Bethesda Apartments for Rent

Want to be healthy, wealthy and wise? Forget “early to bed, early to rise.” Relocating to Bethesda, Maryland may help you achieve those goals.

Located just northwest of Washington, D.C. Bethesda is one of the most affluent communities in the US. According to the US Census Bureau, the median income for a Bethesda family is $168,385. Many residents commute to Washington, D. C. for work, while others are employed by such firms as Lockheed Martin, Marriott International and Wachovia.

Although home ownership here is expensive, residents clearly believe it’s worth it; their lively urban community offers pubs, specialty shops, live theater, low crime and rapid job growth. Nearby apartments and condominium rentals fill the housing gap for those not prepared to buy.

Bethesda is “a restaurant lover’s dream,” according to writer Cynthia Hacinli of the Washingtonian, packed with more than 250 eateries downtown. Thousands of visitors attend the annual Taste of Bethesda festival, and the Bethesda Farmer’s Market tempts shoppers with artisanal cheeses, fresh vegetables, baked goods, chef tastings and live music.

What about the “healthy” part of our rhyme? In 2009, Self magazine ranked Bethesda as the country’s second-healthiest place for women. The same year, Total Beauty ranked Bethesda first – based on health and fitness, among other things – on its list of “Top 10 Hottest-Guy Cities.” Coincidence?

The “wise” part: the 2000 Census says Bethesda is the best-educated city in the US. Seventy-nine percent of the population holds a college degree; 49 percent hold graduate degrees, and as of 2009, eight Pulitzer Prize winners live in Bethesda.

Situated along an ancient Native American trail, Bethesda took its name from a local church, the Bethesda Meeting House (circa 1820). With the installation of a streetcar line in 1890, new homes replaced old farmland. New development included both the National Naval Medical Center (known today as Bethesda Naval Hospital, where the President receives his annual checkup) and the National Institute of Health complex. Growth continued with the Metrorail expansion into Bethesda in 1984. The Bethesda Metro station handles more than 15,000 passengers on an average weekday.

Home of the healthy, wealthy and wise – it’s no wonder that the April 2009 issue of Forbes ranked Bethesda second on its list of “America’s Most Livable Cities.”