Chevy Chase

Welcome to Chevy Chase, MD

Chevy Chase is a collection of incorporated villages and sections forming one of America's most prestigious streetcar suburbs. Located on the Maryland-D.C. border, it attracts high-powered professionals, diplomats, and established families seeking proximity to the capital with a refined suburban atmosphere. The area features tree-lined streets with historic architecture, premium services like private security and back-door trash pickup, and access to top-tier schools. The lifestyle balances quiet elegance with sophisticated amenities—residents walk to luxury shopping at The Collection, dine at white-tablecloth French restaurants, and commute to downtown D.C. in 15 minutes via Metro.

History

The Chevy Chase Land Company, founded in 1890 by Senator Francis G. Newlands, transformed rural Maryland farmland into a planned elite community. To make the area viable, the company built the Rock Creek Railway streetcar line and funded the first Calvert Street Bridge. Following World War I, automobile adoption triggered massive expansion, with neighborhoods organizing into independent "Sections" that incorporated as municipalities to control zoning and services.

Architecturally, the area evolved from Late Victorian and Queen Anne styles in the 1890s to Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival, and Spanish Mission dominance by the 1920s. Mid-Century Modern emerged in pockets during the 1950s, notably eleven Corning & Moore-designed homes on 28th Street. The neighborhood remains an architectural showcase spanning over a century of American residential design.

Location & Geography

Chevy Chase sits in southern Montgomery County, directly bordering Northwest D.C. at Western Avenue. Wisconsin Avenue (MD 355) forms the western edge separating it from Bethesda. Rock Creek Park and Connecticut Avenue (MD 185) define the eastern boundary, while the northern edge extends toward the Capital Beltway (I-495) and Kensington.

The terrain is gently rolling Piedmont plateau with mature tree canopy. Rock Creek provides a wooded eastern buffer with extensive trails, while Coquelin Run tributary flows through the town. The humid subtropical climate brings hot, humid summers (July highs around 87°F), cold winters (January lows around 28°F), and 47 inches of annual rainfall with 11 inches of snow.

Real Estate Market Snapshot

As of February 2026, Chevy Chase maintains premium pricing with the median sale price around $1.4 million, though Chevy Chase Village medians exceed $2.6 million. Appreciation has stabilized at 1-2.5% annually after pandemic-era spikes cooled.

Inventory remains tight at 2.4 months, keeping it a moderate seller's market. Sale-to-list ratios hover around 98.5%, giving buyers more leverage than 2022-2023. Average days on market range 35-55 days, with renovated Tudors and Colonials near Connecticut Avenue going pending under 20 days. Buyers no longer rush into no-inspection offers, but land scarcity prevents a true buyer's market.

Types of Homes Available

• Detached Single-Family Homes dominate—primarily Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival, and Cape Cod styles on quiet, tree-lined streets. Entry-level 1940s builds in northern sections start around $900K, while grand estates in Chevy Chase Village or Somerset reach $3.5M-$7M+.
• Condominiums and Co-ops concentrate along Wisconsin and Connecticut Avenue corridors near Friendship Heights. High-rise luxury buildings like The Somerset House feature units over $2M. Older brick buildings offer accessible 1-2 bedroom units from $300K-$600K.
• Townhomes are rare in historic sections but appear near the Bethesda border, typically $1.1M-$1.8M. New construction means infill development—replacing smaller homes with large modern craftsman or farmhouse styles starting at $2.5M+.

Factors to Consider When Buying

• Municipal Structure: You pay village taxes instead of traditional HOA fees, covering premium services like back-door trash pickup, private security, and thorough snow removal. Many sections enforce stricter-than-county rules on fence heights, tree removal, and noise (some prohibit gas-powered leaf blowers during certain hours).
• Property Age Concerns: Many homes date from 1900-1940 with lath-and-plaster walls, knob-and-tube wiring, and galvanized plumbing. Homes near Rock Creek or Coquelin Run may sit in moderate flood zones (FEMA Zone X). Old clay sewer pipes are prone to root intrusion.
• School Boundaries: Montgomery County is implementing major boundary changes for Woodward High School's 2027 reopening. Some addresses are "islands" potentially rezoned to different middle or high schools. Never assume a home feeds into B-CC High School without checking current 2026 boundary maps.

Factors to Consider When Selling

• Pricing and Timing: Homes priced accurately ($1.3M-$1.8M for standard lots) sell within 30 days. Properties testing $3M+ without significant renovations see longer market times. The spring market starts late January—waiting until May means missing families looking to close before school starts.
• High-ROI Upgrades: Local buyers expect high-end kitchens (Wolf/Sub-Zero, quartz, open-concept). Minor kitchen refreshes yield 60-80% ROI. Post-2020, screened porches and flagstone patios are high-demand. Highlighting new HVAC or high-efficiency windows matters for century-old homes.
• Buyer Demographics: You're selling to downsizing empty-nesters from Potomac estates or younger dual-income professionals leaving D.C. Stage with transitional style—traditional architecture with modern, airy furniture. Avoid overly stuffy traditional decor that makes historic homes feel dated.

Dining and Entertainment

• Fine Dining: Clyde's of Chevy Chase serves classic American fare and remains the go-to power lunch spot. La Ferme offers romantic French country dining with fireplace and pastoral terrace. Tavira provides top-tier Portuguese and Mediterranean seafood.
• Casual Options: Tatte Bakery & Café serves shakshuka and high-end pastries. Parkway Deli is the iconic Jewish deli with pickle bar and matzo ball soup. The Chevy Chase Lake development brought Elena James (farm-to-table) and The Charmery (artisan ice cream).
• Entertainment: The Avalon Theatre (1923 historic cinema) screens indie films and foreign cinema. Woodend Sanctuary hosts environmental programs and cultural events. Much social life occurs within the private Chevy Chase Club and Columbia Country Club featuring golf, tennis, and events.

