Is Hillandale safe?
Colesville, Maryland · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Hillandale as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Hillandale
“Go. Hillandale is a quiet, predominantly residential suburban community in eastern Montgomery County that is safe and accessible for visitors. While commercial plazas along New Hampshire Avenue experience occasional petty property crime, the surrounding residential neighborhoods are calm, well-maintained, and low-risk.”
Recent local reporting highlights ongoing pedestrian safety and traffic enforcement initiatives along New Hampshire Avenue following Montgomery County Vision Zero roadway updates.
About the area
Hillandale is an established suburban neighborhood characterized by mid-century single-family homes, strip-mall dining gems, and convenient access to the FDA White Oak Campus and the Capital Beltway. It offers an unpretentious, quiet atmosphere with diverse international culinary options along its main commercial corridor.
- Suburban
- Family-Friendly
- Car-Dependent
- Diverse Dining
Walking and biking in Hillandale
Walk score: 48/100 · Bike score: 42/100
Capital Bikeshare stations are scarce in the immediate commercial core, but recreational cyclists can access nearby multi-use paths linking to the Northwest Branch Trail network.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Low violent crime rates consistent with suburban Montgomery County residential communities.
- Strong economic foundation with median household incomes near six figures and low overall poverty.
- Plentiful, free surface parking throughout commercial centers and residential side streets.
Cons
- Occasional vehicle break-ins and retail theft clustered in shopping center parking lots.
- High-speed arterial traffic along MD 650 creates hazards for pedestrians and cyclists.
- Very limited dedicated nightlife or cultural activities within the neighborhood itself.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal in Hillandale, with only occasional individuals asking for assistance near major New Hampshire Avenue intersections or bus stops; there are no permanent encampments.
What Hillandale is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and safe, with standard morning commuter traffic along New Hampshire Avenue and neighbors walking pets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Bustling retail centers draw steady lunch and shopping traffic, while residential cul-de-sacs remain quiet and secure.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Active dining traffic in local strip plazas with well-lit lots; walking in residential areas is relaxed and safe.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very quiet suburban environment with little foot traffic; commercial areas become empty and warrant standard situational awareness.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is provided by Montgomery County Ride On (Routes 20, 22) and Metrobus (K6, C8), providing bus connections to the Silver Spring and Takoma Metrorail Red Line stations located roughly 4 to 5 miles away.
Parking is easy and virtually all free, with ample spaces in shopping center surface lots and unrestricted curb parking on residential streets.
Things to do in Hillandale
- Relax, play tennis, or walk the wooded perimeter trail at Hillandale Local Park.
- Sample diverse international flavors, including authentic Peruvian, Vietnamese, and Salvadoran cuisines along Powder Mill Road.
- Access nearby trailheads connecting to the scenic Northwest Branch Stream Valley Trail for a shaded nature hike.
Local favorites
- Sardi's Pollo a la Brasa · Peruvian Restaurant · 4.3★ (1950)Popular local staple known for signature charcoal-rotisserie chicken, plantains, and hearty Latin specialties.
- Pho Tan Vinh · Vietnamese Restaurant · 4.4★ (480)Casual strip-mall eatery serving fragrant noodle soups, rice platters, and crispy spring rolls.
- El Gavilan Restaurant · Salvadoran Restaurant · 4.3★ (520)Family-run spot offering handmade pupusas, carne asada, and traditional Central American comfort food.
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.