What it's like to live in Hyattsville
Hyattsville is a small city in Maryland with household incomes running above the national average, air quality that stays clean most of the year, a highly educated workforce, and schools with class sizes near the national average. Those factors carry real weight for anyone weighing where to move next.
The tradeoffs are worth naming plainly. Hyattsville deals with rent well above the national average, home prices well above the national average, crime rates above the national average, and commute times longer than most cities.
The good
- Higher-than-average incomes
- Clean air
- Highly educated workforce
- Average class sizes
- Public transit that many commuters use
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- High home prices
- Crime above national average
- Above-average commute times
- High rent burden for renters
How Hyattsville compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to Hyattsville
Based on Hyattsville's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,670
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $73,400 a year
- 56% of Hyattsville renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$96,300
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $48,150
- Homes cost 5.2× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 30% above US
$1,835/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,835 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices are steep, with a median around $481,500. Renting first to get a feel for the city before buying is often the more practical route.
Median home value $481,500 · 56% of renters cost-burdened
Job market
4.4% county unemployment
Unemployment in Prince George's County is 4.4%, close to the national average of 4.3%. That's the county-wide rate; BLS doesn't measure a place this size on its own.
Prince George's County (county-wide)
Safety▲ 65% above US
542 violent crimes per 100k
Crime is worth weighing seriously here. Rates run above the national average, and while plenty of residents live comfortably, neighborhood selection matters a lot more than it does in a safer city.
Property crime 3847/100k · Hyattsville Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 30% above US
34 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 33.7 minute average means plenty of commuters are pushing 45 to 60 minutes on a bad day. Proximity to work matters more here than it might elsewhere. 6 in 10 workers drive to work; 11% take public transit; 26% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 88°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 30°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▲ 41% above US
51% bachelor's degree or higher
This is a highly educated city, with over half the adult population holding a college degree. That tends to shape the job market and the broader culture, and it's a solid indicator of a strong professional scene.
Schools
5 public schools inside the boundary
There are 5 public schools inside the boundary and 4 private schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 16:1, close to the national average of 16:1. Smaller class sizes are generally a positive sign for a district.
Parks & recreation
The nearest national park or historic site is Greenbelt Park (3 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
Hyattsville's strongest points are household incomes running above the national average and air quality that stays clean most of the year; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and home prices well above the national average. A year of median rent ($1,835/mo) equals 24% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It tends to suit remote workers (26% of workers here already work from home), people who would rather not drive, and college-educated professionals. It may be a harder fit for renters on a tight budget and people who dread long commutes.
Other places near Hyattsville
All Maryland guides →Moving to Langley Park →
2 mi away · pop. 21,508
Rent $1,707/mo · Income $85,321
Compare with Hyattsville →Moving to East Riverdale →
2 mi away · pop. 18,336
Rent $1,716/mo · Income $81,831
Compare with Hyattsville →Moving to College Park →
3 mi away · pop. 34,540
Rent $1,912/mo · Income $69,721
Compare with Hyattsville →Not sure Hyattsville is the one?
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