Is Hillcrest Heights safe?
Temple Hills, Maryland · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Hillcrest Heights as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Hillcrest Heights
“Go with care. Hillcrest Heights is primarily an older residential and retail corridor directly bordering Southeast Washington, D.C. While residential single-family pockets are relatively quiet during daylight, above-average rates of auto-related crime and violent incidents around shopping centers and large apartment clusters warrant caution after dark.”
Prince George's County Police have periodically implemented targeted patrol initiatives along the Branch Avenue corridor and adjacent retail plazas to curb auto thefts and commercial robberies.
About the area
Hillcrest Heights is an unincorporated community in Prince George's County, Maryland, positioned along the Branch Avenue (MD-5) corridor. The neighborhood features a mix of mid-century single-family brick homes, garden apartment complexes, and substantial strip shopping centers such as The Shops at Iverson.
- Suburban Commercial
- Car-Dependent
- Diverse Community
- Transit-Adjacent
Walking and biking in Hillcrest Heights
Walk score: 53/100 · Bike score: 36/100
Dedicated bike infrastructure is virtually non-existent, and there are no Capital Bikeshare stations; cyclists must share high-traffic arterial roads like Branch Avenue without protected lanes.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Convenient direct highway access to the Capital Beltway (I-495) and downtown Washington, D.C.
- Pockets of established, stable single-family residential blocks with mature trees
- Extensive retail and discount shopping within walking distance along Branch Avenue
Cons
- Property crime rates, specifically motor vehicle theft and car break-ins, run significantly above state averages
- Commercial parking lots and apartment complexes experience occasional violent crime occurrences
- Aging commercial infrastructure with high auto-oriented traffic and poor pedestrian crossings
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is low to moderate, with occasional panhandling observed near major shopping center entrances, gas stations, and highway access ramps along Branch Avenue.
What Hillcrest Heights is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Morning rush hour brings steady commuter traffic and bus activity; residential streets are calm and safe for walking.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Commercial centers and plazas along Branch Avenue are active with shoppers, requiring typical situational awareness.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Activity wanes on residential roads while strip mall parking lots see increased loitering; vigilance is recommended.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Late-night foot travel is not recommended due to elevated risks of robbery, vehicular crimes, and dimly lit corridors.
Transit, parking and getting around
Transit is provided by Prince George's County TheBus and WMATA Metrobus routes. Metrorail Green Line service is accessible via the nearby Naylor Road and Southern Avenue stations, both located about 1 to 2 miles north.
Parking is generally plentiful and free, with large surface lots servicing shopping plazas and straightforward, unrestricted street parking throughout residential subdivisions.
Things to do in Hillcrest Heights
- Shop, dine, and visit local independent vendors inside The Shops at Iverson
- Utilize the recreation facilities, basketball courts, and community programs at Hillcrest Heights Community Center
- Browse regional and international food options along the Branch Avenue and Marlow Heights commercial strips
Local favorites
- Topolino's Italian Restaurant · Italian Restaurant · 4.4★ (1850)Longstanding neighborhood staple serving classic pasta dishes, pizza, and hearty Italian-American entrees.
- Sardi's Pollo a la Brasa · Peruvian Restaurant · 4.2★ (1420)Popular quick-service eatery known for charcoal-broiled Peruvian rotisserie chicken and Latin sides.
- Caribbean Supreme · Caribbean Restaurant · 4.3★ (610)Casual takeout-friendly spot dishing out generous portions of jerk chicken, oxtail, and curried goat.
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.