Mount Rainier, MD

Mount Rainier is a small Prince George's County city just northeast of Washington, D.C., with the feel of an older streetcar suburb. Its location near the District line, the Northwest Branch of the Anacostia River, and Route 1 gives it a compact, urban-suburban character. The city has long attracted artists, musicians, and people looking for close-in housing with more neighborhood texture than a newer subdivision. Public schools are part of Prince George's County Public Schools, and daily life is closely tied to the larger D.C. area.