Is College Park Safe, Pros and cons of living in College Park

College Park, Maryland, offers a unique blend of academic vibrancy, suburban comfort, and proximity to major metropolitan areas. Nestled in Prince George’s County, it serves as a hub for innovation and education, largely due to the presence of the University of Maryland, College Park.

The city’s strategic location, just a short distance from Washington D.C. and Baltimore, provides residents with access to a wide array of career opportunities and cultural experiences. This accessibility, combined with a strong community focus, makes College Park an attractive place to live for students, professionals, and families alike.

Is it Safe to Live in College Park?

College Park’s crime rate is a significant consideration for potential residents. The city experiences a crime rate of approximately 33.83 per 1,000 residents, which is higher than the national average (as reported by AreaVibes). Your chance of being a victim of crime in College Park is about 1 in 35 (as reported by AreaVibes).

Violent crime in College Park occurs at a rate higher than in most communities of similar sizes across America. The chance of becoming a victim of violent crime is 1 in 282, or a rate of 4 per 1,000 inhabitants (as reported by NeighborhoodScout). Property crime is more prevalent, with a chance of being a victim of 1 in 37, or a rate of 27 per 1,000 population (as reported by NeighborhoodScout).

While the overall crime rate is a concern, safety can vary by neighborhood. Residents generally consider the west part of the city to be the safest, with chances of victimization ranging from 1 in 23 in the northeast to 1 in 34 in the west (as reported by College Park, MD Crime Maps and Statistics). Living near the campus is considered the safest area within College Park (as reported by Safest and Most Dangerous Places in College Park MD in 2026). The city’s crime rate has decreased by 1% year over year (as reported by AreaVibes).

Housing Costs and Availability

The housing market in College Park presents a range of options, though costs are notably higher than the national average. The median home sale price in College Park is approximately $489,900 (as reported by realtor.com®). The median rental price is around $2,500 per month, indicating strong rental demand (as reported by realtor.com®).

Renting in College Park is a popular choice, especially among students and young professionals. A one-bedroom apartment typically ranges from $1,500 to $1,800 per month, while a two-bedroom apartment can cost between $2,000 and $2,500 per month (as reported by LivingInMaryland.com). Single-family homes for rent generally fall between $2,500 and $3,500 per month (as reported by LivingInMaryland.com).

The cost of housing in College Park is considered more expensive than the national average, earning a score of 3 out of 10 on a scale where 1 is most expensive (as reported by ERI SalaryExpert). Calvert Hills is identified as one of the more expensive neighborhoods, with home prices frequently exceeding $600,000 due to its historic appeal and proximity to the university (as reported by LivingInMaryland.com).

Cost of Living and Affordability

College Park is recognized as an expensive city, with its overall cost of living ranking among the higher percentages globally and nationally. The average cost of living in College Park is approximately $2,777 per month, placing it in the top 5% of expensive cities worldwide and fourth out of 23 cities in Maryland (as reported by LivingInMaryland.com). This cost is about 17% higher than the national average and 10% higher than the average city in Maryland (as reported by ERI Economic Research Institute).

Housing is a primary driver of this elevated cost of living, being 37.1% higher than the national average (as reported by Salary.com). Transportation expenses are also elevated, and food costs are more affordable than the U.S. average (as reported by ERI SalaryExpert, Salary.com).

For a single person, monthly living expenses are estimated at $2,916, and for a family of four, they are around $6,241, making College Park one of America’s more costly cities (as reported by Salary.com). The median after-tax salary in College Park is $6,365, which is sufficient to cover living expenses for approximately 2.3 months (as reported by LivingInMaryland.com).

Job Market and Major Employers

The job market in College Park is significantly influenced by its role as a university town and its proximity to Washington D.C. and Baltimore. The most common employment sectors for residents include Educational Services, Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, and Retail Trade (as reported by Data USA). The most common job groups are Education Instruction and Library Occupations, Office and Administrative Support Occupations, and Construction and Extraction Occupations (as reported by Data USA).

Major employers in College Park include the University of Maryland, College Park, and the University of Maryland Global Campus. Other significant employers are the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Archives (as reported by City of College Park, Maryland). Retail giants like Walmart, McDonald’s, FedEx, Target, and Amazon also have a notable presence (as reported by Indeed.com).

As of February 2026, the unemployment rate in Maryland was 4.3% (as reported by USAFacts). In College Park specifically, the employment rate is currently 93.52% (as reported by BestNeighborhood.org). From 2023 to 2024, employment in College Park saw a decline of 3.15%, with the number of employees decreasing from 16,100 to 15,600 (as reported by Data USA).

Climate and Weather Patterns

College Park experiences a climate with four distinct seasons, characterized by cold winters and warm summers. Average temperatures range from a low of 25°F in January to a high of 88°F in July (as reported by myPerfectWeather). The city receives approximately 46 inches of annual precipitation, with about 13 inches of snowfall, primarily in January and February (as reported by myPerfectWeather).

Summer months, particularly July and August, can be uncomfortably humid (as reported by myPerfectWeather). The wettest month is June, with an average of 5 inches of rain, while February is the driest (as reported by myPerfectWeather). College Park enjoys around 2,643 hours of sunshine annually, with the sunniest periods occurring from June through October (as reported by myPerfectWeather).

The weather is considered comfortable for about 4.5 months of the year, with the best times to visit or enjoy outdoor activities being mid-April to mid-June and mid-September to mid-October (as reported by myPerfectWeather). Winds are generally calm to breezy, averaging 7 to 9 mph throughout the year (as reported by myPerfectWeather).

Education and School Ratings

College Park is home to the University of Maryland, College Park, a major public research university that significantly shapes the city’s educational landscape. The city also hosts College Park Academy, which has been ranked as the #1 high school in Prince George’s County by U.S. News & World Report for 2024 (as reported by U.S. News & World Report). College Park Academy also secured the #1 spot for graduation rate in Maryland and ranked #2 for charter schools in the state (as reported by U.S. News & World Report).

For elementary education, Hollywood Elementary School and Paint Branch Elementary School serve the city. Data suggests Hollywood Elementary may perform stronger with higher test scores, though both schools have high rates of chronic absenteeism (as reported by SchoolDigger.com). The Prince George’s County Public Schools district, which includes these schools, is ranked 22nd out of 25 districts in Maryland and received a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger (as reported by SchoolDigger.com).

The methodology for high school rankings by U.S. News & World Report focuses on factors such as college readiness, proficiency in reading, math, and science, and graduation rates (as reported by U.S. News & World Report). This emphasis on academic achievement highlights the commitment to educational excellence within the College Park community.

Demographics and Population

College Park’s population was approximately 34,500 in the most recent estimates (as reported by Data USA). The city’s median age is notably young, around 21.5 years, reflecting a significant student population (as reported by Data Commons, NeighborhoodScout). The male to female ratio is slightly skewed towards males, with approximately 103.6 males for every 100 females (as reported by Data Commons).

The racial composition of College Park is diverse. White residents make up about 38% of the population, followed by Black or African American residents at around 24%, and Asian residents at approximately 16% (as reported by Niche, NeighborhoodScout). Hispanic or Latino individuals constitute about 18% of the population (as reported by Niche).

As of 2024, about 23.7% of College Park residents were born outside the country (as reported by Data USA). Citizenship rates are slightly lower than the national average, with 84.7% of residents being U.S. citizens (as reported by Data USA).