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Living in Kemp Mill

A Montgomery County community of mid-century detached houses set between Wheaton Regional Park and the Northwest Branch stream valley, with a neighborhood shopping center at its middle and Red Line stations at Wheaton and Silver Spring a short trip away.
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Living in Kemp Mill

An overview of Kemp Mill, its mid-century housing, its parkland edges and how daily errands work.
Kemp Mill sits in eastern Montgomery County with a Silver Spring mailing address, between Wheaton Regional Park on the west and the Northwest Branch stream valley on the east. It has no official boundary. This page uses the Census-designated place, which is wider than the original Kemp Mill Estates subdivision: it reaches north to Kemp Mill Forest and Springbrook Forest and south across University Boulevard toward the Capital Beltway, taking in Forest Knolls and nearby streets. The housing is mostly detached and mostly mid-century. Of 92 closed sales in the past year, 70 were detached houses, and most of the homes sold were built in the 1950s and 1960s. Kemp Mill Estates and Kemp Mill Farms were developed in the late 1950s. Detached houses on moderate, tree-shaded lots are the norm. Kemp Mill Forest, a 1980s cluster-design section, adds newer houses to the north, and the University Towers condominium on University Boulevard West supplies nearly all of the area’s condominium sales. Daily errands center on the Kemp Mill Shopping Center on Arcola Avenue, with Kemp Mill Urban Park beside it. Larger stores are a short drive west in Wheaton. Green space is the area’s clearest asset. Wheaton Regional Park lies along the western edge, the Northwest Branch Trail follows the eastern edge, and Sligo Creek rises here, with the Sligo Creek Trail running south from the neighborhood. Kemp Mill Estates Local Park adds fields and courts inside the community. There is no Metrorail station inside Kemp Mill. The Red Line stops at Wheaton, about two miles west of the shopping center, and at Silver Spring to the south. Ride On and Metrobus routes serve the main roads, including University Boulevard. Drivers use University Boulevard and Georgia Avenue to reach the Beltway. Most trips beyond the shopping center involve a car or a bus. I’m glad to walk you through how the sections of Kemp Mill differ and what recent sales say about each one.

Key Highlights:

  • Housing character — Mostly 1950s and 1960s detached houses, plus one high-rise condominium on University Boulevard West
  • Green space — Wheaton Regional Park to the west, the Northwest Branch Trail to the east and the head of the Sligo Creek Trail
  • Daily essentials — Kemp Mill Shopping Center on Arcola Avenue; larger stores a short drive away in Wheaton
  • Transit — Ride On and Metrobus routes on the main roads; Red Line at Wheaton and Silver Spring
  • Schools — Montgomery County Public Schools; Kemp Mill Elementary, Odessa Shannon Middle and Northwood High serve the central part; streets south of University Boulevard may differ, and boundary changes begin in 2027-28, so confirm by address
  • Market character — About 92 sales in the past year at a median near $620,000; detached houses sold in a median of 8 days
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Kemp Mill Real Estate FAQs

Insight into the nuances of buying and selling in one of the country’s most complex urban markets.

Kemp Mill is known for mid-century detached houses and for the parkland on both sides of it: Wheaton Regional Park to the west and the Northwest Branch stream valley to the east.
Kemp Mill is in eastern Montgomery County, Maryland, with a Silver Spring mailing address. It lies east of Wheaton along Arcola Avenue and Kemp Mill Road, north of the Capital Beltway.
No. The nearest Red Line station is Wheaton, about two miles west of the shopping center, with Silver Spring to the south. Ride On and Metrobus routes connect the neighborhood to both.
Mostly detached houses from the 1950s and 1960s. There is also a 1980s cluster section, a handful of townhouses and the University Towers condominium on University Boulevard West.
The median sale price over the past 12 months was about $620,000 across 92 sales. Detached houses had a median near $650,000, and condominiums had a median of about $200,000.
The median time on the market was 11 days. Detached houses sold in a median of 8 days, while condominiums took a median of about four weeks.
The Kemp Mill Shopping Center on Arcola Avenue handles day-to-day errands. Wheaton, a short drive west, has a regional mall, supermarkets and a wide range of restaurants.
Kemp Mill is in Montgomery County Public Schools. Kemp Mill Elementary, Odessa Shannon Middle and Northwood High serve the central part of the area, and streets south of University Boulevard may be assigned elsewhere. Montgomery County is redrawing some school boundaries starting in the 2027-28 school year, so confirm any address with the district’s school assignment locator.

