Is Kaywood Gardens safe?
Hyattsville, Maryland · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Kaywood Gardens as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Kaywood Gardens
“Go with care. Kaywood Gardens is primarily a functional, working-class residential enclave straddling the Prince George's County and Northeast D.C. border. Visitors should stay mindful of their surroundings and secure vehicles against opportunistic property crime, especially after dark.”
Prince George's County police continue routine patrols targeting property crime and catalytic converter thefts along the Eastern Avenue border corridor.
About the area
Kaywood Gardens is a mid-century garden apartment neighborhood situated along the western border of Hyattsville, adjacent to Mount Rainier and Eastern Avenue. The community consists largely of multi-family brick residential complexes surrounded by mature trees, located just minutes from the Route 1 Arts District.
- Residential Enclave
- Working-Class
- Border Community
- Tree-Lined
Walking and biking in Kaywood Gardens
Walk score: 68/100 · Bike score: 62/100
Capital Bikeshare docks are available in adjacent Mount Rainier, connecting riders toward the Northwest Branch and Anacostia River Tributary Trails.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- High occupancy and steady residential stability in established garden apartment stock.
- Immediate access to diverse dining and independent retail in neighboring Mount Rainier and Hyattsville.
- Active, family-oriented neighborhood vibe with multi-generational households.
Cons
- Elevated rates of vehicle break-ins and auto-related property theft typical of the border corridor.
- Limited street and courtyard lighting in some multi-family parking areas.
- Heavy rental concentration with limited direct commercial amenities within the immediate apartment blocks.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the interior apartment courtyards, though occasional panhandling occurs along major commercial intersections on nearby Eastern Avenue and Queens Chapel Road.
What Kaywood Gardens is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Active and calm as residents head to work and children catch school buses throughout the complex.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Quiet and low-key with delivery traffic and routine neighborhood foot traffic.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Residents return home, creating a relaxed vibe, though visitors should remain alert in poorly lit parking lots.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Generally quiet, but situational awareness is advised due to reduced visibility and elevated property crime risks.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is operated by WMATA Metrobus (lines F1, B2) and Prince George's County TheBus. The nearest rail option is the West Hyattsville Metro Station on the Green Line, roughly 1.5 miles away.
Most parking is designated for residents via apartment complex permit lots, with limited free street parking along perimeter residential roads.
Things to do in Kaywood Gardens
- Explore the neighboring Mount Rainier Historic District to view well-preserved Sears kit homes and craftsman bungalows.
- Browse local art exhibits and community performances at the nearby Gateway Arts Center.
- Walk to the Rhode Island Avenue commercial strip to sample independent cafes and local bakeries.
Local favorites
- Pennyroyal Station · American Restaurant · 4.6★ (750)A vibrant, critically acclaimed neighborhood dining spot serving creative comfort food in a restored historic bank building.
- Vigilante Coffee Company · Coffee Shop · 4.7★ (1450)A popular artisanal cafe and roastery offering house-roasted beans, espresso drinks, and acai bowls.
- Era Wine Bar · Wine Bar · 4.8★ (160)A cozy, globally inspired wine bar offering curated international selections and pairing bites.
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.