When Fortune magazine announced Tuesday that Silver Spring ranked No. 1 on its list of the 50 best places to live for families in the United States, it just confirmed what longtime resident Fig Ruggieri, 64, already knew.
“My favorite part is probably that I’m so close to so much–Baltimore, D.C., being able to walk to the Metro and library and downtown Silver Spring. I mean, we’re just very central,” said Ruggieri, who lives in the Woodside Park neighborhood near downtown. “It’s diverse, it’s wonderful and there are just many places you can go. … It’s just a really great place to live.”
To pick Silver Spring as the top place to live for families, the magazine evaluated more than 2,000 cities, towns, suburbs, villages and townships with at least 20,000 residents across the U.S., according to Fortune. It reviewed data on education, resources for aging adults, general wellness, financial health and livability.
The magazine noted that “the Washington, D.C., suburb offers local charm with the convenience of city life.”
Ruggieri has collected hundreds of figurines of penguins–the suburb’s unofficial mascot thanks to a mural at the Silver Spring Metro station–since she was a kid and even displayed them once at the county library nearly 20 years ago.
“It was definitely a Silver Spring memory because nobody else would have really been that interested in my penguin collection,” Ruggieri said.
Last year, Silver Spring ranked third on Fortune’s list. But this year, the rich diversity, bustling downtown business and arts districts and outdoor recreation propelled the area to the top of the list, according to the magazine.
“Silver Spring’s top ranking as a family-friendly home speaks volumes about the quality of life we offer,” Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich said in a statement. “It highlights Silver Spring’s commitment to creating a supportive, inclusive and thriving community. We are ready and excited to welcome more families and businesses to make Silver Spring an even greater place to live, work and grow.”
Elrich highlighted aspects of Silver Spring that he said makes it a great place to live including the Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center, Silver Spring Jazz Festival, the Silver Spring Blues Festival, numerous international festivals, robust public transportation and diversity.
Councilmember Evan Glass (D-At-large) also praised the community.
“I’ve called Silver Spring home for 24 years and have loved every minute. It’s a dynamic community, full of energy, diversity and compassion,” Glass said. “I’m excited that Fortune magazine has acknowledged what we all know to be true.”
In the Fortune article about the best places to live for families, Silver Spring residents echoed many of Ruggieri and Elrich’s comments–it’s close enough to Washington, D.C., to enjoy the city, while having its own amenities, tight-knit community and excellent schools.
“Having all the amenities we have in downtown Silver Spring and our community, our advocacy groups, that’s what Silver Spring is all about and to get that recognition is wonderful,” said Kate Stewart, who represents Silver Spring and is the Montgomery County Council vice president.
Fortune reported that Silver Spring earned the highest Community Well-Being Index score from Sharecare, which analyzes more than 600 health risk factors in U.S. communities, with an 86 out of 100. For the Financial Well-Being Index, the area earned 66 out of 100.
This isn’t the first time Silver Spring has ranked highly on national lists. It was also one of WalletHub’s top five most ethnically diverse areas in the U.S. in 2024.
Ruggieri said she was a little surprised Silver Spring made it to the top of the list given that there’s so many places to choose from, but the accolade excited her.
“There’s a lot to recommend in Silver Spring,” Ruggieri said. “I think we have a good life.”