live very close to Bethesda and have invested in companies in and around Bethesda. It has many great restaurants, but the tax burden in Montgomery County is outrageous. The county adds a kicker of 50% to the state’s tax. They put obstacles into company formation, hiring, firing and living that no other county or state around here imposes.
Finally, the parking situation is awful but the ticketing for unpaid meters is near instantaneour.
Bethesda is in one of the most desired cities in the USA, a new renovation has the attractive art deco design with beige , green , rose tones.
Large maple trees, and beautiful landscaping, with an ever changing array of flowers. The district is spot less. NIH, Navy Medical, Metro.
Bethesda has many parks such as , Norwood Park, which has public tennis courts, a basket ball court, 3 baseball diamonds, a soccer field, 3 children’s play grounds, and a beautiful walking trail through beautiful trees. This walking trail connects to the C and O canal trail which runs all the way to Georgetown, DC.
Three blocks away there is a great outdoor pool.
With-in 2 miles ,or one stop on the redline metro is Saks, Tiffany’s, Steinmart, Felines’ basement, Cheesecake Factory, Niemen Marcus, and Macys.
Cultural events for free, Art feast, A taste of Bethesda, we have 239 restaurants, 2 movie theaters, live theater @ Round House Theater, Strathmore Concert Hall, The Kennedy Center has a shuttle from the metro.
You can walk everywhere, with Metro redline you don’t even need a car. You could rent a car once or twice a year if going out of town. A CVS across the street, Safeway, Giant, US Post Office, hardware store, library, Barnes and Noble, and Bruce’s Variety store ;it’s like a old fashion dime store, The Women’s Farmers Market carries, fresh vegetables, fruits, flowers, jams and is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays. A flea market is there on those days along with Sundays. All within 2 to 3 short blocks. There is a Whole Foods about 1 mile away.
The Montgomery County Public School system is the best Public school system in the country. Diversity and Special needs were addressed hear since 1976. The education is above and beyond
because of the rigorous standards, advanced placement classes.
We have the world renowned Montgomery College,157 different countries are attending the 3 campus’s. They have teachers whom also teach at Maryland, Georgetown, George Washington U, Trinity. Same syllabus, textbooks. And this is about 30% of what the area offers. Metro takes you to the Zoo, Smithsonian, Library of Congress, and the Kennedy Center has a shuttle from the metro stop to the Kennedy Center.


14 years ago the renovation began with a 200 k Japenese sculpture of a little Apple, hanging over the Metro. That is exactly what it has become pure choas. I went to BCC High School in 1979. Every quant wonderful thing has been
torn down and iradicated.
I am a bit possesive considering,my great grandfather, grandfather, and father built From Hyattsville Md., Takoma Park,Silver Spring, Chevy Chase, and Bethesda. The concept was one of Villages, a grocer, a pharmacy, a library, and a post office. With huge maple trees and many parks and open spaces brick houses for those family’s who wanted a home and yard for their kids to play in. The Vision was helping familys attain their dream on a tight budget. It was seen as a service to the community, and the moral thing to do. My father always said 30% profit was fair, anything more and your corrupt and a thief. My Dad in the 60’s built small ramblers for 12 K, andafter every settlement we went to Anchor Inn for seafood.
Now 2008 only 3% of Bethesda residents were even born in Montgomery County, Maryland. The migration from NY has been increadable. 93% of homeowners are Lawyers. Lot’s of lidigation,no one cares about rules, layouts, or the heritage of this wonderful place. No I liked it before people run you over in the cross walk as if you are in NY City. What was brought with them is 157 restraunts, pedestrian deaths,
the change in ethics, and values is astounding, and demanding I want it yesterday beratement.Of all people from the Post Office to the CVS. That was the whole point of living here for over 100 years, to live in a friendly, kinder envirement. For the first time ever etiquette is being taught here in Bethesda. Obviously having a 2 million dollor home and money does not eqaute with having any class.sp.
I have lived, played, worked, and eaten and educated children in Bethesda for nearly 40 years.
I love it.
I live in Rockville, the next town up the road from Bethesda, and although not very less expensive than B’town, it’s got a new town center, and an old town section full of Victorian era houses that give it a charm that Bethesda lacks.
Maryland should be renamed the Peoples Republic of Maryland. It’s like a communist country up here. I commute everyday from Tysons Corner Virginia and it is HELL. I cannot wait to get a new job in Virginia or DC.
I lived in the DC area for six years and went to Bethesda often. It is a great place to go for dinner, shopping, the movies, outdoor festivals, etc. The parking is free on Sundays so that is a great day to go. However, to start a business there you would have to be a millionaire. It is VERY expensive and if you are middle-class there is no way in hell you could afford to live near your business or job in Bethesda. You would drive an hour or two just to get to work. I wanted to buy a small condo there but the condo fees alone are $700-$1,000 a month and that’s not even counting the mortgage. One-bedroom condos are $500,000 and up.
I grew up in Bethesda. Years ago, Bethesda was one of the best kept secrets of the Washington DC area. Now its just too expensive, too crowded and just plain too snobby. Whether living there or starting up a new business there are better places to live, work and play for the money.
