Stay away from PG County! (Baltimore, Bowie: real estate market, crime rate, houses)

[Andillus]

I work in Bowie (live in Annapolis) and it seems pretty alright. Some of PG county has problems, but then again every state has some issues.

[longarm2]

Quick question to all. I am an African-American male who will be operating a seasonal business in DC this winter for about 5 months and was considering purchasing one of the fire-sale foreclosures in PG county (Hyattsville, New Carrollton, Capitol Heights, District Heights and Oxon Hill areas). I don't have any children to send to the schools. But, I would like an area where I can get groceries at night, not overly worry about my car on the street and not overly worry about leaving my house unattended for several days at a time. Is this a wise move or should I just continue to do the hotel or short-term rental thing? Thanks in advance everybody.

[Mommyof2lilboys!]

Some people are beyond funny. PG County is not unlike any other county in the United States. EVERY county has it's high crime and low crime areas. The stigma that is placed on this county is HILARIOUS. The fact of the matter is, yes, there are SOME parts of the county that are less desireable than others. But there are MANY parts that are safe, PRESTIGIOUS and have excellent schools. Places such as Bowie, Mitchellville, Fort Washington and Lanham. These per capita income in these areas surpass those more well known areas in this region. There are many schools of excellence and blue ribbon schools placed throughout the county. Negative news travels farther and faster than good news which is why this county is so stigmatized AND the fact that it's majority black only helps to perpetuate this negativey. It is a majority black county that has the highest concentration of successful African Americans in the COUNTRY. Virginia and other parts of Maryland get a pass simply because they have a are more integrated population and many ignorant people think that having "white people in your neighborhood automatically makes it better" (yes soemone actually said that to me). There are parts of VA and other counties in Maryland that I would NEVER step my foot in. I live in PG County, have younger children and am proud of it. My husband and I both make six figures and our children go to some of the best schools in the country. So, do your OWN research on the area and don't take an outsiders word for anything.

[MarylandMan]

Originally Posted by Mommyof2lilboys!

The fact of the matter is, yes, there are SOME parts of the county that are less desireable than others. But there are MANY parts that are safe, PRESTIGIOUS and have excellent schools. Places such as Bowie, Mitchellville, Fort Washington and Lanham.

Would you please quantify what you mean by "safe"? Using National crime rate averages, here's where these "safe" towns compare:

Lanham: 2.99x more crime than the national average, 4.7x more for murder risk, 5.2x more for robbery risk, and 4.69x more for motor vehicle theft

Fort Washington: 2.27x more crime than national average, 4.24x more for murder, 4.7x more for robbery, and 4.61x more for motor vehicle theft.

Bowie: 2.84x more crime than national average, 3.79x more for murder, 5.77x more for robbery, and 7.39x more for motor vehicle theft

Mitchellville: 1.53x more crime than the national average, 4.79x more for murder, 2.1x more for robery, and 2.63x more for motor vehicle theft.

If this is what you consider safe, that's fine, but personally I don't see these figures as "safe" in any way shape or form.

Here's the averages for Maryland as a state:

Maryland: Total crime is 1.12x the national average, 1.7x for murder, 1.74x for robbery, and 1.48x for motor vehicle theft.

So, that means that Maryland crime rates are slightly higher than the national average, but every "safe" city in PG County you mentioned is much riskier!

BTW, all of the data I pulled came from CLRSearch.

Lanham, MD Crime Rate Statistics - CLRSearch.com

[RaisedWell]

Originally Posted by MarylandMan

Would you please quantify what you mean by "safe"? Using National crime rate averages, here's where these "safe" towns compare:

Lanham: 2.99x more crime than the national average, 4.7x more for murder risk, 5.2x more for robbery risk, and 4.69x more for motor vehicle theft

Fort Washington: 2.27x more crime than national average, 4.24x more for murder, 4.7x more for robbery, and 4.61x more for motor vehicle theft.

Bowie: 2.84x more crime than national average, 3.79x more for murder, 5.77x more for robbery, and 7.39x more for motor vehicle theft

Mitchellville: 1.53x more crime than the national average, 4.79x more for murder, 2.1x more for robery, and 2.63x more for motor vehicle theft.

If this is what you consider safe, that's fine, but personally I don't see these figures as "safe" in any way shape or form.

Here's the averages for Maryland as a state:

Maryland: Total crime is 1.12x the national average, 1.7x for murder, 1.74x for robbery, and 1.48x for motor vehicle theft.

So, that means that Maryland crime rates are slightly higher than the national average, but every "safe" city in PG County you mentioned is much riskier!

BTW, all of the data I pulled came from CLRSearch.

Lanham, MD Crime Rate Statistics - CLRSearch.com

You know what she meant by "safe". We don't even have to go there. Why is this your first post? You came here to start something.

MODERATOR - PLEASE CLOSE THE THREAD!! THE TOPIC HAS BEEN DISCUSSED MANY TIMES OVER.

[MarylandMan]

Originally Posted by RaisedWell

You know what she meant by "safe". We don't even have to go there. Why is this your first post? You came here to start something.

No, I don't know what is meant here. Look at the crime rate stats of any of those 4 cities mentioned and compare them to district heights, capitol heights, suitland, or hyattsville. the crime rates in these towns with lesser reputations are much lower than the neighborhoods trumpeted as "safe".

The difference between these towns is average home size and per capita income. The only thing I can suspect is that we're talking about being "safe" when really you mean either "richer" or "more attractive", perhaps? That's the only thing I can assume, because as far as crime rates go, capitol heights, district heights, suitland, and hyattsville are all "safer" than bowie, fort washington, lanham, or mitchellville.

[cmt48]

I was on this site when thinking about moving here. Don't listen to everyone on this site. I LOVE IT! I live in Bowie and it is a great area. I even called churches to see if I should move here and priests say no. Don't really understand the bad rap! I checked out the police reports and they DID not look good; however, it is a good place that offers sooooo much!

[cmt48]

Originally Posted by Andillus

I work in Bowie (live in Annapolis) and it seems pretty alright. Some of PG county has problems, but then again every state has some issues.

I agree....let's spread the good news. PG has a bad rap!!!!

[ebonediva]

As you can see with an 8 page forum about PG people either love it or hate it. I personally love Prince Georges County, MD. Calling it PG gives a negative connotation. The county is the most affluent county in American driven by African Americans. Gotta love it! There are areas in Prince Georges that are no different than any other areas. I grew up in SC and some on the towns/cities in SC can give the areas ppl are talking about in the county a run for there money. (No lie)

My advice to you is regardless of where you live, LEARN the area. Learn the good - learn the bad. I reside in Fairfax now, but won't be here for long. (Currently building in the County) I've learned some things about Fairfax that NoVa'ers have tried to ignore and pretend aren't issues. Needless, to say Prince Georges is a good county with a bad reputation.

[vivo]

I think this has been asked but what are the demographics including median HH income of PG outside the beltway?