Is Russett safe?
Severn, Maryland · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Russett as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Russett
“Go. Russett is a quiet, well-maintained planned community that offers a very safe environment for visitors. Violent crime is rare, and while routine suburban property crime like vehicle break-ins can happen, the area is stable and welcoming.”
About the area
Russett is an expansive master-planned suburban community situated along the western edge of Anne Arundel County near Laurel and Fort Meade. It features a mix of single-family homes, townhouses, and apartment complexes interwoven with nature trails, neighborhood parks, and convenient strip retail.
- Suburban
- Family-Friendly
- Commuter Hub
- Quiet
Walking and biking in Russett
Walk score: 38/100 · Bike score: 42/100
There is no public bike-share system, but the community maintains several miles of paved multi-use paths suitable for recreational cycling.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Low violent crime rates well below state and national benchmarks
- Strong local economy with median household incomes exceeding $110,000 and low poverty
- Extensive internal network of paved neighborhood trails, ponds, and green spaces
- High rate of well-maintained owner-occupied and professionally managed housing
Cons
- Occasional opportunistic property crime, particularly thefts from vehicles in open parking lots
- Significant car dependency with very limited pedestrian connectivity to adjacent districts
- Heavy commuter congestion along Maryland Route 198 during rush hours
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is essentially absent within the residential subdivisions, with only occasional panhandling observed near highway off-ramps along Route 198.
What Russett is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Crisp and safe, with commuters heading out and residents walking dogs along the paved neighborhood paths.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and quiet in residential sections, with regular commercial activity centered around the Route 198 strip malls.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- A safe, family-oriented atmosphere where pedestrians and joggers regularly use the internal trails until dusk.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very tranquil with low foot traffic; while generally very safe, standard caution against vehicle break-ins in open lots is advised.
Transit, parking and getting around
Transit service is sparse and operated primarily by the Regional Transportation Agency of Central Maryland (RTA) with bus routes along MD-198. The nearest commuter rail is the MARC Train (Camden Line at Laurel or Penn Line at Odenton), both roughly a 10-to-15-minute drive away.
Parking is abundant and free throughout the area, accommodated by dedicated driveways, designated townhouse bays, and large surface lots in retail plazas.
Things to do in Russett
- Walk or jog along the scenic Russett Community Trail network and around local wetlands
- Shop, dine, and run errands at the Corridor Marketplace commercial center
- Explore the nearby North Tract of the Patuxent Research Refuge for hiking and wildlife observation
Local favorites
- Mission BBQ · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.6★ (1850)Popular casual eatery serving smoked meats and classic sides in a tribute-filled, patriotic setting.
- First Watch · Breakfast & Brunch Restaurant · 4.5★ (1250)Bright daytime cafe known for made-to-order breakfast classics, juices, and health-focused options.
- Sakura Japanese Steakhouse · Japanese Restaurant · 4.3★ (1420)Longstanding local spot offering teppanyaki grill shows, sushi rolls, and traditional Japanese entrees.
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.