Is Fairland safe?
Colesville, Maryland · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Fairland as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Fairland
“Go. Fairland and Colesville are quiet, diverse suburban communities in eastern Montgomery County that are generally safe for visitors and residents alike. While some apartment complexes and shopping plazas along US-29 experience occasional property crime, standard suburban awareness is all that is required.”
Occasional auto break-ins and retail theft incidents along the Columbia Pike commercial corridor remain the primary safety concerns reported by Montgomery County Police.
About the area
Situated north of Silver Spring along the Route 29 corridor, Fairland and Colesville offer a blend of mature single-family residential streets, townhome developments, and large regional parks. The area is largely residential and car-dependent, serving as a peaceful bedroom community for Washington, D.C. commuters.
- Suburban
- Family-Friendly
- Quiet
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Fairland
Walk score: 41/100 · Bike score: 38/100
Fairland Regional Park offers extensive paved and natural surface trails, but designated on-street bike lanes connecting the neighborhoods remain sparse.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Suburban violent crime rates remain well below national metropolitan benchmarks
- High household median income above $95,000 supporting stable residential tracts
- Direct proximity to expansive green spaces like Fairland Regional Park
Cons
- Isolated vehicle-related property theft in apartment parking lots and shopping plazas
- Suburban auto-centric design with limited sidewalk illumination along major arteries
- Car dependency makes walking between commercial nodes inefficient and occasionally hazardous
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not a significant presence in this suburban area, with only infrequent individuals seen near transit stops along Route 29.
What Fairland is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and busy with commuters and school buses navigating tree-lined residential roads.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and safe, with regular pedestrian activity around local strip malls and public parks.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet residential feel, though extra awareness is advised around commercial parking lots after dark.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very low foot traffic; generally safe but dark along arterial roads like Old Columbia Pike and Route 29.
Transit, parking and getting around
Montgomery County Ride On buses and the Flash BRT line along US-29 provide connections to the Silver Spring Metro station (Red Line), located about 8 miles south.
Parking is abundant and free throughout the area, with large surface lots at shopping centers and easy curbside parking in residential neighborhoods.
Things to do in Fairland
- Explore the extensive multi-use trails, sports facilities, and pump track at Fairland Regional Park
- Play a round of golf at the scenic Gunpowder Golf Course nearby
- Shop international groceries and grab casual dining at the Briggs Chaney Marketplace
Local favorites
- Cuba de Ayer · Cuban Restaurant · 4.6★ (920)Beloved local gem serving authentic Cuban classics like ropa vieja and lechon asado.
- Full Key Restaurant · Chinese Restaurant · 4.2★ (680)Traditional Hong Kong-style eatery known for its roast duck, wonton noodle soup, and seafood.
- The Gardens Ice House · Ice Skating Rink · 4.5★ (840)Massive multi-sheet skating and hockey facility hosting public skating sessions and youth leagues.
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.