10 Safest Cities in Maryland
- Hampstead
- Thurmont
- Glenarden
- Bowie
- Taneytown
- Mount Airy
- Havre de Grace
- New Carrollton
- Frostburg
- Brunswick
1. Hampstead
Hampstead is the safest city in Maryland. Hampstead is a small and extremely safe city in Carroll County, with a population of 6,323. The crime rate in Hampstead is 70% lower than the state average at 594 crimes per 100,000 people. Hampstead is a quiet suburb with many historic buildings and sites. The median home price in Hampstead is $234,800, which is 19% lower than the state average.
2. Thurmont
Thurmont is another one of the safest places to live in Maryland. This small town is located near Pennsylvania in Frederick County and has a population of 6,935. The crime rate in Thurmont is 731 per 100,000 people, which is much lower than the Maryland average. Residents can feel safe knowing there’s only a 1 in 137 chance of being the victims of any type of crime. Thurmont is located near Cunningham Falls State Park and Catoctin Mountain Park, which contains the famous Presidential Retreat of Camp David.
3. Glenarden
Glenarden is also located in Price George’s County and has a population of 6,402. Glenarden is a safe place to live, with a very low crime rate of 930 per 100,000 which is 60% lower than the national average. The chance of becoming the victim of either a property or violent crime is extremely low. Glenarden is a suburban town that is home to many professionals and has a median home price of $242,800.
4. Bowie
Another one of the safest cities in Maryland is Bowie. This city in Prince George’s County has a population of 58,329, and was even ranked as one of the best places to live in the US by CNN Money in 2015. The crime rate in Bowie is 1,032 per 100,000 people, which is 56% lower than the national average. Bowie has plenty of green space and amenities, with 72 ball fields and three community centers. It’s also the home of the Bowie Baysox, a semi-professional baseball team.
5. Taneytown
Taneytown is a safe Maryland town with a lot of history. It was founded in 1754 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It was even visited by George Washington. The crime rate in Taneytown is 1,128 per 100,000 making the city 52% safer than the US average. Taneytown has many notable landmarks, such as the Bullfrog Road Bridge, and is a popular local tourist spot.
6. Mount Airy
Mount Airy is another historic town that was founded in the 1750s and currently has a population of 10,676. In 1994, Mount Airy was named an All-American City and currently has numerous sites on the National Register of Historic Places. Crime in Mount Airy is 46% lower than the national average at 1,267 incidents per 100,000. This makes Mount Airy one of the safest places to live in Maryland. The town also hosts the Autumn Leaves festival during October, drawing over 200,000 people annually. Vendors sell food, and there is live music.
7. Havre de Grace
Havre de Grace is a city with a population of 15,000 and is located on the Chesapeake Bay. The city’s crime rate is 1,447 per 100,000 and is 38% safer than the US average. In 2014, the city was listed in the Smithsonian Magazine as one of the best towns in the US to visit. The city offers many colonial and turn-of-the-century style buildings, among other sites of interest.
8. New Carrollton
New Carrollton is located in Prince George’s County and has a population of 13,715. New Carrollton is part of the Washington, DC, metro area and is located just outside the city. New Carrollton is 35% safer than the average American city and has a crime rate of 1,519 per 100,00 people. Despite being near DC, New Carrollton is an affordable city with a median home price of $232,000.
9. Frostburg
Frostburg is located in Allegany County and has a population of 8,700. Located in the Appalachian Foothills, Frostburg has some incredible scenery and local hiking options. Much of the population belongs to Frostburg State University with a student population of 5,400. Frostburg hosts many local events, such as the Appalachian Festival and the Frostburg Museum and Gallery. Frostburg is 16% safer than the average US city with a crime rate of 1,962 per 100,000.
10. Brunswick
Brunswick is also one of the safest places to live in Maryland. It is a medium-sized city in Glynn County with a population of 15,210. Brunswick has historically been an important port city along the Atlantic and still serves in that capacity today. The city’s economy also relies on tourism and is the headquarters of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. The crime rate in Brunswick is 2,163 per 100,000, which is 8% lower than the US average.