Is Defense Heights safe?
Landover, Maryland · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Defense Heights as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Defense Heights
“Go with care. Defense Heights is primarily a quiet, working-class residential subdivision, but surrounding commercial corridors along Annapolis Road and Landover Road experience elevated property and violent crime rates. Visitors will find little in the way of tourist attractions, so standard suburban precautions apply, especially after dark.”
Local law enforcement continues focused patrols along the nearby MD-202 and MD-450 corridors to curb regional vehicle thefts and opportunistic property crimes.
About the area
Defense Heights is a compact residential enclave in Landover, Maryland, characterized by modest mid-century single-family homes and quiet residential blocks. It sits directly off major thoroughfares like MD-202 and MD-450, offering straightforward highway access into Washington, D.C. While the neighborhood interior is relatively calm, adjacent commercial corridors have higher rates of opportunistic crime.
- Suburban
- Car-Dependent
- Residential
- Modest
Walking and biking in Defense Heights
Walk score: 44/100 · Bike score: 38/100
There are no dedicated municipal bike-share stations in the immediate neighborhood, and cycling along major roads like Landover Road is challenging due to limited bike infrastructure.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Primarily quiet residential interior with established single-family homes.
- Convenient access to major regional commuter corridors including Route 50 and the Capital Beltway.
- Close proximity to community recreation centers and regional parks in Prince George's County.
Cons
- Higher property crime and auto theft rates than state averages in adjacent commercial strips.
- Limited street lighting along some peripheral connecting roadways.
- Few walkable dining or retail options directly within the neighborhood core.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is low within the residential core of Defense Heights, though occasional panhandling and unhoused individuals can be seen near retail plazas and bus stops along Annapolis Road.
What Defense Heights is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Calm and peaceful as residents commute, with minimal foot traffic and safe conditions for walking.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Generally quiet with routine neighborhood activity, though standard awareness is advised near major roadway intersections.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Streets quiet down significantly; residential blocks remain calm, but walking along boundary commercial corridors is best done with vigilance.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Walking alone late at night is not recommended due to heightened risks of opportunistic vehicle and property crimes in the area.
Transit, parking and getting around
Prince George's County TheBus and WMATA Metrobus routes (including the F12 and A12) serve adjacent corridors, connecting riders to the Cheverly Metrorail Station on the Orange Line approximately 1.5 miles away.
Curbside residential street parking is free and generally easy to find, while nearby commercial strip centers provide ample open surface lot parking.
Things to do in Defense Heights
- Visit the nearby Kentland Community Center for indoor fitness, gymnasium access, and community programs.
- Attend live concerts and theater performances at the Prince George's Publick Playhouse in neighboring Cheverly.
- Enjoy paved walking paths, fishing, and kayak rentals at Bladensburg Waterfront Park along the Anacostia River.
Local favorites
- Sardi's Pollo A La Brasa · Peruvian Restaurant · 4.3★ (1420)Popular regional outpost serving charcoal-broiled Peruvian rotisserie chicken and traditional sides.
- El Mexicano Restaurant · Latin American Restaurant · 4.3★ (480)Unassuming strip-mall spot dishing up generous portions of Salvadoran pupusas and Mexican favorites.
- Taqueria La Placita · Mexican Restaurant · 4.6★ (2150)Renowned local counter-serve taqueria famous for authentic al pastor and street-style tacos.
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.