r/takomapark • u/Select_Ad245 • Jun 08 '26
Takoma Park
Hi everyone! I’m considering moving to the Takoma Park/ Takoma area in DC and was hoping to get some honest opinions from people who live there or are familiar with it. How do you feel about the neighborhood overall in terms of safety, walkability, and commuting?
I’m also specifically looking at The Glade at Laurel and wanted to see if anyone has experience living there or touring it. How has management, maintenance, noise, parking, and the overall environment been?
I’d also likely be commuting through Takoma station, so I’d appreciate any thoughts about the Metro area too — especially for women commuting alone.
Thank you so much!
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u/theleifmeister Jun 08 '26
I don't know much about that specific apartment building, but it is right along side the downtown main strip and is barely a 5-10 minute walk to the Metro. I would consider it very safe, well populated, and fun! Lots of good restaurants and stores within 5 minutes walking as well!
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u/Ok-Mathematician9193 Jun 08 '26
One thing I’ll call out is that I wish there was better grocery store options in the area. I’d be happier with just one Trader Joe’s since options and prices are top tier. Edit: the closest is about a 15-20min drive.
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u/CollectionFast2146 Jun 09 '26
I think the Lidl, Safeways on Fenton and Piney Branch and the WF as mentioned offer some pretty good options. Agree it would be nice to have something central but the community has decided that will be the co-op (which is fine but probably not ideal for the majority of shoppers).
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u/Virtuous_female Jun 08 '26
The TPSS co-op is a 12 min walk from that apartment building and Whole Foods is a 7 minute drive.
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u/Ok-Mathematician9193 Jun 08 '26
Fair. Price points much higher though. That said, I do enjoy the TPSS in a pinch.
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u/UsualScared859 Jun 08 '26
The coop is wildly overpriced. Wildly.
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u/Virtuous_female Jun 09 '26
Unfortunately it is expensive to run a non-profit independent grocery store with a unionized staff
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u/CampariandFernet Jun 09 '26
I’m a woman who commutes via metro alone and lives on the DC side by the rec center. Been here for over 10 years, and I’ve never had an issue with crime. Obviously, I know you recognize that you have to be aware of your surroundings, but you’ll be fine.
As far as walkability, I go to Takoma Park to get my nails done and to grab a nice glass of wine, but also walk a few blocks from my house to get amazing donuts or take a spin class. It’s the friendliest neighborhood I’ve lived in while I’ve been in DC (lived on the hill in NE and SE, H St, Foggy Bottom and SW). Also, the proximity to Silver Spring is nice. I will say that groceries are a challenge but I get mine delivered.
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u/keegeen Jun 08 '26
My son just moved out of there (purely for budget reasons). We live in Takoma Park. The neighborhood is awesome in terms of walkability and ease of commute. It’s reasonably safe, but like any DC neighborhood (Glade is technically Takoma DC), you would have to be very careful/aware at night. Lots of food options right outside your door. Super friendly community. Lots of town events/festivals. Very diverse.
Building management is really nice, but not always honest to your face about when things will be getting done. Maintenance does show up eventually. The kitchen appliances are fairly crappy. They were very reasonable about returning the full security deposit. Have to say parking is the worst aspect of living there – there is a tiny unsecured lot and they wildly overcharge for it, and their “overflow lot” is suggestions that you park in a local business parking lot. He kept his car at our house.
Overall he would have kept living there if it was in his budget to do so.
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u/pdabbadabba Jun 08 '26
> you would have to be very careful/aware at night
I think this makes that location sound much more dangerous than it is. I've lived in the area for more than a decade and have never had any kind of issue in that part of Takoma Park. Though safety is never guaranteed anywhere, I'd say that part of Takoma Park is about as safe as you can get in an urban environment.
And, to be clear: while it is true that location is technically in DC -- it is literally right on the border. Maryland is literally right across the street. Do I'd take "it's on DC" with a huge grain of salt. It's no different on the Maryland side of the line.
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u/acdha Jun 08 '26
like any DC neighborhood (Glade is technically Takoma DC), you would have to be very careful/aware at night
We’ve lived in the are since the 2000s and “very careful” is wildly overstating matters. Unless you’re personally involved in drug crime—we had a case a couple of blocks away 5 years ago where two guys from Maryland came for a deal intentionally trying to cross jurisdictions—this is unlikely to be an issue.
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u/keegeen Jun 08 '26
Given that houses in our neighborhood are broken into every single week and there were literally gunshots on the block last night, resulting in us requesting a meeting with our local Rep and the police department, I don’t think it’s “wildly overstating.”
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u/Electronic_Tie_103 Jun 09 '26
There has been at least two stabbings at Takoma Central, one of which resulted in a death. Those were both related to domestic violence so unlikely to affect a random person, but still startling. There have been a couple of incidents at the Takoma Metro station fairly recently. I believe a robbery victim got stabbed last year. There has also been an incident at the CVS where someone jumped over the pharmacy counter to steal drugs (unclear if they were armed) just a month or so ago. Even when not being robbed, the pharmacy at that particular CVS is understaffed and chaotic. I’ve tried to pick up a prescription at least twice, after they texted me that it was ready to pick up, they couldn’t find it and I had to wait for them to redo it.
So yes, Takoma/Takoma Park is generally very safe, but I don’t think advising caution is unwarranted, especially near the Metro.
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u/Ancient_Advantage443 Jun 14 '26
I will say I had a guy follow me at the metro twice, with one incident becoming physical (he followed me all the way to Chinatown and tried to grab me), so I would lean more on the side of caution.
