Flower Hill is commuter and family friendly
Once entirely farmland, Flower Hill slowly developed into one of Gaithersburg’s most sought-after suburbs at the end of the 20th century. Today, the community is home to around 13,700 residents and known for its family friendly atmosphere and commuter convenience. “You drive through here, and see kids playing in front lawns with their neighbors,” says Joe Huff, a Realtor with Long & Foster Real Estate who has sold several homes in the suburb. Locals can walk to Montgomery County Public Schools and vibrant recreation spaces, like the HOA-maintained community pool. Washington, D.C., commuters also have easy access to buses, multiple train stations and Interstate 270.
Houses from the end of the 1980s and ‘90s
Most houses along Flower Hill’s winding, sidewalk-lined roads were built between the 1980s and ‘90s. Styles include Colonial Revivals, New Traditionals and split foyers, often painted in shades of white, beige and grey. Mature oak and maple trees typically shade grass lawns. Houses usually have attached garages and three to five bedrooms. Single-family home prices can range from about $500,000 to around $700,000. The area also has townhouses and condos, typically costing between $170,000 and $465,000, depending on size.
The HOA maintains the pool, community center and park
Residents pay annual HOA fees to live here. Prices vary between condos, detached homes and townhouses, though none surpass $350. The fees cover common space landscaping and help maintain recreation facilities. For instance, the Dolphins swim team regularly practices at the Flower Hill Swim Complex, which has lap lanes, diving boards and a kiddie pool. Locals can rent the complex’s community center for birthday parties and other events. Flower Hill Park offers wide-open green space, tennis courts and a playground. Several basketball courts and pocket parks are sprinkled around the community.
Montgomery County Public Schools are in the community
Flower Hill is served by Montgomery County Public Schools, which earns an A rating from Niche. The district educates around 160,500 students with a 14-to-1 student-teacher ratio. Strawberry Knoll Elementary and Flower Hill Elementary are both in the community, and Huff says kids typically walk to school. “Both schools have crossing guards and crosswalks, so that makes walking really safe.”
Easy access to I-270, the Shady Grove Metro station and buses
Although locals can walk to community recreation spaces and elementary schools, Flower Hill is car-dependent. D.C. is a 25-mile drive south on I-270. The drive can take one to two hours. Huff says locals often drive to the Gaithersburg train station, 2 miles south, to avoid highway traffic. “The train is usually a little more consistent time-wise, compared to the highway.” The station services the Maryland Area Rail Commuter Brunswick Line, typically reaching downtown D.C. in 40 minutes. Commuters can also go to the Shady Grove Metro station, 5 miles south, to hop on the Red Line and reach D.C. in the same amount of time. Montgomery County buses in Flower Hill provide rides to both stations.
The Holy Cross Germantown Hospital, less than 7 miles west, has an emergency department. Dulles International Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport are both about 30 miles away.
Flower Hill also has public parks
Several non-HOA recreation spaces are also in the area. Nike Missile Local Park was once a military defense site during the Cold War. Radars and aircraft are no longer on the 18-acre parcel, but locals will now find sand volleyball courts and baseball diamonds. Picnic shelters, powerboat launches and fishing docks surround the water at Lake Whetstone Park. Hiking trails stretch along a creek and under hardwood forests in the 204-acre Green Farm Conservation Park, which Huff says is a popular place to view planes taking off from the nearby Montgomery County Airpark. “Some people will have picnics at the park and wait for the planes to fly over.” He adds that plane noise isn’t a problem. “The planes are small and infrequent. They never create a disturbance.”
Shopping centers and a longstanding restaurant are here
Industrial facilities and shopping centers with grocery stores and fast-food drive-throughs fill the southeastern part of the community. A few locally owned restaurants are also in the area. Huff says the most popular spot is Gentlemen Jim’s, a cozy sports bar with regular live music and trivia nights. “It’s been in the area since 1971. Everybody in Gaithersburg knows about it.” Locals will find even more big-box grocery stores and nationally known retailers near downtown Gaithersburg, about 4 miles south.