Location & Neighborhood

East of Wheaton, between Wheaton Regional Park and the Northwest Branch stream valley.

The area on this page follows the Kemp Mill Census-designated place, which is approximate and wider than the original subdivision. Its eastern edge is the Northwest Branch stream valley. The western edge runs near Wheaton Regional Park in the north and near Sligo Creek, east of Georgia Avenue, farther south. The northern end takes in Kemp Mill Forest and Springbrook Forest, and the southern end crosses University Boulevard and narrows toward the Capital Beltway. Arcola Avenue and Kemp Mill Road carry the through traffic and the shopping center; University Boulevard West holds the condominium towers.

Parks on Both Sides

Arcola Avenue links Kemp Mill west to Georgia Avenue and Wheaton, and Kemp Mill Road runs north and south through the area. University Boulevard crosses the southern part and leads east to Four Corners and US 29. The Capital Beltway is reached by way of Georgia Avenue or University Boulevard. Bus routes on these roads connect to the Red Line at Wheaton and Silver Spring.

The Kemp Mill Shopping Center on Arcola Avenue covers everyday errands, and Kemp Mill Urban Park sits next to it. For a wider choice of supermarkets, restaurants and services, most trips go west to Wheaton, where the regional mall and the Georgia Avenue retail blocks are a short drive away. Wheaton Regional Park, just outside the western edge, adds trails, gardens and an ice arena.

Neighboring Area:

  • Wheaton — west, the Red Line station and regional mall on Georgia Avenue
  • Four Corners — southeast, at University Boulevard and Colesville Road
  • Glenmont — northwest, the Red Line terminus on Georgia Avenue
  • Forest Glen — southwest, across Georgia Avenue near the Beltway
  • White Oak — east, across the Northwest Branch stream valley

A Day In The Life - Snapshot

The quick details buyers ask about most.

Metro Access
No station inside Kemp Mill. Wheaton on the Red Line is about two miles west of the shopping center, with bus connections there and to Silver Spring.
Walkability
Sidewalked residential streets and a walkable shopping center for homes near Arcola Avenue. From the northern and southern sections, most errands call for a car or a bus.
Typical Home Types
Detached houses from the 1950s and 1960s, a 1980s cluster section, a few townhouses and one high-rise condominium on University Boulevard West.
Parking
Most detached houses have a driveway, and many have a carport or garage. Street parking is generally available on the residential blocks. The condominium has its own parking areas.
Vibe
Low-scale residential streets with mature trees, wooded stream valleys at the edges and one modest retail center. Arcola Avenue and University Boulevard carry steady traffic; side streets are quiet.
Best For
Buyers who want a mid-century detached house with a yard and park trails close by, and who accept driving or taking a bus to reach Metro.

Kemp Mill Market Snapshot

A high-level look at current pricing, demand, and sales activity in the Kemp Mill real estate market.
$620,000

Median Sales Price

$300

Median Price Per Sq Ft

11

Median Days On Market

92

Annual Closed Sales

+5.1%

YoY Median Price Change

Kemp Mill is primarily a detached-house market, with a condominium segment concentrated in the University Towers buildings on University Boulevard West and only a couple of townhouse sales. The snapshot covers every closed sale inside the Census-defined Kemp Mill boundary over the trailing twelve months through September 2026 — 70 detached houses, 20 condominiums, and 2 townhouses and semi-detached homes. Price per square foot uses interior living area.