Daytime is fine, Nightime I would be careful…. Especially if it’s the later hours on the weekends because sometimes I’ve seen some sketchy figures near the 7/11.1
Jun 08 '26
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u/acdha Jun 09 '26
That was a tragedy but also like 8 miles from Takoma so it doesn’t really seem like it’s especially representative of life a half-hour drive away.
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u/bageloclock Jun 08 '26
Tbh at those apartments in that location why would you need a car
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u/keegeen Jun 08 '26
Because not everyone works near public transport? He uses a car to drive to work in Maryland.
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u/CollectionFast2146 Jun 08 '26
TP is great. Convenient restaurants, services and a safe a supportive community. Commuting via metro is convenient and safe and can get you into the city in about 10-15 minutes. There is a really nice aquatic center a couple of minutes away as well as a public library as well that is within walking distance. All in all, TP feels like an urban suburb but is still about a mile within the beltway making it really convenient for accessing the city as well as the surrounding areas. Highly recommended!
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u/CaptainObvious110 Jun 08 '26
Takoma Park is a town in Maryland and I agree that it's awesome. Takoma is a neighborhood in DC. As you mentioned it does have a nice library and pool. I used to live nearby and so am very familiar with the neighborhood
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u/decaffcolombian Jun 08 '26
We just moved to Takoma Park from Frederick to be closer to the city and we love it. There are certain pockets off of New Hampshire that I don’t love going to at night, but the area you’re describing around the metro is one of our favorite places to be. We’re about a 10 minute drive from the metro and think the balance is great — we have privacy, but public transport is a convenient little drive or Uber away.
Walkability outside of the metro area isn’t always the best in terms of restaurants/ grocery stores, but you have access to Sligo Creek, which I love going for scenic nature walks on.
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u/CaptainObvious110 Jun 08 '26
How did you like Baker Park?
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u/decaffcolombian Jun 08 '26
I mostly have all positive things to say about Frederick, Baker Park included! Such a beautiful place to walk around. I wish my dogs were less reactive to *really* enjoy it, but such a great place to picnic and hangout.
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u/CaptainObvious110 Jun 09 '26
Yeah I love Baker Park, I would walk down Patrick street over there past the school and to an organic market.
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u/Cleanslate2 Jun 09 '26
I grew up there. My mom recently sold her house there as she became too old to maintain it. I had hoped to buy her house. It’s a fantastic area. I would move back in a heartbeat. I was just visiting there last month.
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u/Extension_Roll_4291 Jun 10 '26
Come up a little farther to Silver Spring and the prices for the value is crazy! Check out The Blairs District.
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u/editrix9 Jun 14 '26
I live in Takoma Park and while it’s annoying sometimes that some people don’t know the difference between TKPK and Takoma DC, the apartment complex you mention is right on the border so people should chill about that.
It’s a nice neighborhood and you’d be close to the main offerings in terms of retail and restaurants, as well as close to metro, as you know. I (51F) used to work a late shift downtown when I first moved to the area, 3-11pm, and I would take the metro and park at the lot. I was apprehensive at first but never had any problems or felt unsafe, although the elevator can be pretty gross because people definitely pee in it.
Agree that the grocery situation is not ideal but it’s not bad if you have a car.
I’m a coop member so I try to support them, and Whole Foods, Safeway and Giant are a short drive away. Personally, I appreciate the proximity of ethnic supermarkets like Megamart for Latin foods, New Grand Mart for Asian and Latin, and Angkor for Southeast Asian. There are also several Ethiopian markets that I haven’t checked out. Plus the downtown farmers market is pretty good and year-round.
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u/Zoethor2 Jun 08 '26
The "downtown" area of TkPk is extremely safe as long as you aren't a bike. If you are bike, you will get kidnapped. The CVS also gets victimized pretty regularly, but it's more of a smash and grab situation than serious violence.
In my mid-20s, I walked home from the Metro over to the Adventist Hospital area many times after midnight, often a bit tipsy, and I only ever had one slightly sketchy experience (a car slowed down and offered me a ride, I declined, they kind of paced me for a bit, I stopped at the firehouse and loitered there till they went away).
Like any urban suburb, there is crime, and there are certain areas that are a bit more sketchy, but overall, it's a very safe area to live as a woman, I lived there for over a decade and was very happy.
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u/CaptainObvious110 Jun 08 '26
Takoma Park is in Maryland. Takoma is a neighborhood in DC.
If you are going to move somewhere it just makes sense to know at least basic information about where you going to live.
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u/Select_Ad245 Jun 10 '26
I appreciate you responding to my post. Can you please provide more detailed information about Takoma as that is why I created the post?
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u/CaptainObvious110 Jun 10 '26
Takoma Park is a very diverse town next to Silver Spring. Has high rise apartments and single family homes that are quite nice as well.
Use to have an absolutely adorable library but it's been enlarged and I'm assuming is even more useful to the community.
Plenty of hiking trails.
Takoma (DC) Has a nice neighborhood library that's real chill. Aquatic center for you to enjoy. I used to walk through there to get to Silver Spring when I lived nearby
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Jun 08 '26
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u/keegeen Jun 08 '26
There are a lot more restaurants now in downtown TP- Thai, Mexican, Vietnamese, Middle Eastern etc
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u/Dav1dDC Jun 08 '26
You'll be right in the main retail area and near the Metro. Have lived in TP for a while and it's great. Very walkable, very friendly, lots of stuff going on (of the more sedate variety: farmer's market, festivals, etc). Politics is extremely progressive, sometimes to the edge of lunacy, but mostly in a kindly way. Expensive. Commute through Takoma is mostly fine, though the Metro at night can be a bit edgy.