About
Silver Spring was named for a spring that seemed to sparkle from specks of mica that gave the water a glittery luminescence. The spring is now dry, but the city has resurged from a drought of its own and is now a thriving DC suburb with urban amenities. Department stores and retailers flocked to the area in the mid-20th century, but when they decamped and moved away from downtown in the 1980s the future seemed dreary. However, Silver Spring leaders persevered and in the last 20 years a resurgence of dynamic shopping options, eclectic restaurants, and a community-focused arts and entertainment district have helped put Silver Spring back on the map.
The Metrorail’s Red Line services the area with a transportation hub in Silver Spring. The MARC train stops here as well as multiple local and Metrobus routes. The abundance of housing and new developments located near the Silver Spring Metro Station is very attractive for those commuting into the city. In most other suburbs, you’ll need to supplement your transit in some way to get to and from the Metro station, but in Silver Spring a wide array of transit options are virtually at your doorstep.
Silver Spring is located just north of the District’s apex, and lies along the northernmost segment of the 495 Beltway. Walter Reed is the most ideal commute from this suburb, but getting on the Metro to the other DC area installations can be an option.
Neighbors
The affordable prices and mix of modest houses and apartments make Silver Spring an accessible and diverse place to call home. Silver Spring boasts a dynamic community that is welcoming and extremely family friendly. Like most other DC suburbs, your neighbors will work in every conceivable corner of the DC, Maryland, and Virginia region.
Neighborhood Feel
On the outer edges of Downtown, you’ll see 1920s era bungalows and colonials set back on large, green lawns. There is a wide selection of mostly single family homes at fairly affordable prices. Most homes have been lovingly restored and are markedly unpretentious. Many new condo and apartment buildings with retail and luxury amenities are available downtown. There is also an abundance of older buildings with tired facades, but most have undergone extensive interior renovations, so don’t judge a book by its cover!
