Is Anscroft safe?
Olney, Maryland · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Anscroft as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Anscroft
“Go. Anscroft in Olney is an exceptionally safe, quiet, and affluent suburban community with virtually negligible violent crime. Visitors will find a peaceful residential setting, though having a personal vehicle is essential for getting around.”
About the area
Anscroft is a well-maintained, picturesque residential subdivision located in Olney, Montgomery County. Characterized by spacious single-family homes, manicured lawns, and mature trees, it offers a serene suburban environment just minutes from Olney's central shopping and dining districts.
- Family-Friendly
- Quiet Suburb
- Affluent
- Car-Dependent
- Green / Tree-Lined
Walking and biking in Anscroft
Walk score: 24/100 · Bike score: 38/100
There is no dedicated bike-share infrastructure in the immediate neighborhood, but wide residential streets provide low-stress cycling with connections toward the Olney Manor and stream valley paved trail networks.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Extremely low rates of violent and property crime compared to national and state averages
- High median household incomes well exceeding $150,000 with exceptionally low poverty rates
- High homeownership rate and consistently well-maintained residential properties
Cons
- Highly car-dependent with minimal walkability to daily commercial services
- Suburban design with limited street lighting on some residential cul-de-sacs
- Occasional opportunistic property thefts, primarily involving unlocked parked vehicles
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not a notable presence in Anscroft or the surrounding residential sections of Olney, and there are no encampments or panhandling hubs in the area.
What Anscroft is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with residents jogging, walking dogs, and commuting out of the neighborhood.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Very quiet residential atmosphere with light local traffic and excellent general safety.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Calm and family-oriented with low ambient noise and safe conditions for evening strolls.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Extremely quiet and dark with virtually no pedestrian activity, maintaining very low crime levels.
Transit, parking and getting around
Montgomery County Ride On buses (such as Routes 52 and 53) run along nearby arterial roads like Georgia Avenue and Route 108, connecting passengers to the Glenmont Metro Station (Red Line), which is about a 15-minute drive or bus ride away.
Parking is abundant and free throughout the neighborhood via private driveways and unrestricted residential curb parking.
Things to do in Anscroft
- Attend an award-winning professional stage production at the nearby Olney Theatre Center
- Enjoy outdoor recreation, tennis courts, and the skate park at Olney Manor Recreational Park
- Explore nature trails and green space along the adjacent North Branch Stream Valley Park system
Local favorites
- Olney Theatre Center · Performing Arts Theater · 4.7★ (760)Acclaimed regional theater producing musicals, classics, and contemporary plays across multiple stages.
- GrillMarX Steakhouse & Raw Bar · Steakhouse · 4.5★ (1520)Popular local upscale steakhouse offering wood-fired cuts, fresh seafood, and craft cocktails.
- Brew Belly Kitchen & Sudhaus · American Gastropub · 4.6★ (460)Casual neighborhood joint celebrated for craft beers on tap, craft cheesesteaks, and poutine.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.