A List of Most Dangerous Cities in Maryland (2025)

Planning to move to Maryland? Or maybe thinking of visiting for the weekend? You might want to check the crime stats first.

Maryland has a mix of peaceful towns and cities that struggle with safety. The numbers tell the story. As per the USAFacts report, the state's violent crime rate reached 420, and the property crime rate reached 2,050 cases per 100,000 people.

This guide isn't about fear. It's about awareness. We'll walk through the most dangerous cities in Maryland for 2025, share what's behind those numbers, and offer simple ways to stay safe.

Is Maryland Dangerous?

Yes, Maryland can be a bit risky, depending on where you are. The state’s overall crime rate sits higher than the national average, mostly because of what’s happening in bigger cities like Baltimore.

According to the FBI’s 2024 UCR report, Maryland saw 26,330 violent crimes and 128,369 property crimes across a population of about 6.26 million people. That works out to roughly 4.2 violent crimes and 20.5 property crimes per 1,000 residents - definitely higher than the U.S. average.

However, many residents live in very safe areas. Suburban towns and smaller communities often report very low crime statistics. Basically, while the state average looks high, your personal risk is much lower if you live outside the major urban centres.

How We Ranked the Most Dangerous Cities

We figured out the rankings using crime rates, not just raw numbers. This helps compare small towns and big cities fairly.

We added up two types of reported crime.

• Violent crimes: assault, robbery, murder, anything involving force or threat.
• Property crimes: burglary, theft, car break-ins, that kind of stuff.

We calculated each city’s ranking by finding crimes per 100,000 people. This way, both big and small cities can be fairly compared. The formula to find the crime rate is:

(Total Reported Crimes ÷ Population) × 100,000

The data has been taken from the FBI's official 2024 crime reports. Every police department sends them in. It covers nearly every city in Maryland. It's as accurate and recent as it gets.

Top 10 Most Dangerous Cities in Maryland (2025 List)

1. Takoma Park

Takoma Park may seem quiet, yet the data and incidents tell a different story. With just around 17,000 residents, the city logged roughly 1,326 total crimes in 2024, translating to about 7,600 per 100k people.

Most cases were property-related: smashed car windows and stolen bikes stand out. For example, a man was found fatally shot inside a stairwell of a downtown apartment building in March 2024. Locals say bus stops and parking lots feel riskier after dark. If you live here, stay alert when leaving your car, use lighting, and keep valuables out of sight.

2. Laurel

Laurel isn't massive, but it deals with big-town crime issues. In 2024, the city recorded about 1,535 total crimes, a rate near 5,200 per 100k residents, driven by theft and burglary.

A recent surge: 175 cars broken into since February in one sector, compared to 24 the year before. Police caught a 16-year-old allegedly responsible for 120+ vehicle break-ins across three counties in one night.

Being between Baltimore and D.C. brings heavy traffic and targets. Some neighbourhoods are still peaceful in the day, but it pays to lock up and keep your garage door closed, especially after sunset.

3. Greenbelt

Greenbelt recorded around 1,216 total crimes last year. Many stemming from theft, vandalism, and break-ins. Recently, the city was shaken when a 14-year-old boy and a 25-year-old man were both fatally shot. The incident occurred within 24 hours in the Franklin Park area.

Residents report the apartment complexes near Greenway Shopping Centre now feel tense after dark. With a rate above 5,000 per 100k residents, Greenbelt remains on the list of the most dangerous cities in Maryland. Local officials ramped up patrols. However, visitors should still lock up and stay cautious in parking areas.

4. Baltimore

Everyone knows Baltimore has a crime problem, and the data backs it up. The city logged 32,656 total crimes last year. That includes 9,101 violent and 23,555 property crimes. The rate stands at roughly 5,700 per 100k people. Many of these cases happen in low-income neighbourhoods where jobs and support are scarce.

Still, there are safer parts too, especially downtown and around the Inner Harbour.

5. Salisbury

Salisbury had about 1,315 total crimes (3,900 per 100k residents). Much of it comes from property offences, but violent incidents matter too.

Case in point: a 10-year-old boy was shot and killed in August 2024. Investigators offered a $25,000 reward for tips. Another headline: 12 students from Salisbury University were charged in a hate crime assault in October.

While the city on Maryland's Eastern Shore is growing, crime remains a serious concern, especially near student housing zones. Stay aware when walking late or leaving vehicles unattended.

6. Hangerstown

Hagerstown had 1,384 total cases last year, including 311 violent and 1,073 property cases. That's a rate of about 3,150 per 100k people. Theft and vandalism top the list.

Some older parts of town still struggle with break-ins, but police have become more visible, especially downtown. People who live there say things feel better than before, but being careful, especially in public lots or side streets, still matters.

7. Annapolis

Annapolis isn't just boats and brick streets - it also saw 1,174 crimes last year. That's about 2,885 per 100k residents. Most cases involve break-ins and theft, often near nightlife spots or marinas.

