City Comparison

Herndon vs Rockville: How they compare

Herndon is a walkable town near the Dulles technology corridor. 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

Herndon's median sold price is $700K with homes averaging 27 days on market; Rockville is at $647K and 32 days (12-month settled sales in smover's records, through Aug 2026). Herndon is pricier ($700K median vs $647K), a difference of about $53K. Herndon moves faster, with homes averaging 27 days on market compared to 32 in Rockville. Rockville offers a lower entry point at $200K–$1.8M.

Herndon

VA

Rockville

MD

Median Sold Price

12 months through Aug 2026

$700K

$647K

Avg Days on Market

12 months through Aug 2026

27 days

32 days

Price Range

$175K–$2.2M

$200K–$1.8M

Notable Neighborhoods

Herndon Town Center, McNair Farms, Reflection Lake, West Ox Cluster

Rockville Town Center, Twinbrook, King Farm, Fallsgrove

Schools

Herndon has a 80% average SOL pass rate; Rockville has 85% (2024 state assessment data). Public schools in Herndon include Herndon High School and Rachel Carson Middle School; in Rockville, Richard Montgomery High School and Thomas S. Wootton High School. See Herndon schools | See Rockville schools

Herndon

VA

Rockville

MD

Avg Pass Rate

80%

85%

Public schools

Herndon High School, Rachel Carson Middle School, Dranesville 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 ~35 minutes. Herndon has 2 Metro stations, including Herndon on the Silver line. Rockville has 3 Metro stations, including Rockville on the Red line. Major highway access: Herndon (Dulles Toll Road, Rt 7, Rt 28), Rockville (I-270, I-495, Rt 355).

Herndon

VA

Rockville

MD

Drive to Downtown

~35 min

~30 min

Metro Stations

2 Metro stations (nearest: Herndon)

3 Metro stations (nearest: Rockville)

Metro Lines

Silver

Red

Major Highways

Dulles Toll Road, Rt 7, Rt 28

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

Commuter Rail

None

MARC (Brunswick Line)

Property Tax

On a $700K home in Herndon, you would pay ~$7,770/yr in property tax. In Rockville, a $647K home costs ~$6,393/yr. Rockville has the lower rate at $0.988 per $100 of assessed value.

Herndon

VA

Rockville

MD

Rate per $100

$1.110

$0.988

Est. Annual Tax

Based on median home price

$7,770/yr

$6,393/yr

Notes

Fairfax County rate; Town of Herndon adds $0.2650

Montgomery County rate; City of Rockville adds $0.328

Walkability

Rockville is more walkable with a Walk Score of 52 (Somewhat Walkable), compared to 40 in Herndon. Transit scores: Herndon (28) vs Rockville (42). Walkability varies significantly by neighborhood. Urban corridors like Herndon Town Center and Rockville Town Center score much higher than suburban areas.

Herndon

VA

Rockville

MD

Walk Score

40Car-Dependent
52Somewhat Walkable

Transit Score

28

42

Bike Score

45

55

Reported Crime Data

The cited public datasets report city-level violent- and property-crime rates for Herndon 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.

Herndon

VA

Rockville

MD

Reported Violent Crime

0.9/1K

1.1/1K

Reported Property Crime

12.8/1K

14.2/1K

VA

Search homes in Herndon

See active homes, then keep your shortlist and decisions together.

View homes

MD

Search homes in Rockville

See active homes, then keep your shortlist and decisions together.

View homes

Decided between Herndon and Rockville? See how buying a home works on smover.

Related Comparisons

See how other nearby cities stack up.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Herndon or Rockville more affordable?

Rockville is more affordable with a median sold price of $647K, compared to $700K in Herndon (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. Herndon prices range from $175K–$2.2M. Rockville prices range from $200K–$1.8M.

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

Herndon public schools have a 80% average SOL pass rate; Rockville has 85% (2024 state assessment data). Public schools in Herndon include Herndon High School and Rachel Carson 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, Herndon or Rockville?

Rockville has the shorter commute to downtown at ~30 minutes vs ~35 minutes. Herndon has Metro access (Herndon). Rockville has Metro access (Rockville).

What are property taxes in Herndon vs Rockville?

Herndon has a property tax rate of $1.110 per $100 (~$7,770/yr on a $700K home). Rockville's rate is $0.988 per $100 (~$6,393/yr on a $647K home). Tax rates are set annually by each locality.

How do Herndon and Rockville compare?

Herndon is a walkable town near the Dulles technology corridor. 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.

Stay ahead of the market

Join buyers, sellers, and agents across Northern Virginia getting weekly market updates, new listings, and tips. Free, every Monday.

Trusted in Arlington, Alexandria, Fairfax, and 19 more cities

Unsubscribe anytime. We respect your inbox.

Take ownership of your move.

Search, save, choose your people, and organize the dates, documents, and updates that follow.