Across all home types the median sale was $620,000 at about $300 per square foot, with a median of 11 days on market and sales averaging 99% of original list price. The median rose about 5% from the prior twelve months. Within segments, the detached median rose about 6% to $650,000 and the condo median rose about 6% to $200,000.

Market data reflects recent 12-month activity. Individual buildings may vary.

For Sale

Homes for Sale in Kemp Mill

Every active Kemp Mill listing, pulled live from Bright MLS.

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Recently Sold

Recently Sold in Kemp Mill

Closed sales from the past 12 months — the comps that set today’s pricing.

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In-Depth Market Analysis

Kemp Mill Market Insights

How pricing trends, absorption rates, and inventory levels are shaping buying and selling

Inventory & Absorption

Kemp Mill recorded 92 closed sales in the 12 months through September 2026, down from 109 the year before. Detached houses made up 70 of them and condominiums 20, with two townhouse sales. Turnover was quick: the median time on the market was 11 days overall and 8 days for detached houses. Condominium sales moved more slowly, at a median of about four weeks, up from roughly two weeks a year earlier.

Pricing Dynamics

The overall median sale price was about $620,000, up roughly 5 percent from $590,000 in the prior 12 months, at about $300 per square foot. Detached houses had a median near $650,000 and ranged from about $405,000 to $1,075,000. Condominium sales ranged from $115,000 to $350,000 with a median of $200,000. Sellers received about 99 percent of the original list price on average, and 51 of the 92 sales closed at or above it.

Buyer Profile

Demand is concentrated in detached houses. Of the 70 detached sales, 43 closed at or above the original list price, and the median detached sale took 8 days. Most of those houses date from the 1950s and 1960s. The condominium segment behaves differently: 6 of 20 units closed at or above the original list price, and sellers there averaged about 97 percent of it, so pricing and condition matter more for a unit than for a house.

Strategic Outlook

The past year shows a steady detached market and a softer condominium segment. Detached prices rose modestly and days on market shortened slightly, while the number of sales fell. If listings stay limited, well-prepared houses should continue to sell quickly, though nothing in these figures guarantees future prices. Condominium sellers should plan for a longer marketing period and for negotiation below the original list price.

Market Position Overview:

Inventory Level: Balanced with selective competition

Negotiation Environment: Moderate flexibility

Typical Days on Market: 25-45 (well-priced units)

Rental Demand: Consistent due to transit proximity

Long- Term Outlook: Stable, walkability-driven value

Kemp Mill Housing & Architecture

Kemp Mill’s housing is mostly mid-century and detached, with a 1980s cluster section to the north and one high-rise condominium on University Boulevard.
Kemp Mill Estates
The largest section by sales, developed in the late 1950s by the Kay Construction Company. Its detached houses sit on moderate lots near the Kemp Mill Shopping Center, Kemp Mill Urban Park and Kemp Mill Estates Local Park, which borders the Northwest Branch stream valley.
Kemp Mill Forest and Springbrook Forest
The northern end of the area. Springbrook Forest dates from the post-war years and sits beside the Northwest Branch stream valley. Kemp Mill Forest was built in the 1980s using a cluster design that leaves shared open space between groups of houses.
University Towers
A high-rise condominium at 1111 and 1121 University Boulevard West and the source of nearly all condominium sales here. Units sold from $115,000 to $350,000 in the past year, with a median of $200,000.
South of University Boulevard
The Census boundary continues south toward the Beltway and takes in sales labeled Forest Knolls, Sligo Estates and South Four Corners in the MLS. Houses here are detached, on blocks close to Sligo Creek and its trail.
1950s and 1960s Houses
Homes built in the 1950s and 1960s account for 73 of the past year’s 92 sales. They are detached houses on moderate lots, and renovation levels vary widely, from largely original to fully updated, which drives much of the price spread.
Later Infill
Seven of the past year’s sales were homes built in the 1980s or later. Kemp Mill Forest, the 1980s cluster section, includes townhouses as well as detached houses, and two townhouses sold in the area in the past year.

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