Is Waggaman Heights safe?
Temple Hills, Maryland · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Waggaman Heights as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Waggaman Heights
“Go with care. Waggaman Heights is a quiet, primarily residential enclave of mid-century single-family homes, though surrounding commercial thoroughfares in Temple Hills experience higher rates of property crime and opportunistic theft. Visitors staying with residents or passing through will generally find it peaceful during daylight hours, but standard suburban vigilance is recommended at night.”
Prince George's County police periodically target localized vehicle break-ins and catalytic converter thefts along residential corridors in the greater Temple Hills area.
About the area
Waggaman Heights is an established residential community in Temple Hills, Maryland, characterized by rolling wooded streets and mid-century detached homes. Located just inside and along the Capital Beltway corridor, it functions primarily as a quiet, commuter-oriented suburb with close proximity to Washington, D.C.
- Suburban
- Car-Dependent
- Quiet / Residential
- Tree-Lined
Walking and biking in Waggaman Heights
Walk score: 28/100 · Bike score: 24/100
There are no bike-share docking stations in Waggaman Heights, and neighborhood streets lack dedicated bike lanes, though the Henson Creek Trail is accessible a few miles south.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Established residential community with solid homeownership and stable residential blocks
- Direct vehicular access to the Capital Beltway (I-495) and MD-5 (Branch Avenue)
- Quiet interior streets with very low non-resident through traffic
Cons
- Elevated property crime and vehicle-related theft rates in the surrounding commercial areas
- Car-dependent infrastructure with minimal pedestrian retail within walking distance
- Gaps in continuous sidewalk coverage and street lighting along some residential roads
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is not a notable presence within the residential streets of Waggaman Heights, though occasional panhandling occurs at nearby highway retail plazas along Branch Avenue.
What Waggaman Heights is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Calm and peaceful as residents commute, with light local traffic and negligible safety concerns.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Subdued suburban atmosphere with school buses and delivery vans, feeling generally safe for walking.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Activity quickly winds down after dusk, remaining quiet though visibility is limited in areas with sparse streetlighting.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Residential streets become deserted; while violent crime is uncommon on internal blocks, caution regarding vehicle tampering is prudent.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is operated by WMATA Metrobus and Prince George's County TheBus along Branch Avenue and St. Barnabas Road, connecting riders to the Branch Avenue Metro Station (Green Line) roughly two miles away.
Street parking on residential roadways is free, abundant, and unmetered, while most homes feature private driveways.
Things to do in Waggaman Heights
- Connect to outdoor recreation along the nearby Henson Creek Trail system
- Explore local culinary spots and regional shopping along the Branch Avenue corridor
- Access community programming at nearby Prince George's County community and recreation centers
Local favorites
- Topolino · Italian Restaurant · 4.2★ (1150)Longstanding casual venue known for hearty pasta dishes, classic pizza, and family-friendly dining.
- Silvestre Chicken · Peruvian Restaurant · 4.3★ (890)Popular local counter-serve spot serving charcoal-broiled Peruvian rotisserie chicken and Latin sides.
- Marlow Diner · Diner · 4.1★ (960)Classic neighborhood diner offering all-day breakfast platters, sandwiches, and American comfort staples.
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.