Colonial and contemporary styles are the two architectural styles you’ll see most often in Montgomery County, Maryland. Colonial homes date back to the early 1700s and still dominate the market here — symmetrical facades, steep rooflines, dormers, and a formal three-level layout with bedrooms upstairs and living space on the main floor. Contemporary homes have become more common as buyers move in from other parts of the country, especially the West Coast, bringing a preference for open floor plans, taller ceilings, and bigger windows. Neither style is objectively better. I’m Kevin Grolig, a real estate agent with Compass based in Potomac, and I help people buy and sell homes throughout Montgomery County and the greater DC area. One of the most common mistakes I see buyers make is picking a style because a friend or family member told them to, instead of figuring out what actually fits how they live. Below I’ll walk through the two styles that lead the market here, plus a few others worth knowing, so you can make a decision you won’t regret.
What is a colonial style home?
A colonial is a traditional, symmetrical home style that’s been a staple in the DC area since the 1700s, and it remains one of the top sellers in Montgomery County today. You’ll typically find three levels: a main floor built around formal living and dining spaces, a second floor holding most of the bedrooms, and a basement below. The exterior tends to be balanced and boxy in the best way — evenly spaced windows, a centered front door, and often a steep roof with dormers poking out. Inside, colonials lean formal. Rooms are more separated from each other than what you’ll find in newer construction, which some buyers love and others find limiting.
I raised four kids in a colonial style home, and what I appreciated most was the balance. Everybody had their own space to retreat to, but we also had shared areas where the whole family could gather. If you like a more traditional, conservative layout — clear separation between the living room, dining room, and kitchen — a colonial is probably going to check the boxes for you. It’s also the style most associated with the DC area’s more formal character, and that reputation isn’t going anywhere.
What is a contemporary style home?
A contemporary style home is a more modern build defined by open floor plans, taller ceilings, and larger windows that bring in more natural light. Instead of a formal dining room built to seat twelve, you’ll typically find a kitchen with a breakfast bar or island designed for informal, everyday eating. Living rooms tend to be smaller and less boxed-in, opening directly into large family rooms rather than standing as a separate, closed-off space.
I’m seeing this style pull in a younger crowd, especially millennial buyers moving into Montgomery County. Part of that is preference — casual living, open concept spaces, more natural light — and part of it is migration. As more people relocate here from other regions, particularly the West Coast, they bring that contemporary sensibility with them, and builders and renovators have responded. If your day-to-day life is casual rather than formal, and you’d rather have one big open space than several smaller separated rooms, contemporary is worth prioritizing in your search.
Are there other architectural styles common in Montgomery County?
Yes — while colonial and contemporary lead the market by a wide margin, Montgomery County’s age and history mean you’ll also run into other styles mixed throughout established neighborhoods. Cape Cods show up in older sections of the county, usually smaller and more affordable, with steep roofs and dormered upper floors similar to a colonial but on a more modest scale. You’ll also find split-levels from the mid-century building boom, along with newer craftsman-influenced builds that blend some contemporary open-concept thinking with more traditional exterior detailing. These styles are worth knowing about because they often represent a middle ground — some of the character and formality of a colonial with a bit more flexibility in layout.
How do I decide which architectural style is right for me?
The right style comes down to your family size, your daily routine, and how you actually want to live — not what looks impressive from the street. If you have a larger family and you need real separation between spaces, along with an area where everyone can still come together, a colonial style home tends to work best. That separation isn’t a downside — it’s a feature if you’ve got kids with different schedules, work-from-home needs, or just a desire for some quiet distance between rooms.
If your household runs more casual, you value natural light, and you’d rather cook, eat, and hang out in one connected space instead of shuffling between rooms, a contemporary style home is going to serve you better. There’s no right or wrong answer here. It’s personal taste matched to how you live day to day, and that’s exactly the kind of decision I walk buyers through before we ever start touring homes. Getting clear on style first saves you from wasting weekends looking at houses that were never going to fit your life. For a broader walkthrough of the whole purchase process, check out myguide to buying a home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is colonial or contemporary more popular in Montgomery County right now?
Colonial still leads in overall demand and has for decades, but contemporary is gaining ground quickly as more buyers relocate here from other parts of the country.
Do colonial style homes cost more than contemporary homes?
Not necessarily — price comes down to location, lot size, condition, and square footage far more than architectural style. Both styles show up across a wide range of price points in Montgomery County.
Can a colonial style home be renovated to feel more open and contemporary?
Yes, this is common. Buyers often remove walls between the kitchen, dining room, and family room to open up the main level while keeping the traditional exterior and upstairs bedroom layout intact.
What architectural style is best for a growing family?
Colonials tend to work well for larger families because of the separation between bedrooms and living spaces, though plenty of families thrive in open-concept contemporary layouts too. It really depends on your household’s rhythm.
Should I choose a home based on architectural style or on neighborhood?
Neighborhood, schools, and commute should usually come first, since those are harder to change than a floor plan. Style should be a strong preference you filter for within the neighborhoods that already work for your life.
Architecture is one of my favorite parts of living and working in Montgomery County, and I could talk about it all day. But the real goal is making sure you end up in a home that fits your life, not one that just looks good from the curb. If you’re thinking about buying or selling in Montgomery County or the greater DC area, I’d love to help you sort through it.Contact meanytime.
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Sources and next steps
Verified local sources:U.S. Census QuickFacts for Montgomery County;WMATA maps and schedules;Montgomery County Open Data;Montgomery Parks trails and facilities.
Related Kevin guides:home buying guide;relocation guide;book a call.
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Expanded local research sources:Visit Montgomery travel guide;Visit Montgomery restaurant directory;Tripadvisor Montgomery County things to do;Tripadvisor Montgomery County restaurants;Google Maps restaurants near Potomac;Google Maps things to do near Potomac;Reddit MoCo discussion search for Potomac;Reddit thread: moving from DC to MoCo;Reddit thread: visitor activities in MoCo;WMATA rail and bus maps;Montgomery Parks;Montgomery County Open Data;Niche Montgomery County livability;MoCo360 local news.
Contextual links for this video
Kevin site links:Potomac guide;home selling guide;home buying guide;market stats;California to Maryland: The Honest Truth About Relocating to Montgomery County.
Outside research links for this video:Visit Montgomery travel guide;Visit Montgomery restaurants;Google Maps restaurants near Potomac;Reddit discussion search for this topic;Google context search for this video.
Kevin process link: why Kevin’s local process matters.