Is Forestville safe?
District Heights, Maryland · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Forestville as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Forestville
“Go with care. Forestville is a primarily residential suburban community in Prince George's County with established single-family neighborhoods alongside busy commercial strips. While daytime errands and visits to quiet residential pockets are generally uneventful, elevated rates of property crime and occasional violent incidents around commercial strip plazas and apartment complexes warrant heightened situational awareness after dark.”
Local law enforcement has periodically increased patrols along commercial corridors like Pennsylvania Avenue and Marlboro Pike to combat vehicle thefts and retail crime.
About the area
Located just outside the Capital Beltway near Joint Base Andrews, Forestville is an inner-ring suburban community characterized by mid-century single-family homes, garden apartment complexes, and auto-centric retail centers along Pennsylvania Avenue (MD-4). It serves as a working- and middle-class residential hub with convenient commuter access to Washington, D.C.
- Suburban Residential
- Car-Dependent
- Strip-Mall Retail
- Commuter Hub
Walking and biking in Forestville
Walk score: 42/100 · Bike score: 38/100
There is no local Capital Bikeshare presence in Forestville, and cycling is mostly limited to neighborhood side streets due to the lack of dedicated bike lanes on major thoroughfares.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Solid median household incomes exceeding $80,000 and high rates of stable, long-term homeownership in single-family subdivisions
- Convenient vehicle access to the Capital Beltway (I-495) and Suitland Parkway for regional commuting
- Close proximity to extensive recreational amenities at nearby Walker Mill Regional Park
- Strong civic presence and community pride anchored by multi-generational Prince George's County families
Cons
- Property crime, vehicle break-ins, and auto theft rates are higher than national averages
- Occasional violent crime incidents concentrated around budget apartment complexes and commercial plazas
- Heavy car dependency with sparse dedicated pedestrian or cycling infrastructure
- Commercial strips along MD-4 experience sporadic late-night loitering and retail theft
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is relatively low in residential pockets, though occasional panhandling occurs at major highway intersections and near bus stops along MD-4 and Marlboro Pike. Prince George's County operates outreach and shelter services in neighboring Capitol Heights and Suitland.
What Forestville is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and busy with commuters heading toward D.C. or Joint Base Andrews, with high vehicle traffic along Pennsylvania Avenue.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Active around shopping centers and school zones, generally safe for standard errands and residential walking.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Commercial parking lots remain active; visitors should stay aware in dimly lit plaza areas and gas stations.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Streets become quiet, but isolated commercial nodes and apartment parking lots experience increased risk of auto theft and opportunistic crime.
Transit, parking and getting around
The area is served by WMATA Metrobus (routes like the K12, V12, and P12) and Prince George's County TheBus. The nearest Metrorail station is Suitland Station (Green Line) or Addison Road-Seat Pleasant (Blue/Silver Lines), both roughly 3 to 4 miles away and requiring a connecting bus or short drive.
Parking is abundant and free across retail shopping centers, with ample off-street driveway and unmetered street parking throughout residential subdivisions.
Things to do in Forestville
- Enjoy sports fields, paved trails, and family playgrounds at nearby Walker Mill Regional Park
- Explore diverse local Caribbean and soul food carryouts along the Marlboro Pike corridor
- Shop for household goods and groceries at the Centre at Forestville
Local favorites
- Three Brothers Italian Restaurant · Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria · 4.1★ (560)A long-standing local favorite in the Centre at Forestville serving classic NY-style pizza, calzones, and pasta.
- Topolino · Italian & Seafood Restaurant · 4.2★ (1420)An established sit-down eatery on Pennsylvania Avenue known for hearty pasta dishes, crab cakes, and pizza.
- Silvestre Chicken · Peruvian Restaurant · 4.3★ (780)Popular quick-service venue specializing in charcoal-broiled Peruvian rotisserie chicken and traditional 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.