Is New Carrollton safe?
Lanham, Maryland · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates New Carrollton as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on New Carrollton
“Go with care. New Carrollton and Lanham offer quiet, tree-lined residential pockets alongside major regional transit connectivity, making them generally functional and welcoming for visitors. However, higher rates of property crime, opportunistic vehicle theft, and occasional incidents around major commercial corridors and transit parking structures warrant standard suburban street smarts.”
Extensive ongoing development around the New Carrollton Joint Development transit center and future Purple Line terminal has brought increased private security and infrastructure upgrades to the station district.
About the area
New Carrollton and Lanham form a suburban hub in Prince George's County, characterized by mid-century single-family homes, apartment complexes, and strip retail centers. Anchored by a massive multimodal transit station and proximity to the Capital Beltway, the area serves as a busy commuter gateway to Washington, D.C. and Annapolis.
- Suburban Transit Hub
- Diverse & Working-Class
- Car-Dependent
- Commercial Strips
Walking and biking in New Carrollton
Walk score: 48/100 · Bike score: 42/100
Capital Bikeshare docks are available near the New Carrollton Metro Station, with nearby links connecting to the Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis (WB&A) multi-use trail system.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Solid middle-income economic base with median household earnings exceeding $85,000.
- Quiet, stable single-family residential subdivisions with active neighborhood watch presences.
- Exceptional regional transit access linking rail, commuter lines, and bus routes in one place.
Cons
- Elevated rates of vehicle break-ins, catalytic converter thefts, and auto theft around shopping centers and commuter parking lots.
- Commercial strip corridors along Annapolis Road (Route 450) experience occasional robberies and late-night disturbances.
- Pedestrian vulnerability along high-speed arterial roadways with patchy sidewalk continuity.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is low across residential neighborhoods but occasionally noticeable around the New Carrollton Metro transfer platforms and bus bays, where individuals seek shelter or panhandle.
What New Carrollton is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Active and calm with commuters walking to Metro and MARC trains alongside standard school and work traffic.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Busy commercial plazas and steady vehicular traffic create a generally safe and open suburban environment.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Activity concentrates in dining plazas and the transit hub; quiet in residential neighborhoods with manageable risk.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Commercial plazas along Route 450 and unattended commuter lots become desolate, elevating the risk of opportunistic crime.
Transit, parking and getting around
The New Carrollton Station is a premier regional transit hub served by WMATA Metrorail (Orange Line terminus), MARC Penn Line commuter trains, Amtrak, and numerous Metrobus and Prince George's County TheBus routes.
Parking is abundant across shopping center surface lots and multi-level commuter garages at the Metro station (typically $5 daily on weekdays, free on weekends); residential street parking generally requires basic local permits.
Things to do in New Carrollton
- Explore the interactive exhibits and rocketry history at the nearby NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Visitor Center just north of Lanham.
- Walk or picnic along the athletic fields and paved loops at Beckett Field and New Carrollton Athletic Park.
- Take the WB&A (Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis) Trail for cycling and long-distance suburban walking.
Local favorites
- Sardi's Pollo A La Brasa · Peruvian Restaurant · 4.3★ (2350)Popular local staple famed for its charcoal-roasted Peruvian chicken, extensive sides, and brisk counter service.
- El Taco Bar · Mexican Restaurant · 4.6★ (680)Casual neighborhood eatery serving authentic street tacos, fresh tortas, and hearty combination platters.
- Jasmine Bakery & Cafe · Middle Eastern Bakery & Deli · 4.7★ (420)Family-run bakery offering fresh flatbreads, savory meat pies, falafel, and traditional Middle Eastern groceries.
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.