Downtown Bethesda
Celebrity chefs and 50-year-old seafood shacks
Downtown is packed with dozens of independent restaurants catering to a high-income, cosmopolitan crowd. Many are recent additions, such as Spanish Diner, which celebrity chef José Andrés opened in 2021. Some are longtime staples, such as the 50-year-old Bethesda Crab House. “Imagine Bethesda being like SoHo or Little Italy in New York, with all these restaurants in a four-block range,” Bacchus says. The Barking Dog headlines the nightlife scene; the pub has hosted live music and poured late-night beers since 2000. Shoppers can walk from one end of Bethesda Row to the other in minutes. The 500-foot-long retail strip features 25 shops operated by brands from Nike to Lululemon. In addition to the boutiques, there are Giant Food supermarket, Trader Joe’s and Strosniders Hardware, which opened in 1953. For entertainment, folks downtown can see a play at Round House Theatre or catch a movie at Landmark Bethesda Row Cinema.Condo living in Downtown Bethesda
Less than 20 years ago, only one condo building stood in Downtown Bethesda. Today there are more than 10, varying from low-rise communities to towers that climb 10 stories into the air. The high-rises often include amenities such as fitness centers, community swimming pools and concierge service. On the edges of downtown, small Cape Cods provide single-family options. Buyers often scoop up these properties, tear down the houses and build larger multimillion-dollar homes on the lots, Bacchus says. One-bedroom condo prices start around $285,000, while a three-bedroom penthouse can fetch $3 million. Single-family home prices are likely to range between $1.5 million and $2.5 million.Sample downtown dishes at Taste of Bethesda
The Bethesda Central Farm Market draws 100 vendors to Bethesda Elementary School property every Sunday. Shoppers can pick up produce and ingredients at the market, but they can sample full dishes during Taste of Bethesda. The annual tasting has been a tradition since 1992, but today there are far more local restaurants to sample.Chevy Chase Club hosts golfers since 1892
Pocket parks are tucked into street corners and between commercial buildings, offering shaded playgrounds and picnic tables where people can take to-go orders from nearby restaurants. There are multiple entry points to the Capital Crescent Trail, an 11-mile trail between Georgetown and Silver Spring that cyclists sometimes use to commute into the district. Locals with memberships can drop by the Jane E. Lawton Community Recreation Center to work out or join a game of volleyball. Chevy Chase Club was founded in 1892, predating Downtown Bethesda by nearly a century. The private 18-hole course is considered one of the best in the state.Local schools get all As from Niche
Children can attend Montgomery County Public Schools, ranked the second-best school district in Maryland by Niche. Kids can start at Bethesda Elementary School and Westland Middle School, each graded an A by Niche. Teens at A-plus-rated Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School can join an internship program that teaches them how to land an internship their senior year and gain real-life career experience. Longstanding private school options in the area include Our Lady of Lourdes School, a Catholic school, and The Bethesda Montessori School. The schools opened in 1941 and 1983 respectively.A Metro station in the neighborhood
Trains can take passengers from the Bethesda Metro Station to the heart of Washington, D.C., in less than 20 minutes. Motorists can drive south on Wisconsin Avenue for less than 2 miles to arrive in the district. Residents are 3 miles from Interstate 495, the beltway surrounding the immediate Washington, D.C., area. “The close proximity is a big seller,” Bacchus adds.


Agents Specializing in this Area
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Darin Rich
RE/MAX Realty Group
(240) 433-5242
105 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Bethesda
$585,000 Price
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Lise Courtney Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties
(240) 702-1290
137 Total Sales
21 in Downtown Bethesda
$370K - $1.1M Price Range
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Stephanie Cooper
RLAH @properties
(202) 883-6205
78 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Bethesda
$1,175,000 Price
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Lee Arrowood
Compass
(301) 701-2681
79 Total Sales
2 in Downtown Bethesda
$3M - $3.2M Price Range
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Bunmi Akinyosoye
Samson Properties
(202) 930-8782
36 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Bethesda
$375,000 Price
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Brent Jackson
TTR Sotheby's International Realty
(855) 918-0477
288 Total Sales
1 in Downtown Bethesda
$3,495,000 Price
Schools
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Transit
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Downtown Bethesda | US |
---|---|---|
Homicide | 3 | 4 |
Sexual Assault | 3 | 4 |
Assault with Weapon | 2 | 4 |
Robbery | 4 | 4 |
Burglary | 4 | 4 |
Motor Vehicle Theft | 4 | 4 |
Larceny | 5 | 4 |
Crime Score | 4 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Downtown Bethesda Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Downtown Bethesda, Bethesda sell after 11 days on the market compared to the national average of 69 days. The median sale price for homes in Downtown Bethesda, Bethesda over the last 12 months is $247,000, down 44% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Housing Trends
Neighborhood Facts
Open Houses
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Saturday, Jul 261 - 3pm
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Saturday, Jul 2612 - 2pm
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Sunday, Jul 271 - 3pm
Distribution of Home Values
Homes for Sale
Homes for Rent
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, an experienced agent in this neighborhood.Average Home Value
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Finances
Education and Workforce
Weather
Area Factors
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
Good Transit
Transit Score®
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
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