Locals say it's not dangerous everywhere, but the mix of tourists and nightlife keeps police busy. During the day, it's calm and charming. At night, it pays to keep an eye on your surroundings.

8. Frederick

Frederick is growing fast, and with that comes more crime. The city had 1,839 total reports, mostly property crimes. Its crime rate sits near 2,050 per 100k people. Thefts and car break-ins are the main issues, though violent crimes stay fairly low.

9. Bowie

Bowie saw 1,408 total crimes last year, mostly property-related. Its crime rate hovers around 2,470 per 100k. Theft, car break-ins, and burglary are common, but violent crimes are rare. Locals describe it as a family town that's simply not immune to petty theft. Police have been more active, and the community works together to report trouble fast. It's not perfect, but it's far from chaotic.

10. Rockville

Rockville rounds out the list with 1,126 total crimes in 2024. Property crime dominates the reports - car thefts, shoplifting, and a few burglaries. The total rate comes to around 1,670 per 100k people. It's a busy commuter city, which means more people, more opportunities for theft. Still, most residents feel safe. Stick to common-sense precautions, and Rockville stays a comfortable place to live.

Top 5 Safest Cities in Maryland

The top five safest cities in Maryland for 2025 include:

1. Ocean Pines
2. Frostburg
3. Thurmont
4. Brunswick
5. Hampstead

These cities have very low crime rates, with Ocean Pines and Thurmont reporting zero murders, rapes, or robberies. Frostburg had the fewest total murders among them.

Overall, these cities offer peaceful living with much lower crime than the state average.

How to Stay Safe in High-Crime Areas of Maryland?

Living in or visiting a city with higher crime rates doesn't mean you need to live in fear. A few smart, simple habits can make a real difference in keeping you safe. These basic precautions help lower your personal risk right away.

Always Lock Up, Every Time

You'd be surprised how often break-ins happen because a back window was left open. Never underestimate the importance of a good deadbolt. Make it a habit to lock every door and window before leaving or going to bed.

Even if you’re just stepping out for a moment, always turn that lock. For extra convenience and security, a smart lock like Eufy’s FamiLock S3 Max lets you unlock with a fingerprint, code, or app - so you never have to worry about lost keys again.

Stay Alert When Out and About

If you are walking or driving, keep distractions to an absolute minimum. Avoid using your phone openly, and stick to well-lit, busier streets, if possible. When parking, choose spots close to entrances instead of isolated corners. Most importantly, trust your gut instinct; if something feels wrong, it probably is time to leave.

Keep Your Surroundings Bright

Bright, well-placed lights are one of the simplest crime deterrents. Most intruders avoid a lit house. Use motion-sensor lamps on your porch, driveway, or backyard so lights snap on if anyone approaches.

For maximum coverage, consider Eufy's outdoor lighting gear. You can go for the Permanent Outdoor Lights E22 strips or LED spotlights. They are weatherproof (IP67) and built tough. These lights have dual-/triple-LEDs that you can customise for colour or warm-white.

Along with lighting, add a solar-powered camera like the Eufy SoloCam S340. It installs anywhere (no wiring) and streams 3K HD dual-camera video day or night.

Make Your Home Look Occupied

Burglars look for houses that appear empty and unattended. Make your home look like you are living inside, even if you are traveling away. Use simple timers for interior lights, and consider leaving a radio or TV on. This clever trick creates the illusion of activity inside the house. When traveling, ask a neighbour to grab your mail and packages promptly for you.

Connect With Your Community

Don't rely solely on gadgets – community matters a lot. Keep in touch with your neighbours or a neighbourhood app so you can share alerts quickly. Criminals hate neighbourhoods that watch out for each other. For extra backup, Eufy even offers ExpertSecure packages with 24/7 professional monitoring.

In that mode, your cameras and sensors are monitored by real people and local AI. The system detects intrusions in real time and can automatically dispatch help when needed. It even has battery backup, so it keeps running in an outage.

Final Thoughts

Maryland's safety story has two very different sides. You will find plenty of safe suburbs next to cities that are struggling with crime. The list of the most dangerous cities is definitely shaped by big places like Baltimore and also by smaller spots with high rates, such as Takoma Park. The main thing is to know your neighbourhood's crime rate.

This gives you a much better picture than just looking at the state's average score. By using simple vigilance and modern home security tools, you can dramatically lower your personal risk and enjoy a secure, confident lifestyle.

FAQs

Q. What city in Maryland has the highest crime rate?

It is Baltimore. The city continues to struggle with high rates of violence, especially homicides and robberies.

Q. What is the safest city in Maryland to live in?

Ocean Pines is often named the safest place to live in Maryland. Moreover, Hampstead and Thurmont are also the safest with low crime rates.

Q. Is Maryland the safest state?

Not quite! Maryland ranks among the safer states overall, especially in its suburban areas, but it's not at the very top.

Q. Is Baltimore, Maryland, a safe city to live in?

It is moderately safe. With certain neighbourhoods seeing high crime levels, it has its own challenges. Still, areas like Roland Park and Federal Hill are considered much safer - awareness and caution make all the difference.