Germantown traces its origins to the early 1800s when German, Scottish and English immigrants developed the area as a farming village. The heavy accents of the locals led the area to be nicknamed “German Town.” In 1891, the area was fully integrated as a rail town along the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, with the construction of Germantown Train Station. However, major development would not reach the city until the early 1960s, when the suburbs started spreading to the counties just outside D.C. Over the past 50 years, the city has grown from a quiet farming community to the third largest city in Maryland behind Baltimore and Columbia. With a current population of a little over 92,000, Germantown has redefined the late 20th-century growth story of Montgomery County. It is located about 25 miles from Washington, D.C, but far enough away that housing prices are more affordable than in suburbs with similar homes inside the Capitol Beltway. The city has a family-friendly vibe that differs notably from the more established neighborhoods closer to the nation’s capital, dispensing with the familiar amenities like country clubs or private schools and instead hosting Maryland SoccerPlex and Butler’s Orchard. Thanks to its history as farmland, post-WWII aerospace and engineering companies built offices here when abundant farmland provided affordable acreage. Today, the area is regarded as a relatively price-competitive place to live within the D.C. metro area. Germantown balances housing, shopping, and abundant employment opportunities within its 17-square-mile limits. Major employers include the U.S. Department of Energy, Hughes Network Systems and GE Aviation Systems.
The Clarksburg Village Shopping Center is a great place for a grocery run or to grab a bite.
The Germantown Train Station is a common choice of travel for commuters.
The Maryland Soccerplex is Germantown's pride and joy.
The US Department of Energy is one of the largest employers in Germantown.
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Competitively priced townhouses, condominiums and single-family homes
Home values here range from $240,000 to around $900,000, varying by square footage and lot size. A variety of two-bedroom condos and colonial-inspired townhouses run the bottom of the range, while larger bi-levels and Colonial Revival single-family homes with spacious suburban lawns are towards the top. “There’s not much buildable land in Germantown anymore,” says Bob Graves, Realtor with Long and Foster Gaithersburg/North Potomac and a real estate agent in Germantown since 1979, “but home sales are strong. If a property is in good shape and priced wisely, it can sell within 10-15 days.” Homes in Germantown sell after an average of 16 days on the market, compared to the national average of 44 days. While buyers can find single-family homes in Germantown subdivisions like Wexford and Milestone, the city has many more townhouses and condominiums. The average sale price for a home in Germantown is around $470,195.
Homebuyers will find rows of Craftsman style homes in planned communities all over Germantown.
Townhomes are plentiful in Germantown and are often located in communities full of amenities.
A charming cottage style home on a manageable lot in western Germantown.
You can even find a few colonial revivals scattered throughout Germantown.
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Miles of Montgomery County parklands
Local student-athletes and soccer fans take full advantage of The Maryland SoccerPlex. The 150-acre sports complex was built in 2000 and offers 21 natural grass soccer fields, three artificial turf fields and eight indoor convertible basketball/volleyball courts. The complex received about $15 million in 2000 from a public-private partnership between the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission and a group of private local donors. A 4,000-seat stadium was built that hosts pro and semi-pro area soccer games. Realtor Nicholas Gerhardt, with Taylor Properties since 2014 and a lifelong Maryland resident, says, “People come from all over Maryland for their kids’ sports events here at the SoccerPlex. I tell my friends with young athletes that at some point during the year, they will be here watching their kids in a game or a tournament.” Another massive outdoor destination is South Germantown Recreational Park with 695 acres that once belonged to the well-known King Dairy Farm. The suburban park offers hiking, biking, miniature golf, swimming, soccer, playgrounds and picnic areas. To the north is Black Hill Regional Park, with a lake for fishing and boating, as well as hiking trails. Further south is Seneca Creek State Park, spreading 6,300 acres through Montgomery County, with several established zones for bow and firearm hunting, hiking and freshwater fishing.
The Maryland Soccerplex is home to many youth and adult soccer programs in Germantown.
The pump track at South Germantown Recreational Park is the perfect place to get some air.
Germantown is full of public piers for fishing and boating.
Children explore Clopper Lake at Seneca Creek State Park in Germantown.
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Highly ranked Montgomery County schools in town
Students in Germantown attend Montgomery County Public Schools, with an overall Niche rating of A, and ranked as the No. 2 best public school district in the state. Seneca Valley High School offers rigorous academics and arts programs within a state-of-the-art building that opened in 2020. Montgomery College is a local community college with three campuses – including one in Germantown – and is ranked the 18th Best Community College in the U.S. and the No. 1 Best Community College in Maryland by Niche.
Welcome to Seneca Creek Elementary School in Germantown, Maryland.
Neelsville Middle School, Germantown, Maryland.
Seneca Valley High School teaches students in grades 9-12 in Germantown.
Montgomery College is a community college with three campuses, with one in Germantown.
