Is Putty Hill safe?
Parkville, Maryland · safety score updated nightly
Mostly yes, with normal city awareness.
VibeLoco rates Putty Hill as “Go, stay aware”.
Gogo's take on Putty Hill
“Go. Putty Hill is a stable, middle-class suburban community in Baltimore County with low rates of violent crime. While standard precautions against vehicle break-ins in commercial parking lots are recommended, the area is safe and welcoming for casual visitors.”
About the area
Putty Hill is an established suburban neighborhood within Parkville, characterized by mid-century single-family homes, townhomes, and practical retail plazas. It offers easy access to major thoroughfares, local eateries, and Baltimore County parks while maintaining a calm residential atmosphere.
- Suburban
- Family-Friendly
- Quiet / Residential
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Putty Hill
Walk score: 52/100 · Bike score: 38/100
On-street cycling infrastructure is minimal along arterial corridors, though residential side streets are generally low-traffic and Double Rock Park offers off-road multi-use trails.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Significantly lower violent crime rates compared to the greater Baltimore metropolitan core
- Solid homeownership base and stable middle-class median household incomes
- Plentiful everyday retail and grocery conveniences centered along Putty Hill Avenue and Harford Road
- Close proximity to Double Rock Park and regional county amenities
Cons
- Periodic property crime and vehicle break-ins in strip mall parking lots
- Arterial roads such as Putty Hill Avenue experience high vehicular traffic speeds
- Heavily car-dependent layout with discontinuous pedestrian infrastructure
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is minimal within the residential tracts, with occasional panhandling seen near shopping center entrances along Harford Road and Perring Parkway.
What Putty Hill is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with morning commuters, joggers, and school buses moving through neighborhood streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Busy commercial strips and steady residential traffic with an open and safe suburban feel.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Quiet residential areas with modest activity focused around local taverns and strip mall restaurants.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very calm with little to no pedestrian activity; residential roads remain peaceful and secure.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is operated by the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) with bus lines such as the CityLink Green and Route 53 providing local connections; there is no direct rail station within walking distance.
Parking is exceptionally easy, with large free surface parking lots across all shopping plazas and ample unrestricted street parking on residential roads.
Things to do in Putty Hill
- Hike the wooded paths along the creek at nearby Double Rock Park
- Sample classic Maryland pit beef sandwiches from local roadside smokehouses
- Browse local retail and grab everyday essentials at Putty Hill Plaza and Perring Plaza
Local favorites
- Charcoal Deli · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.5★ (1420)A neighborhood staple renowned for Maryland-style pit beef, pit ham, and homemade sides.
- Pappas Restaurant and Sports Bar · Seafood Restaurant · 4.4★ (3650)Famous regional institution serving award-winning Maryland jumbo lump crab cakes.
- Das Bierhalle · German Gastropub · 4.6★ (920)Lively local beer hall offering imported drafts, pretzels, sausages, and pub fare.
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.