We live in Bethesda, but most of our kids’ sports practices and home games are in Rockville. I love the vibe. Friendly and diverse with tons of great restaurants. I love the area around Wootton, Frost, and Fallsmeade ES. It’s so green and there are kids everywhere.

Rockville is huge, a lot of different neighborhoods. I would suggest while you're house hunting to spend some time near your favorite streets on the weekends or on nice evenings to see if there are kids around. We have a lovely neighborhood, but no kids on our street and it's lonely!

Anonymous wrote:I have lived her for 20+ years and think it is a great city. It has it own rec department (camps, pool, sports etc). Our streets always seem to be plowed quickly. Great parks. Convenient to 270 and the red line. The Catholic comment was surprising. I am not Catholic and have not noticed any Catholic feel. It is very diverse so nothing stands out.

The only thing that I notice is the number of Catholic churches. But then, there are a ton of Jewish synagogues, too.. so .. shrug. I'm neither Jewish nor Catholic.

I do notice the diversity, including the diverse ethnic restaurants. And yes, the parks and recs is pretty good for young children. I would say it's not as good for tweens/teens, though. The city pool is pretty good, too. My kids have taken swimming lessons there.

I have lived her for 20+ years and think it is a great city. It has it own rec department (camps, pool, sports etc). Our streets always seem to be plowed quickly. Great parks. Convenient to 270 and the red line. The Catholic comment was surprising. I am not Catholic and have not noticed any Catholic feel. It is very diverse so nothing stands out.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PS for town like feeling look also into Garrett Park and Kensington (not Rockville but in the same area)

You are going to get a high concentration of Catholics here, btw.

So it would be a nice area.

Catholic comment is weird, but even so, it's not like the ultra-conservative catholics live here. People here are largely very liberal. The schools celebrate Pride month and diversity.

-non catholic, non white, Rockville resident

The Catholics comment is so off. PP I have some breaking news for you, most people in US of Irish, Italian, Polish, Philipino , Mexican or Central America ethnic background identify as Catholics

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PS for town like feeling look also into Garrett Park and Kensington (not Rockville but in the same area)

You are going to get a high concentration of Catholics here, btw.

I think Rockville is as far south as they can go without getting crosses burned in lawn.

Seriously Catholic University, Georgetown, the Cathedral is in DC and the President is Catholic

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:PS for town like feeling look also into Garrett Park and Kensington (not Rockville but in the same area)

You are going to get a high concentration of Catholics here, btw.

So what?

Rockville within the city limits is well-maintained, friendly, diverse, and full of parks. We like it so much we purchased a house here after both growing up in Rockville. People are largely educated and employed which translates to lower crime and higher happiness.

Anonymous wrote:PS for town like feeling look also into Garrett Park and Kensington (not Rockville but in the same area)

You are going to get a high concentration of Catholics here, btw.

PS for town like feeling look also into Garrett Park and Kensington (not Rockville but in the same area)

It is a safe and diverse area with good schools. Try to look into the Rockville area identified as ‘North Bethesda’, closer to DC and with some nice stores and restaurants (Pike and Rose area etc)

Look in college gardens or woodley gardens, it's a close community neighborhood feel.

So we've lived in urban DC our whole lives but between schools and housing costs are considering a move to Rockville. Two kids one in junior high and one in elementary. Tell me what it's like to live there. Rockville center seems cool if a little bit mall-like, and it's nice that it's on the red line. Just never lived in suburbia before and would like at least a town-like feel. Thanks!