Is Montpelier Woods safe?
Laurel, Maryland · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Montpelier Woods as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Montpelier Woods
“Go. Montpelier Woods is an established, quiet suburban neighborhood in South Laurel with well-maintained single-family homes and low crime rates. While you will need a car to access commercial amenities, the neighborhood itself is safe, peaceful, and pleasant to visit.”
About the area
Montpelier Woods is a tree-lined residential community situated just south of historic Montpelier Mansion in Laurel, Maryland. Composed predominantly of single-family residences on quiet cul-de-sacs, it provides a stable suburban atmosphere popular with commuters along the Baltimore-Washington corridor.
- Suburban Retreat
- Family-Friendly
- Quiet / Residential
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Montpelier Woods
Walk score: 18/100 · Bike score: 32/100
There are no municipal bike-share docks in the area, but the neighborhood streets feature low speed limits that are comfortable for casual cycling toward the Montpelier grounds.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Low violent crime rates well below state and national metropolitan averages
- High homeownership rate with stable, well-maintained properties and mature greenery
- Strong socio-economic indicators including high median household incomes and negligible poverty
- Immediate proximity to historic Montpelier Mansion, art facilities, and regional parklands
Cons
- Very car-dependent with virtually no walkable retail, dining, or grocery options
- Occasional opportunistic property theft and vehicle break-ins common to quiet suburban neighborhoods
- Interior residential streets can be dimly lit at night
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not a notable presence within the residential bounds of Montpelier Woods. Any related support services or occasional panhandling are localized along major commercial stretches of Route 1.
What Montpelier Woods is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Crisp and peaceful with residents walking dogs, jogging, and heading out on commutes.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Very quiet with low vehicle traffic, occasional delivery vans, and school bus routes.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Calm and residential with families outside; very safe for neighborhood walks before dark.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Completely quiet and dark; remains generally safe, though standard caution around unlit cul-de-sacs is wise.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit directly inside the subdivision is sparse, though Prince George's County TheBus and WMATA routes run along nearby Route 197. The Muirkirk MARC commuter rail station is roughly a 5-minute drive away, offering direct weekday trains to D.C. and Baltimore.
Parking is completely hassle-free with ample free curbside street parking and private multi-car driveways throughout the neighborhood.
Things to do in Montpelier Woods
- Tour the historic 18th-century Montpelier House Museum and its surrounding gardens.
- Take classes or view local gallery exhibitions at the nearby Montpelier Arts Center.
- Hike and birdwatch on nearby nature trails connected to the Patuxent Research Refuge.
Local favorites
- Sardi's Pollo A La Brasa · Peruvian Restaurant · 4.5★ (4250)Beloved regional staple famous for charcoal-rotisserie Peruvian chicken and savory sides.
- Toucan Taco · Mexican Restaurant · 4.4★ (980)Longstanding Laurel fixture serving classic tacos, enchiladas, and hard-shell platters.
- Silver Diner · American Diner · 4.4★ (2650)Modernized classic diner serving farm-to-table comfort foods, vegan options, and milkshakes.
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.