Is Carole Highlands safe?
College Park, Maryland · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Carole Highlands as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Carole Highlands
“Go with care. Carole Highlands is a quiet, established residential community that is generally safe for visitors during daylight hours. While the residential interior sees minimal violent crime, visitors should exercise standard situational awareness along bordering commercial corridors like University Boulevard.”
County law enforcement continues focused patrols targeting vehicle break-ins and commercial property offenses along adjacent arterial corridors.
About the area
Carole Highlands is a modest mid-century residential neighborhood situated in Prince George's County near the intersections of Takoma Park, Hyattsville, and Langley Park. The area is characterized by single-family brick ramblers, mature trees, and a diverse, working-class population. It primarily serves as a quiet bedroom community conveniently positioned between the University of Maryland and Washington, D.C.
- Quiet Residential
- Mid-Century Suburb
- Diverse
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Carole Highlands
Walk score: 52/100 · Bike score: 58/100
Capital Bikeshare docks are available in adjacent districts, and cyclists can easily access the scenic Northwest Branch Anacostia River Trail located just west of the neighborhood.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Stable residential core with predominantly owner-occupied single-family homes
- Close proximity to the University of Maryland, College Park, and regional transit corridors
- Lower rates of violent crime within the interior streets compared to regional averages
Cons
- Higher property crime and vehicle theft rates along bordering transit and retail corridors
- Limited street lighting and pedestrian infrastructure on some interior residential blocks
- Lack of commercial amenities directly within the neighborhood interior
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is largely absent inside the residential blocks of Carole Highlands, with only occasional individuals or panhandling observed near major bus hubs and retail plazas on surrounding arterials.
What Carole Highlands is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with residents heading to work, walking pets, and catching local Metrobus connections.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and quiet through the residential side streets, with moderate vehicle traffic along the main peripheral roads.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Generally safe within the neighborhood, though foot traffic drops off quickly after dusk.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very quiet with sparse activity; walking alone late at night is not recommended due to limited street lighting.
Transit, parking and getting around
WMATA Metrobus lines (including routes C2 and C4) and Prince George's County TheBus run along University Boulevard, connecting to the Hyattsville Crossing and Takoma Metrorail stations located within a 10-minute drive or bus ride.
Street parking is generally easy and free on most residential streets, though visitors should observe any posted parking permit restrictions.
Things to do in Carole Highlands
- Take a stroll or jog through the neighborhood trails connecting to Carole Highlands Park
- Access the nearby Northwest Branch Trail for regional biking and nature walks
- Explore diverse international culinary offerings along nearby University Boulevard
Local favorites
- Woodlands Indian Vegetarian · Indian Restaurant · 4.3★ (1150)Popular nearby venue serving authentic South Indian vegetarian dosas, uthappam, and thalis.
- Pupuseria La Familiar · Salvadoran Restaurant · 4.4★ (780)Lauded local casual eatery known for freshly griddled pupusas, tamales, and Central American specialties.
- Sardi's Pollo A La Brasa · Peruvian Restaurant · 4.4★ (3600)Well-known regional favorite serving charcoal-broiled rotisserie chicken, plantains, and classic Peruvian 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.