Congratulations, Chevy Chase Village! Business Journal recently ranked Chevy Chase Village first for overall brainpower out of 1,045 communities in the United States. These communities had populations between 1,000 and 9,999 people.

About Chevy Chase Village

Of the 2,000 residents that call Chevy Chase Village home, nearly 93% hold a bachelor’s degree and 60% of adults over the age of 25 have advanced degrees. The Village is also one of the more affluent communities in Maryland, with an estimated median household income of $255,984 in 2009.

How Chevy Chase Was Ranked

The Town of Chevy Chase made the top ten list, coming in at fifth place for overall brain power. With a population of 2,800, 90% of adults hold bachelor’s degrees and 60% hold advanced degrees. Chevy Chase overall was ranked 24. Nearly 80% of Chevy Chase’s 10,000 residents have earned bachelor’s degrees and fifty percent hold an advanced degree. Less than 2% of all residents have dropped out before high school graduation.

How Other Nearby Communities Ranked

Compared to other cities around the country, many Maryland communities ranked quite highly – and many of those aren’t too far from Chevy Chase. University Park earned a spot at 13, while Bethesda was ranked 22. Somerset was placed second while Brookmont came in seventh.

Higher Education Near Chevy Chase

It’s no wonder that so many people in the Chevy Chase area have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher. Chevy Chase is in close proximity to many universities. Just five minutes from DeVry University, Chevy Chase is also less than thirty minutes from many nationally ranked universities including American University, University of District of Columbia, Howard University and Georgetown – ranked 22 in national university ratings.

What Are Your Thoughts?

Do you think a community’s proximity to universities plays a role in its brainpower rating? Or do you feel that affluence plays a greater role? Feel free to share any profound or insightful comments with us.