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Living in
Chillum.
Chillum is an unincorporated community in Prince George's County, MD. It has no city government: the county runs it, and the Census counts it as its own place.
About
Life in Chillum
If you're considering Chillum, understand that you're looking at a densely packed, working-class suburb with real diversity—about 45% of residents are Latino, predominantly from Central America, alongside established African American and Caribbean communities. The median household income sits around $79,864, and median home values near $394,000 put it on the affordable side for the D.C. metro area, though rents average $1,733 monthly. The jobs picture is decent with unemployment at 4.4%, but most residents commute outward to D.C. proper—expect about 36 minutes average—since Chillum itself doesn't have direct Metro access.
Chillum at a Glance
Population, income, housing and more
Median Age
35.9 yrs
Poverty Rate
12.4%
Foreign-Born
51.1%
Broadband Internet
94.1%
of households
Population Growth
-1.1%
recent change · Census Bureau
Median household income
Demographics51.1% foreign-born, most often from El Salvador
Who lives in Chillum: race and ethnicity, ages, households, languages and countries of origin
In Chillum, the largest foreign-born group is from El Salvador (45.2%), and 47.7% of residents speak Spanish at home.
Under 18
22.4%
of residents
65 and Older
12.5%
of residents
Households with Kids
35.6%
anyone under 18
Living Alone
23.1%
of households
Married Couples
36.3%
of households
Avg Household Size
3.00
people
Race & Ethnicity
Hispanic or Latino of any race; other groups are non-Hispanic
Top countries of origin (foreign-born)
Languages Spoken at Home
Cost of Livingrent about average for MD
Rent, home values, and income in Chillum
In Chillum, home values are 6% below the MD average.
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
Rent Burdened
46.7%
spending 30%+ of income on rent
Severely Rent Burdened
19.0%
spending 50%+
Cost of Living Index
108.9
metro area (BEA) · US avg = 100
Median Property Tax
$4,172
per year, owner-occupied homes
Homeowners
39.7%
of occupied homes are owned
Typical Home Built
1961
median year built
Vacant Homes
5.7%
of housing units
Home Value Trend
Latest: $391,295 (September 2026)
Jobs & Economyunemployment 0.4 pts above MD average
Unemployment in Chillum and typical pay across the metro area
Unemployment in Prince George's County, which includes Chillum, is 0.4 percentage points higher than the MD average.
Unemployment rate
Chillum: Prince George's County rate (county-wide) · BLS annual average
Unemployment Rate — 10 Year Trend
Prince George's County (county-wide) · Annual averages
Chillum is about 4% of Prince George's County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
What Chillum Residents Do for Work · share of employed residents by industry
City residents, wherever they work
Median Salary by Occupation · metro area
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area
Commute36.5 min avg
How Chillum residents get to work, and the nearest airports
In Chillum, most residents drive alone to work (51%), and 29% get there in under 30 minutes.
How People Get to Work
Commute Time Distribution
Nearest airports · with airline service
- 8 mi
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)
Major hub12.0M passengers boarded in 2025
Straight-line distance. Size is the FAA’s hub category, based on passenger traffic: regional airports may have only a few flights a day.
Safetyviolent crime 19% below national average
Crime rates for 2025
Violent crime in the area policed by the Prince George's County Police Department, which covers Chillum, runs 19% below the national average.
Violent Crime Rate
265.4
per 100,000 residents
Below average (329 national, 2025)
Property Crime Rate
1,919.2
per 100,000 residents
Above average (1,552 national, 2025)
Policed by Prince George's County Police Department (county-wide rate)
Natural DisastersThunderstorm Wind most common — 25 events in 2025
Natural hazard risk, storms and earthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index
Relatively Moderate
93.2 / 100
Compares expected losses from natural hazards, social vulnerability and community resilience against every US county (higher = more risk).
Prince George's County, county-wide · FEMA NRI December 2025
In Prince George's County, which includes Chillum, the most common type is thunderstorm wind, with 25 recorded events in 2025.
Most common events:
Storm events by year
| Year | Events | Top Type | Property Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | Thunderstorm Wind | $118,000 |
| 2024 | 10 | Thunderstorm Wind | $273,000 |
| 2023 | 15 | Thunderstorm Wind | $122,000 |
| 2022 | 23 | Thunderstorm Wind | $1.9M |
| 2021 | 29 | Thunderstorm Wind | $462,000 |
| 2020 | 45 | Flood | $127,250 |
| 2019 | 42 | Thunderstorm Wind | None reported |
| 2018 | 41 | Flood | $1,000 |
Property damage is the National Weather Service's estimate filed with each event. “None reported” means the events were logged with $0 damage; “Not estimated” means no estimate was filed. Storms covering several counties aren't counted here, since NOAA doesn't split their damage by county.
1 earthquake of magnitude 2.5+ within 100 miles in the past year
Prince George's County, county-wide
Chillum is about 4% of Prince George's County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Air Quality40 median AQI — Good
Days by air quality category (2025)
Air quality in Prince George's County, which includes Chillum, is typically good — 306 good-air days per year.
Median AQI
40
Good Days
306
per year
Moderate Days
56
per year
Unhealthy Days
0
per year
Prince George's County, county-wide
Chillum is about 4% of Prince George's County’s population, so county-wide figures may differ from local conditions.
Climate88°F summers, 30°F winters
30-year climate averages (1991–2020) — monthly temperatures and precipitation
Chillum has warm summers (avg high 88°F) and cold winters (avg low 30°F).
