Welcome to Takoma Park
Historic homes, blooming azaleas, and vibrant arts scene.
Known as “Azalea City” for the many azalea hybrids blooming throughout the town, Takoma Park is a quiet and conveniently located community. Mature trees line Takoma Park’s streets, shading and cooling the neighborhood in summer. The town is located in Montgomery County, bordered by Silver Spring and Langley Park to the north, and New Hampshire Avenue and Eastern Avenue to the south. Most homes are within walking distance of Takoma Station, from which the Red Line to Washington’s Central Station takes just 20 minutes.
Takoma Park’s architecture is diverse, ranging from historic homes to modern apartment complexes. This attractive housing mix and the D.C. transport links ensure homes here are in consistent high demand, with few staying on the market for long. The older housing stock includes elegant neo-Gothic farmhouses from the late 1800s, charming bungalows from the 1920s, and mid-20th-century ranch houses. Be sure to visit the 1884 Thomas-Siegler House and Garden that showcases Takoma Park’s exquisite Victorian architecture and signature azalea hybrids.
Takoma Park is known for its progressive views — with many residents working within D.C.’s political sphere — and as a cosmopolitan community where more than a third of the residents were born outside the United States. The area is a nuclear-free zone, a Tree City USA, and a hotbed of culture with a strong musical heritage and a packed calendar of annual events. For example, the six-stage Takoma Park Folk Festival is the biggest music festival around, and the popular Fourth of July Parade attracts political figures from across D.C.
Many local community groups and institutions are dedicated to the arts. The Sam Abbott Citizens’ Center features a community theater and gallery. And two cinemas, the Takoma Theatre and the Flower Theatre, are located at opposite ends of the neighborhood.
Laurel Avenue is the center of Takoma Park’s business district, providing a wide variety of independent retailers to explore. Takoma Park Silver Spring Co-op is one of the Washington area’s largest food co-operatives. Plus, a weekly farmers market is held every Sunday year-round.
Residents’ education is served by Takoma Park Elementary and Middle, Piney Branch Elementary, and Montgomery Blair High schools, which all perform significantly better than the Maryland state average for standardized test scores.