Shopping

• Luxury Shopping: The Collection at Chevy Chase anchors with Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Tiffany & Co., and Saks Fifth Avenue. The Shops at Wisconsin Place features Bloomingdale's, Eileen Fisher, and Anthropologie. Chevy Chase Pavilion connects to Friendship Heights Metro with J. Crew and boutiques.
• Local Shopping: Brookville Road features charming village shops including Brookville Pharmacy, local barber, and high-end Brookville Market. Chevy Chase Supermarket (since 1958) offers personalized service and excellent wine selection.
• Groceries: Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods, and Lidl (at Chevy Chase Lake) serve the area alongside the community-focused Chevy Chase Supermarket.

Parks and Recreation

• Trails and Nature: Rock Creek Park's 1,754 acres border the eastern edge with miles of trails for hiking, cycling, and horseback riding. Woodend Sanctuary offers 40 acres of walking trails, wildflower meadow, and premier bird-watching. Capital Crescent Trail provides popular long-distance cycling and running from Silver Spring to Georgetown.
• Local Parks: Western Grove Urban Park features sustainable playgrounds with natural elements, human sundial, and bluestone plaza. Elm Street Park offers traditional playgrounds with gazebos. Meadowbrook Local Park's "Candy Cane City" playground includes extensive athletic fields.
• Recreation Facilities: Private clubs like Chevy Chase Club and Columbia Country Club serve as primary social and athletic hubs. Jane E. Lawton Community Recreation Center offers basketball, tennis, pickleball, and youth sports.

Local Culture

Chevy Chase maintains a "quietly influential" character where high-powered professional lives balance with neighborhood traditions. Residents identify strongly with their specific Section or Village. Annual events like the Chevy Chase Village Fourth of July Parade and Town of Chevy Chase Chili Dinner are community fixtures.

The culture emphasizes sophisticated leisure—independent films at the Avalon Theatre, Garden Club meetings, and front porch socializing. The nearby Kenwood Cherry Blossoms draw locals each spring. There's a pervasive sense of stewardship, with residents maintaining architectural integrity and supporting the Chevy Chase Historical Society to preserve the streetcar suburb aesthetic established over a century ago.

Schools and Education

• Public Schools: The Bethesda-Chevy Chase (B-CC) cluster ranks among the country's strongest. Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School (A+ rated) offers the prestigious International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme and extensive AP courses. Westland Middle School and Silver Creek Middle School (IB Middle Years Programme) serve the area. Elementary schools like Chevy Chase Elementary and Rosemary Hills maintain small class sizes with strong community involvement.
• Private Schools: The Oneness-Family School provides renowned Montessori education preschool-through-high school. Holy Cross and Blessed Sacrament offer well-regarded Catholic education. Nearby Sidwell Friends, Georgetown Day School, and St. Albans serve many families.
• Early Education and Universities: Local preschools include Childtime of Bethesda, Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church Nursery School, and Concord St. Andrews. Georgetown University, American University, and George Washington University sit 5-7 miles away.

Commute and Accessibility

• Metro: Red Line Friendship Heights and Bethesda stations provide 15-20 minute trips to Metro Center downtown. Ride On (Montgomery County) and Metrobus networks are extensive—L2 and N buses run directly down Connecticut Avenue into D.C. The Purple Line light rail (under construction) will connect Bethesda/Chevy Chase to Silver Spring and University of Maryland.
• Driving: Connecticut Avenue (MD 185) and Wisconsin Avenue (MD 355) provide direct D.C. access with rush hour congestion. East-West Highway (MD 410) connects to Silver Spring. The Capital Beltway (I-495) sits 5-10 minutes away for Northern Virginia and Baltimore access. Unlike D.C., residential areas offer ample street parking and private driveways.
• Biking and Walking: Capital Crescent Trail allows 30-minute cycling commutes to Georgetown, largely bypassing traffic. Commercial corridors (Chevy Chase Lake, Friendship Heights) score 80+ walkability, while residential Sections maintain safe, sidewalk-lined paths to parks.

Most Coveted Streets & Estates

• Chevy Chase Village commands the highest premiums, with medians exceeding $2.6 million for grand Colonial and Tudor estates on streets like Brookville Road and Bradley Boulevard.
• Somerset features sprawling properties frequently reaching $3.5M-$7M+, attracting diplomats and top executives seeking maximum privacy and prestige.
• The 28th Street Modern Cluster in Section 3 offers rare Mid-Century Modern homes designed by Corning & Moore, appealing to buyers seeking architectural distinction from the predominant Revival styles.
• Connecticut Avenue Corridor properties within walking distance to Metro and restaurants go pending fastest, typically under 20 days, making them highly competitive.

Why People Love Chevy Chase

Chevy Chase delivers the rare combination of suburban tranquility with urban convenience—15-minute Metro commutes, luxury shopping steps away, and top-tier schools. The neighborhood's architectural beauty, mature tree canopy, and independent village structure create a distinctive sense of place and community pride. Premium municipal services, extensive trails through Rock Creek Park, and access to exclusive clubs provide lifestyle amenities difficult to replicate. For professionals seeking proximity to D.C. power centers while maintaining a refined, family-oriented environment with historic character, Chevy Chase remains unmatched in the Mid-Atlantic.