Is Yorktown safe?
Bowie, Maryland · safety score updated nightly
Yes — it is one of the safer places in the metro to walk around.
VibeLoco rates Yorktown as “Go”.
Gogo's take on Yorktown
“Go. Yorktown in Bowie is a quintessential, peaceful mid-century suburban community that is exceptionally safe for visitors and residents alike. Crime rates are very low, underpinned by high homeownership and strong median incomes.”
About the area
Yorktown is a quiet residential 'section' of Bowie featuring classic Levitt-built single-family homes, mature tree-lined streets, and pocket parks. It caters primarily to families and commuters working in Washington D.C., Annapolis, and Baltimore.
- Quiet Suburb
- Family-Friendly
- Tree-Lined
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Yorktown
Walk score: 28/100 · Bike score: 38/100
There is no municipal bike-share system in Bowie, but residential roads are low-stress for cycling and connect via local side streets to the WB&A Multi-Use Trail.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Violent crime rates are substantially lower than both state and national averages.
- Strong socioeconomic stability with median household incomes well over $125,000 and homeownership exceeding 85%.
- Tranquil, well-maintained residential streets with virtually no through-traffic.
Cons
- Heavily car-dependent with minimal commercial activity directly inside the residential core.
- Occasional opportunistic property crime, such as unlocked vehicle break-ins.
- Very limited public transit connections directly into the neighborhood.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is practically non-existent within the residential streets of Yorktown, with only occasional individuals seen along major commercial intersections like US-50 and MD-197.
What Yorktown is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Peaceful and active with dog walkers, joggers, and school buses moving through neighborhood streets.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Calm and quiet with minimal vehicle traffic and safe conditions throughout residential blocks.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Subdued suburban atmosphere where families stroll and residents return from commutes.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Very dark and silent with low activity; remains safe, though normal precautions against car theft apply.
Transit, parking and getting around
Public transit is provided by Prince George's County TheBus and WMATA Metrobus along outer corridors like MD-450, but the nearest rail station is the Bowie State MARC Station roughly 10 minutes away by car, making rail commuting inaccessible by foot.
Street parking on residential roads is abundant, free, and unrestricted, and private driveways are standard across all homes.
Things to do in Yorktown
- Walk the lakeside paved trails and visit the amphitheater at nearby Allen Pond Park.
- Tour the historic Belair Mansion and Belair Stable Museum located just minutes away.
- Enjoy recreational sports and seasonal community events at the Bowie Community Center.
Local favorites
- TJ Elliott's · American Restaurant · 4.4★ (1150)Longstanding neighborhood staple serving classic American comfort food, ribs, and Italian favorites.
- Rip's Country Inn · Seafood & Traditional American · 4.3★ (1820)Historic roadside establishment known for Maryland crab cakes, hearty breakfasts, and a casual deli bar.
- Jerry's Seafood · Seafood Restaurant · 4.5★ (2350)Upscale regional seafood dining famous for its signature all-jumbo-lump 'Crab Bomb'.
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.