Is Ballard safe?
Clinton, Maryland · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Ballard as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Ballard
“Go. Ballard is a stable, quiet suburban enclave in Clinton characterized by well-kept single-family homes and low violent crime. Visitors will find a peaceful residential atmosphere where basic suburban safety awareness, like locking vehicles, is all that is needed.”
About the area
Ballard is an established residential neighborhood nestled in Clinton, Maryland, just south of Joint Base Andrews in Prince George's County. The area consists primarily of detached single-family houses on tree-lined suburban lots with minimal commercial through-traffic. It offers a calm, community-oriented environment within easy driving distance of regional parks and shopping centers.
- Quiet Suburban
- Family-Oriented
- Tree-Lined
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Ballard
Walk score: 24/100 · Bike score: 31/100
There are no municipal bike-share stations in Ballard; cyclists generally ride on neighborhood streets or head to paved multi-use paths inside Louise F. Cosca Regional Park.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- High rate of homeownership and well-maintained properties fostering neighborhood stability
- Low rate of violent crime compared to inner-beltway regional averages
- Solid economic profile with median household incomes consistently exceeding the national average
- Quiet, low-traffic residential streets ideal for peaceful daytime strolls
Cons
- High car dependency with limited sidewalks on connecting secondary roads
- Occasional opportunistic property crimes like vehicle break-ins reported in the broader Clinton area
- Sparse public street lighting along certain residential stretches at night
- Lack of walkable dining and retail directly within the subdivision
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is practically nonexistent within the residential streets of Ballard, though occasional individuals panhandling may be observed near major commercial retail plazas along Route 5 (Branch Avenue).
What Ballard is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and safe, with residents leaving for work, school buses circulating, and early-morning walkers on local streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and residential with minimal activity, providing a comfortable setting for neighborhood walks.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet as commuters return home; residential streets are generally safe but require reflective gear due to variable lighting.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very low foot and vehicle traffic, generally peaceful with little disturbance outside of typical suburban isolation.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is provided by Prince George's County TheBus (Route 30) and WMATA Metrobus lines along Woodyard Road and Piscataway Road, connecting commuters to the Branch Avenue Metro Station (Green Line) roughly a 10-to-15-minute drive away.
Parking is exceptionally straightforward, with widespread availability on residential driveways and free curbside parking along neighborhood streets with no meters.
Things to do in Ballard
- Explore the historic exhibits and guided tours at the nearby Surratt House Museum
- Enjoy hiking trails, fishing, and tennis courts at Louise F. Cosca Regional Park
- Spend an afternoon golfing or hitting balls at the nearby Clearwater Nature Center and park grounds
Local favorites
- Mama Stella's Ristorante Italiano · Italian Restaurant · 4.3★ (1150)Longtime, family-run destination serving traditional pasta dishes and classic Italian-American entrees.
- Topolino · Italian & Seafood Restaurant · 4.2★ (980)Casual neighborhood eatery known for generous portions of pasta, pizza, and regional seafood staples.
- Silvestre Chicken · Peruvian Restaurant · 4.5★ (840)Popular local counter-serve spot featuring authentic Peruvian charcoal-rotisserie chicken and savory sides.
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.