Best Places To Live, Eat, Play In MD: 2023 Recap

MARYLAND — Some of the best places to live in the country are towns and cities in Maryland, according to a handful of national rankings released in 2023 that look at quality of life indicators.

Great communities have excellent schools, high-quality health care and good career opportunities, but also great places to eat and play.

Publications such as U.S. News & World Report and Fortune, along with the ratings and review site Niche, used different methodologies to compile their lists. Read more about why Reston's cities and towns were mentioned in these rankings:

• Best Places To Raise A Family In Maryland: 2023 Report
• 50 Best MD Places To Live Rankings For 2023: Niche
• These Are The 25 Best Places To Live In MD, New Ranking Says
• These Are The Best School Districts In Maryland, New Ranking Says

The Milken Institute looked at how big and large cities in Maryland are performing in a changing economy. Read more:

• Expand Broadband, Affordable Housing: Best-Performing Cities Report
• Cheapest Places To Live In MD Revealed In New Ranking

Desirable places to live also have a diverse collection of restaurants to celebrate big moments with families and loved ones. One measure of Maryland’s culinary greatness is the number of James Beard winners in 2023. Read more:

• James Beard Foundation Awards Announced: The Full List Of Winners

Several Maryland eateries were featured prominently in other lists. Read more:

• These MD Donuts Are Among The Best In America
• Best Restaurant, Chef, Bar In Maryland: 2023 Award Winners
• Silver Spring Restaurant Among Wine Spectator's 2023 Award Winners
• 1 MD Restaurant Makes New York Times 'Restaurants List'
• Baltimore Restaurant Listed Among Most Romantic Eateries In US

Reliable travel services add to the quality of life in Maryland. A pair of rankings looked at airport quality. Read more:

• BWI Airport Ranked Among Worst In North America By JD Power