Is Bel Pre Farms safe?
Aspen Hill, Maryland · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Bel Pre Farms as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Bel Pre Farms
“Go. Bel Pre Farms is a quiet, settled suburban community in Montgomery County that is safe for visitors and families. While major commercial thoroughfares nearby require basic situational awareness at night, the residential streets are peaceful and orderly.”
About the area
Bel Pre Farms is an established mid-century residential neighborhood nestled within the broader Aspen Hill area of Montgomery County. It features single-family homes on spacious wooded lots, quiet cul-de-sacs, and easy access to community parks. While mostly residential and car-dependent, it offers convenient proximity to major suburban shopping plazas along Bel Pre Road and Georgia Avenue.
- Quiet Suburb
- Tree-Lined
- Family-Friendly
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Bel Pre Farms
Walk score: 38/100 · Bike score: 44/100
Capital Bikeshare stations are limited in the immediate residential streets, but the nearby paved Matthew Henson Trail offers exceptional, separated multi-use trail connectivity across the area.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Significantly lower violent crime rates compared to the national average, typical of Montgomery County residential subdivisions
- Solid economic base with median household incomes exceeding $95,000 and low neighborhood poverty rates
- High rate of owner-occupied, well-maintained mid-century single-family housing
- Direct proximity to county green spaces and the Matthew Henson Trail
Cons
- Occasional property crimes such as vehicle break-ins and theft along outer perimeter roads
- Car-dependent layout with limited pedestrian infrastructure on major arterial borders
- Busier commercial strip malls along Georgia Avenue can feel congested and less secure late at night
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is practically non-existent within the interior residential streets of Bel Pre Farms, with only infrequent panhandling occasionally observed around busy commercial shopping center plazas on Georgia Avenue.
What Bel Pre Farms is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with dog walkers, joggers, and commuters heading out with negligible safety concerns.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm residential atmosphere with children playing outside and light neighborhood vehicle traffic.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet and residential, feeling very safe for neighborhood strolls along well-lit interior streets.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very low foot traffic and quiet; standard precautions for suburban areas apply, especially near commercial intersections.
Transit, parking and getting around
Montgomery County Ride On buses (such as Routes 26, 34, and 41) serve the main perimeter roads, connecting riders to the Glenmont Metro Station (Red Line) approximately 2.5 miles south.
Ample free street parking is readily available throughout the residential subdivisions, and commercial shopping plazas offer expansive, free surface parking lots.
Things to do in Bel Pre Farms
- Hike, jog, or bike along the paved Matthew Henson Trail and boardwalk through local parkland
- Spend a relaxing afternoon with kids or play sports at nearby Bel Pre Local Park
- Browse local international grocers and dine at casual eateries at the Plaza del Mercado shopping center
Local favorites
- Sole D'Italia Restaurant · Italian Restaurant · 4.4★ (1150)Longtime family-owned neighborhood staple serving classic pasta dishes, pizza, and Italian-American comfort food.
- Full Key Restaurant · Cantonese Restaurant · 4.2★ (840)Renowned local dining spot in nearby Wheaton/Aspen Hill serving authentic Hong Kong-style barbecue, noodle soups, and seafood.
- Plaza del Mercado · Shopping Center · 4.1★ (1280)Community hub offering grocery shopping, essential retail services, fitness centers, and diverse casual dining.
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.