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World Class cultural venues and Oktoberfest activities
Black Rock Center for the Arts, officially known as the Germantown Cultural Arts Center, is a hot spot for residents who want to enjoy the visual and performing arts. The most well-attended venue in Upper Montgomery County, it offers year-round performances, free gallery exhibitions and arts education classes. School-age kids can attend summer art camp, while adults can enroll in several education classes. The Music Center at Strathmore is 15 miles south in Rockville and is known for its world-class performances with the National Philharmonic, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, and the Annapolis Symphony Orchestra.
The Germantown Cultural Arts Center has an Artisan Market outdoors, where locals can browse a selection of handmade crafts, from candles to acrylic paintings and jewelry. Montgomery County has annual cultural events like Oktoberfest, though sometimes Germantown hosts them. Neighboring towns like Gaithersburg also hold traditional German festivities every fall.
The Black Rock Center for the Arts is the most visited Art Venue in Germantown.
The Black Rock Center for the Arts holds free seasonal exhibits that in Germantown.
The Strathmore Music Center is just 15 miles away from Germantown, down interstate 270.
Be sure to catch a live show at The Strathmore Music Center, just outside of Germantown.
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Several strip malls and Lancaster County Dutch Market
Milestone Shopping Center offers several big box retailers in its walkable, outdoor location, including Target, Home Depot and Walmart. Germantown Town Center features nearly 30 shops, including Starbucks and Safeway. “Shopping options are limited. We have a few small retail centers, but you won’t find new malls in Germantown. For larger options, locals will often head over to Kentlands in Gaithersburg,” says Gerhardt. “I love the Lancaster County Dutch Market on Wisteria Drive. I try to get there early because it gets packed on weekends, but it’s worth it. The food is awesome.” Lancaster County Dutch Market is an indoor farmers market packed with fresh produce and butcher meat from farmers in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, as well as regionally loved baked goods like Beiler’s Donuts. Another favorite destination is Butler's Orchard, north of town and just off Ridge Road. Seasonal activities include pumpkin and apple picking or purchasing locally grown summer corn. Visitors can also buy Christmas trees, homemade apple cider and freshly baked pies.
Milestone Shopping Center offers all things retail in its walkable location in Germantown.
Families spend quality time at We Art Fun Painting Studio in Germantown Town Center.
A customer purchases fresh made pretzels inside the Lancaster Dutch Market in Germantown.
The Butler's Orchard 44th Annual Pumpkin Festival is a blast for all ages.
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MARC trains, I-270 drives and Metrobus access
Hundreds of commuters in town take the MARC train to D.C. from the Germantown Train Station, which has been rebuilt with a replica of the original station house from the 1890s. Many locals commute to D.C. along Interstate 270, which can take up to an hour, depending on rush hour traffic. Without traffic, the 27-mile trip can take 30-40 minutes. Since the 1980s, the city has added two exits off I-270 to accommodate traffic in and out of Germantown. The closest Metrorail station is Shady Grove Metro, about 9 miles south of Germantown, in Rockville. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport are both less than 50 miles from Germantown. Residents can also fly out of Baltimore-Washington International Airport, about 60 miles north.
The BioHealth Capital Region sources hundreds of life science employers
The I-270 corridor in Montgomery County is the anchor of one the nation’s largest life science work centers, named the BioHealth Capital Region. The county has a high population of residents with postgraduate degrees, which is why it hosts major employers like the National Institutes of Health headquarters, less than 18 miles south of Germantown. Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, the Food and Drug Administration and more than 480 life science companies call the county home too. Gerhardt adds, “Bio labs are going up everywhere in and around Germantown. Locals used to call the I-270 corridor the ‘technology corridor’, but it’s quickly becoming the bio lab corridor as well.” According to Bestplaces.net, the crime rate in Germantown is slightly lower than the national average, both for property and violent crimes. People living in Germantown generally consider the northwest part of the city the safest. Germantown has a generally mild subtropical climate, with winter lows rarely dropping under 25 degrees Fahrenheit and summer highs rarely rising above the mid-90s with high humidity. Snow and rainfall averages are also around the national average.
Just south of Germantown lies the BioHealth Capital Region, one of the largest in the country.
For those in the medical field, the NIH campus is only 20 minutes from Germantown.
The Walter Reed National Medical Center employs many Germantown Residents.
Germantown is just a few miles away from many federal agencies, like the FDA.
Raised in Montgomery County, Alicia is a natural Real Estate Professional. In 1999, she began her career as a receptionist at a Real Estate office and has worked in the profession in a variety of capacities ever since. From a receptionist to an abstractor and as a Licensed Settlement Officer in the title industry for nearly ten years, Alicia knows real estate inside and out. She has been a licensed agent since 2009. Alicia grew up in a large Argentinian family with three sisters and two brothers. Family means everything to her. She and her husband, Andy, and their twin sons live in Derwood with their lovable rescue, Hendrix. When they have spare time, they love the outdoors, spending time with friends and family, and traveling. Alicia loves working with people and helping them achieve their real estate dreams.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
