City Comparison

Bristow vs Rockville: How they compare

Bristow is a growing community in Prince William County offering spacious newer homes, residential neighborhoods, and convenient access to I-66. Rockville is the seat of Montgomery County, offering a blend of urban amenities and suburban neighborhoods. The details differ. Here is the sourced context for price, schools, commute, taxes, walkability, and reported crime data.

Market Overview

Bristow's median sold price is $719K with homes averaging 19 days on market; Rockville is at $647K and 32 days (12-month settled sales in smover's records, through Aug 2026). Bristow is pricier ($719K median vs $647K), a difference of about $72K. Bristow moves faster, with homes averaging 19 days on market compared to 32 in Rockville. Rockville offers a lower entry point at $200K–$1.8M.

Bristow

VA

Rockville

MD

Median Sold Price

12 months through Aug 2026

$719K

$647K

Avg Days on Market

12 months through Aug 2026

19 days

32 days

Price Range

$300K–$900K

$200K–$1.8M

Notable Neighborhoods

Kingsbrooke, Victory Lakes, Braemar, Linton Hall

Rockville Town Center, Twinbrook, King Farm, Fallsgrove

Schools

Bristow has a 79% average SOL pass rate; Rockville has 85% (2024 state assessment data). Public schools in Bristow include Patriot High School and Marsteller Middle School; in Rockville, Richard Montgomery High School and Thomas S. Wootton High School. See Bristow schools | See Rockville schools

Bristow

VA

Rockville

MD

Avg Pass Rate

79%

85%

Public schools

Patriot High School, Marsteller Middle School, Bristow Run Elementary

Richard Montgomery High School, Thomas S. Wootton High School, Julius West Middle School

These are district-wide assessment results. Verify current school assignments, boundaries, and programs with each local district for a specific address.

Commute

Rockville is closer to downtown at ~30 minutes vs ~50 minutes. Rockville has 3 Metro stations, including Rockville on the Red line. Major highway access: Bristow (I-66, Rt 28, Rt 29), Rockville (I-270, I-495, Rt 355).

Bristow

VA

Rockville

MD

Drive to Downtown

~50 min

~30 min

Metro Stations

No Metro access

3 Metro stations (nearest: Rockville)

Metro Lines

N/A

Red

Major Highways

I-66, Rt 28, Rt 29

I-270, I-495, Rt 355, Rt 28

Commuter Rail

VRE (Manassas line)

MARC (Brunswick Line)

Walkability

Rockville is more walkable with a Walk Score of 52 (Somewhat Walkable), compared to 15 in Bristow. Transit scores: Bristow (8) vs Rockville (42). Walkability varies significantly by neighborhood. Urban corridors like Kingsbrooke and Rockville Town Center score much higher than suburban areas.

Bristow

VA

Rockville

MD

Walk Score

15Almost All Errands Require a Car
52Somewhat Walkable

Transit Score

8

42

Bike Score

12

55

Reported Crime Data

The cited public datasets report city-level violent- and property-crime rates for Bristow and Rockville. These historical figures do not describe a specific address or predict an individual's experience. Review the source period and local agency information for current context.

Bristow

VA

Rockville

MD

Reported Violent Crime

0.6/1K

1.1/1K

Reported Property Crime

7.9/1K

14.2/1K

VA

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MD

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bristow or Rockville more affordable?

Rockville is more affordable with a median sold price of $647K, compared to $719K in Bristow (12-month settled sales in smover's records, through Aug 2026). Both cities offer a wide range of housing options, from condos and townhomes to single-family homes. Bristow prices range from $300K–$900K. Rockville prices range from $200K–$1.8M.

What are the public-school pass rates in Bristow and Rockville?

Bristow public schools have a 79% average SOL pass rate; Rockville has 85% (2024 state assessment data). Public schools in Bristow include Patriot High School and Marsteller Middle School; in Rockville, Richard Montgomery High School and Thomas S. Wootton High School. Pass rates reflect district-wide assessment results; check the specific assigned schools for any address.

Which is easier to commute from, Bristow or Rockville?

Rockville has the shorter commute to downtown at ~30 minutes vs ~50 minutes. Bristow has no direct Metro access. Rockville has Metro access (Rockville).

How do Bristow and Rockville compare?

Bristow is a growing community in Prince William County offering spacious newer homes, residential neighborhoods, and convenient access to I-66. Rockville is the seat of Montgomery County, offering a blend of urban amenities and suburban neighborhoods. The right choice depends on your priorities: budget, commute length, home types, and neighborhood feel. smover lets you compare agent profiles and available transaction records in either city.

Median sold prices and days on market are 12-month aggregates of settled sales in smover's records, through Aug 2026. School data from Virginia DOE, Maryland MSDE, and DC OSSE public reports. Property tax rates from Virginia Dept. of Taxation (2024). Walkability scores from Walk Score (2024). Crime data from FBI UCR and Virginia State Police (2023). Commute times are approximate rush-hour estimates. Updated September 2026.

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