What it's like to live in Rockville
Rockville is a smaller city in Maryland with household incomes running above the national average, crime rates well below the national average, air quality that stays clean most of the year, and a highly educated workforce. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Rockville deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, and commute times longer than most cities.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Low crime rates
- Clean air
- Highly educated workforce
- Average class sizes
- Public transit that many commuters use
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Above-average commute times
How Rockville compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Rockville
Based on Rockville's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$4,548
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $90,960 a year
- 49% of Rockville renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$136,460
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $68,230
- Homes cost 5.3× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 61% above US
$2,274/mo median rent
Rent is expensive here, at $2,274 a month median and well above the national average. This is the kind of city where housing costs deserve serious budgeting before committing to a move. Home prices are steep, with a median around $682,300. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $682,300 · 49% of renters cost-burdened
Job market▼ 12% below US
3.8% unemployment
Unemployment here is 3.8%, close to the national average of 4.3%.
City-level (BLS)
Safety▼ 67% below US
108 violent crimes per 100k
Pretty safe, all things considered. Violent crime sits below the national average, nothing alarming, just ordinary city-life awareness.
Property crime 1267/100k · Rockville Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 18% above US
31 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 30.7 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 5 in 10 workers drive to work; 10% take public transit; 33% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 85°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 29°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Healthcare
1 hospital
There's one Medicare-certified hospital inside city limits, rated 2.0 out of 5 by Medicare. Hospitals in neighboring towns aren't counted here.
Medicare-certified hospitals
Education & workforce▲ 82% above US
66% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
17 public schools inside the boundary
There are 17 public schools inside the boundary and 4 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park (8 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Rockville's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and crime rates well below the national average; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($2,274/mo) equals 21% of the median household income here, about the same as the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit anyone prioritizing low crime, remote workers (33% of workers here already work from home), and people who would rather not drive. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget.
Other places near Rockville
All Maryland guides →Moving to North Bethesda →
3 mi away · pop. 49,677
Rent $2,191/mo · Income $129,092
Compare with Rockville →Moving to Aspen Hill →
4 mi away · pop. 53,279
Rent $1,916/mo · Income $111,575
Compare with Rockville →Moving to North Potomac →
4 mi away · pop. 23,922
Rent $2,413/mo · Income $186,514
Compare with Rockville →Not sure Rockville is the one?
Put it side by side with another city.