Is Oakland safe?
District Heights, Maryland · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Oakland as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Oakland
“Go with care. Oakland in District Heights is a quiet, primarily residential community, but visitors should remain vigilant regarding elevated property and vehicle crime rates in the broader area. While residential streets are generally calm during daylight hours, commercial borders and nighttime walking warrant heightened awareness.”
Prince George's County Police have maintained targeted patrols in the surrounding District Heights area to curb recurring vehicle break-ins and property crime.
About the area
Oakland is an established suburban neighborhood within District Heights, Maryland, characterized by mid-century single-family homes and quiet residential blocks. It functions primarily as a commuter bedroom community situated just outside Washington, D.C., with proximity to the Capital Beltway and Pennsylvania Avenue.
- Suburban
- Residential
- Car-Dependent
- Quiet
Walking and biking in Oakland
Walk score: 44/100 · Bike score: 38/100
There are no Capital Bikeshare docks in the immediate neighborhood, and cycling is mostly limited to shared neighborhood streets without designated bike lanes.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Established, low-density single-family residential streets with mature tree canopy
- Moderate to solid homeownership rates that support a stable community atmosphere
- Direct and convenient vehicle access to Pennsylvania Avenue (MD-4) and I-495
Cons
- Property crime and motor vehicle theft rates trend above the Maryland state average
- Bordering commercial corridors occasionally experience spillover retail theft and disturbances
- Car dependency with limited walkable retail or cultural amenities within the subdivision
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the residential streets of Oakland, with occasional individuals seeking assistance near major intersections and retail centers along Marlboro Pike.
What Oakland is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Calm and peaceful as residents depart for work, with school buses and standard commuter traffic.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Generally quiet on residential streets, making daytime errands and neighborhood strolls uneventful.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Activity winds down quickly in the residential core, though perimeter transit stops require baseline caution.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Streets are very quiet and dimly lit in spots; pedestrian movement is discouraged late at night due to opportunistic crime risks.
Transit, parking and getting around
WMATA Metrobus routes such as the P12 and V14 serve the perimeter roadways, connecting riders to Metrorail stations including Addison Road-Seat Pleasant (Blue/Silver lines) and Suitland (Green Line), both roughly a 10-minute drive away.
Residential street parking is free, abundant, and straightforward throughout the subdivision, and nearby shopping plazas have large, unmetered surface lots.
Things to do in Oakland
- Enjoy the outdoor walking paths, sports courts, and playground at District Heights Park
- Sample regional and Caribbean carryout specialties along Marlboro Pike
- Take a short drive to Walker Mill Regional Park for extensive paved trails and turf fields
Local favorites
- Caribbean Market & Carryout · Caribbean Restaurant · 4.3★ (215)Neighborhood spot known for authentic jerk chicken, oxtail platters, and traditional island sides.
- Top's China · Chinese Restaurant · 4.1★ (190)Longstanding local carryout offering classic American-Chinese staples and mumbo sauce wings.
- District Heights Supermarket · Grocery Store · 4.0★ (145)Essential neighborhood market providing fresh produce, everyday groceries, and butcher items.
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.