Bethesda…I don’t think so. Housing cost through the roof, traffic…unless you like sitting in it, not a good place for you. I’ve lived here all my life and I’m 42 I’ve worked in Bethesda and there are more cons than pros. Think again before moveing there.
Personally, I like Washington, D.C. and Montgomery County, Maryland and as a Realtor, I service both [not to mention Northern Va. as well.]
Nevertheless, while I like Bethesda, Montgomery County generally returns some of the lowest verdicts in civil actions in Maryland and in Medical Malpractice cases, defense verdicts are commonplace — not so in Washington, D.C.
I work in Betheda and love it. But it is VERY expensive and I cannot imagine wanting to start a new business here. There is an educated group of people here – but there is an element of snobbery and disregard for one another that comes with that. Location is good and the economic ups and downs are neutralized here. I love it – but cannot figure out how in the world it got on this list (apparently there is some new tax on businesses and I hear many ARE, in fact, moving to NOVA.
Don’t forget one advantage of Bethesda (and one reason rents and such are so high) is the usual economic ups and downs don’t apply as much. Many people are federal works or have jobs dependent on the federal government (consulting, etc). This is one of the reasons living costs are so high, owners know most people have decent stable incomes. On the other hand it also means your potential customers have decent stable incomes. Whether this outweighs the negatives I don’t know, just thought I would point out that its probably the one city on this list least affected by economic downturns. A business here could thrive even in an economic recession.
Easy access??? You must be kidding. The only thing Bethesda has easy access to is Bethesda. Because everything else requires that you get on the road. And that variable is completely unpredictable no matter what time of the day you’re traveling.
Stay away from the entire DC area. It’s very expensive and very hard living. I make a decent income and it’s still hard to get by.
Bethesda, like Maryland, is not a good place to start a company or launch a career. The past county executive, Doug Duncan, mismanaged the local government resources. Maryland’s Department of Economic Development is very disorganized and does nothing to help companies get started, which is why Virginia has more companies that Maryland. Add to this recipe that Bethesda has horrible traffic, poor roads, incompetent local police and is awash with federal government employees taking 2 hour lunches a day and the end result is that you are broke and very frustrated.
If you move into Bethesda then you should bring a piggy bank…’cause that’s what you would need..’cause all that you would be left with is cents and dimes..good luck..
If you love high taxes, illegals bleeding the system, sky high rents and idiots running the local government MOVE RIGHT IN!
Maryland is a bleeding quasi-socialist TAX HELL! Be warned and stay away!!!
Bethesda is an amazing place to live and work. I used to live and work in the area. It is definitely very expensive, so your start up business should have lot of capital to spare. Not ideal for a 1st time entrepreneur, maybe your 2nd or 3rd business when you have built up capital.
I work in Bethesda. It’s a very nice area, but you better be bringing in the bucks to afford the rent. In addition, workers will demand a much higher salary to compensate for the high cost of living.
Bethesda is one of the most expensive areas in the already expensive DC metropolitan area for rentals, the state of Maryland and Montgomery county have one of the highest tax rates in the nation, the traffic there is a nightmare and parking is expensive and nearly impossible to find. I don’t think it’s a good place to start a business at all unless the business is a restaurant.
I heartily disagree with the saying that Bethesda is a great place for a startup business (especially for an IT business)…With the extraordinarily high taxes, high real estate costs and unfriendly legislation (which drives most of the IT business to Virginia). I incorporated in Virginia and I have been working (consulting) at businesses in the Bethesda, Chevy Chase area. I live in Chevy Chase, and I pay an additional $8000 a year in State/County taxes for this “privilege”.) New legislation is very damaging to those in IT or consulting businesses… please look into this before you believe what you read that the biggest “con” is the traffic (actually traffic aint half bad).
As a Montgomery County native and current DC resident, I may be biased but I could not imagine a better place for a young entrepreneur than Bethesda, MD. It is filled with the D.C. overflow of young professionals with money to spend, in turn, benefiting local businesses.
The “Mini-D.C.” label has been attached to Bethesda with good reason. Bethesda has all of the benefits of living in the city, such as restaurants, bars, culture, without many of the negatives, such as higher crime rates, poverty rates, and taxes.
Although a nice place, Bethesda is far too costly for what it offers. Rents for a new apartment are consistent with Manhattan prices, while puboic transportation in the DC Metro area is often not sufficient to warrant not having a car. Additionally, salaries in the area are not consistent with salaries paid in NYC, making the high cost of living even more challenging.
I have to agree with the pro that was listed for Bethesda but you seem to be a little out of touch with reality on the con (I agree with you on the traffic aspect–495 can be a nightmare). However, how can say that cons for Bellevue, WA (your #1 place to live and start a business) are pricey homes and high cost of living but neglect to mention these for Bethesda? It’s a great city (I lived there and worked there for 3 years), but there are much better cities with just as talented a labor pool but without the high cost of living and horrendous traffic–many of which made your top 100!
Bethesda is a great place for a start-up. My mother started a business there and has been at it for more than twenty years now.
Have you found the town supportive of local businesses?
Have you been able to find good workers here?
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Great Place to live, and great place to be! Yes the cost of living is very high, but you can access anything in the DC metropolitian area! there are plenty of apartment buildings near the metro. take your pick. ps i love the blackfinn bar!