Is Derwood safe?
Gaithersburg, Maryland · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Derwood as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Derwood
“Go. Derwood is a tranquil, affluent Montgomery County suburb that is exceptionally safe for visitors and residents alike. While it is mostly residential with limited commercial nightlife, it offers excellent outdoor recreation and easy access to the Washington Metro system without meaningful safety concerns.”
About the area
Derwood is an unincorporated, leafy suburban community situated between Rockville and Gaithersburg in Montgomery County, Maryland. Characterized by well-maintained single-family subdivisions and regional parkland, it serves primarily as a quiet residential enclave and transit hub centered around the Shady Grove Metro station.
- Suburban / Leafy
- Quiet / Residential
- Family-Friendly
- Park-Adjacent
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Derwood
Walk score: 28/100 · Bike score: 38/100
Capital Bikeshare docks are available near Shady Grove station, and cyclists have convenient access to the scenic, paved Rock Creek Hiker-Biker Trail connecting all the way to Washington, D.C.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates are significantly lower than national and regional averages
- High median household income exceeding $130,000 with exceptionally low poverty rates below 4%
- Direct rail access into Washington D.C. via the Red Line terminus at Shady Grove
- Well-maintained suburban housing stock with high owner-occupancy and virtually zero structural abandonment
Cons
- Occasional opportunistic property crimes such as unlocked vehicle break-ins in residential drives
- Highly car-dependent layout outside the immediate Metro station vicinity
- Very limited pedestrian infrastructure, retail density, and dining options within neighborhood boundaries
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not a notable presence in Derwood, though occasional transient individuals or commuters in need may briefly be seen around the Shady Grove Metro bus bays.
What Derwood is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and busy with commuters heading to the Shady Grove Metro and joggers along residential streets and park trails.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Very quiet and safe, dominated by local service traffic, delivery vehicles, and park visitors.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Calm and safe as commuters return home and families walk dogs through well-lit subdivisions.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Extremely low activity with pitch-black residential side streets; safe but best navigated with a vehicle due to darkness and lack of foot traffic.
Transit, parking and getting around
Montgomery County Ride On buses serve local thoroughfares, while the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Red Line terminates at Shady Grove Station in the western corner of the neighborhood, providing direct subway service into Rockville, Bethesda, and Washington, D.C.
Free and abundant parking is standard in residential driveways and park lots, while commuter parking is readily available for a daily fee in the large multi-story parking garages at the Shady Grove Metro station.
Things to do in Derwood
- Hike, kayak, or fish at Lake Needwood within Rock Creek Regional Park
- Experience tree-top ropes courses and ziplining at Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park
- Play a round of 18 holes surrounded by scenic rolling hills at Needwood Golf Course
Local favorites
- Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park · Outdoor Activity Center · 4.7★ (1240)Popular outdoor adventure park featuring canopy ziplines and suspended obstacle courses inside Rock Creek Regional Park.
- Needwood Golf Course · Golf Course · 4.3★ (380)Scenic public Montgomery County golf course offering an 18-hole main course, driving range, and 9-hole executive course.
- Derwood Deli · Deli & Convenience · 4.4★ (115)Straightforward neighborhood deli and convenience market serving hearty breakfast sandwiches, subs, and daily lunch specials.
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.