Spring (Mar–May)
67°/47°F
avg high / low
Summer (Jun–Aug)
88°/69°F
avg high / low
Fall (Sep–Nov)
70°/50°F
avg high / low
Winter (Dec–Feb)
47°/30°F
avg high / low
Annual Precipitation
48.0"
Annual Snowfall
9.7"
Hot Days/Year
47
days above 90°F
Freeze Days/Year
84
days below 32°F
Rainy Days/Year
140
Average month
Show month-by-month table ↓Hide table ↑
| Month | High | Low | Precip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 45°F | 28°F | 3.03" |
| Feb | 48°F | 30°F | 2.77" |
| Mar | 56°F | 37°F | 3.96" |
| Apr | 68°F | 46°F | 3.44" |
| May | 77°F | 57°F | 4.32" |
| Jun | 85°F | 66°F | 4.56" |
| Jul | 90°F | 71°F | 4.62" |
| Aug | 88°F | 69°F | 3.67" |
| Sep | 82°F | 62°F | 4.12" |
| Oct | 70°F | 49°F | 4.23" |
| Nov | 58°F | 39°F | 3.20" |
| Dec | 49°F | 32°F | 3.67" |
Healthcare
Hospitals, ratings, and health insurance in Chillum
Uninsured
23.9%
of residents
No hospitals inside Chillum's limits — nearest hospitals · within 15 miles
Washington Dc VA Medical Center
Acute Care - Veterans Administration · ER available · 2.5 mi away · Washington
Medstar Washington Hospital Center
Acute Care Hospitals · ER available · 2.5 mi away · Washington
Children's National Hospital
Childrens · ER available · 2.8 mi away · Washington
Adult Health · vs. the typical US place
Share of adults. Modeled estimates, not counted cases. “US” = the typical US place.
Medicare-certified hospitals only. Doesn’t include clinics, urgent care, or freestanding ERs.
Education13.1:1 student/teacher ratio
Schools and degree attainment in Chillum
Chillum's student/teacher ratio is 13.1:1 (lower than the national average of 16:1), and 22.6% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Public Schools
5
within city limits
Private Schools
1
within city limits
College Degree Rate
22.6%
adults 25+ with bachelor's or higher
Student/Teacher Ratio
13.1:1
National avg 16:1
Schools located within city limits (2023) — school-level metrics change slowly year to year
Colleges Near Chillum (within 15 miles)
University of Maryland Global Campus
8.5 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 49,664 students · in-state tuition $8,280 · 32% graduate · median earnings $68,110 (10 yrs after entry)
University of Maryland-College Park
3 mi awayPublic · 4-year · 30,760 students · in-state tuition $12,290 · 86% graduate · median earnings $89,228 (10 yrs after entry)
Public · 2-year · 13,773 students · in-state tuition $5,394 · 23% graduate · median earnings $55,378 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 11,182 students · in-state tuition $70,170 · 86% graduate · median earnings $96,691 (10 yrs after entry)
Private nonprofit · 4-year · 10,108 students · in-state tuition $38,936 · 69% graduate · median earnings $69,682 (10 yrs after entry)
Strayer University-Global Region
4.7 mi awayPrivate for-profit · 4-year · 9,376 students · in-state tuition $13,920 · 14% graduate · median earnings $44,016 (10 yrs after entry)
Degree-granting colleges with 100+ students, placed by campus location (main campuses only — branch campuses are reported under their parent school)
Parks & Recreationclosest: Civil War Defenses of Washington, 2 mi
Nearby national parks, recreation areas and public libraries for Chillum
Chillum has 8 nearby national parks or recreation areas, closest being Civil War Defenses of Washington (2 mi away).
Nearby National Parks & Recreation Areas
Civil War Defenses of Washington
National Park Site
2 mi awayRock Creek Park
Park
3 mi awayAfrican American Civil War Memorial
National Park Site
4 mi awayCarter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site
National Historic Site
4 mi awayKenilworth Park & Aquatic Gardens
National Park Site
4 mi awayMary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site
National Historic Site
4 mi awayBelmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument
National Monument
5 mi awayCapitol Hill Parks
National Park Site
5 mi awayCities Near Chillum
The closest cities within 60 miles
Planning a move to Chillum?
Read our full moving guide — what it's really like to live here.
Chillum FAQ
Is Chillum, Maryland affordable?⌄
Chillum's median rent is $1,735/month, which is above the national average. The median household income is $79,864/year. Median home value is $393,600.
Is Chillum, Maryland safe?⌄
Chillum is policed by the Prince George's County Police Department, whose violent crime rate across its service area was 265 per 100,000 residents in 2025, which is below the national average of 329/100k that year. Property crime rate is 1919 per 100,000. As with any city, crime rates vary by neighborhood.
What is the job market like in Chillum, Maryland?⌄
Prince George's County, which includes Chillum, has an unemployment rate of 4.4%, which is close to the national average of 4.3%.
What is the cost of living in Chillum, Maryland?⌄
The cost of living in Chillum is primarily driven by housing. Median rent is $1,735/month and median household income is $79,864/year. The median home value is $393,600. About 47% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing.
How is the commute in Chillum, Maryland?⌄
The average commute in Chillum is 37 minutes, which is longer than average compared to the national average of 26 minutes.
Data from the US Census Bureau, BLS, FBI, NOAA, EPA, Zillow Research and other public sources. Where our data comes from