What it's like to live in New Carrollton
New Carrollton is a small city in Maryland with air quality that stays clean most of the year 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. New Carrollton deals with rent well above the national average, long average commutes, a rent burden that leaves many renters stretched thin, and cold winters.
The good
- Clean air
- Average class sizes
The not so good
- Rent well above the national average
- Long commutes
- High rent burden for renters
- Cold winters
How New Carrollton compares
Median household income
Median rent (per month)
Median home value
What it takes to move to New Carrollton
Based on New Carrollton's median rent, home value and household income
To rent
$3,498
up front: first month plus a typical one-month deposit
- Income to keep rent under 30%: $69,960 a year
- 54% of New Carrollton renters spend 30% or more of their income on rent
To buy
$78,980
a 20% down payment on the median home
- With 10% down: $39,490
- Homes cost 4.8× the typical local household income (US: 4.1×)
Moving costs, closing costs and taxes not included.
The details
Cost of living▲ 24% above US
$1,749/mo median rent
Rent runs on the higher side, at $1,749 a month median. Whether that premium makes sense usually comes down to the local job market and what it pays. Home prices run above average, with a median around $394,900. Buyers should expect to stretch their budget here.
Median home value $394,900 · 54% 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▼ 15% below US
279 violent crimes per 100k
Crime runs about typical for a city this size. Some neighborhoods are safer than others, and one overall rate doesn't tell the whole story, so a neighborhood-level look matters more than the headline stat.
Property crime 2243/100k · New Carrollton Police Department · 2025 data
Getting around▲ 41% above US
37 min average commute
Traffic is a real factor here. The 36.7 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. 8 in 10 workers drive to work; 7% take public transit; 10% work from home.
How workers get to work
Climate
Summers are warm, with highs around 85°F, and winters are cold, with lows around 27°F and snow a regular occurrence. Rainfall is regular throughout the year.
Average month
30-year averages, 1991–2020
Education & workforce▼ 33% below US
24% bachelor's degree or higher
College degree attainment runs below average at 24%. That tends to reflect a more trade and working-class economy, which can be great or limiting depending on the industry.
Schools
4 public schools inside the boundary
There are 4 public schools inside the boundary. The student-to-teacher ratio is 15:1, 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 (2 miles away). There are 8 national parks and sites within a day's drive.
Bottom line
New Carrollton's strongest point is air quality that stays clean most of the year; the main tradeoffs are rent well above the national average and long average commutes. A year of median rent ($1,749/mo) equals 26% of the median household income here, more than the 21% typical nationwide. It may be a harder fit for people who dread long commutes.
Other places near New Carrollton
All Maryland guides →Moving to Lanham →
1 mi away · pop. 11,433
Rent $2,050/mo · Income $103,556
Compare with New Carrollton →Moving to East Riverdale →
2 mi away · pop. 18,336
Rent $1,716/mo · Income $81,831
Compare with New Carrollton →Moving to Seabrook →
2 mi away · pop. 18,317
Rent $1,840/mo · Income $98,157
Compare with New Carrollton →Moving to Greenbelt →
2 mi away · pop. 24,678
Rent $1,848/mo · Income $85,997
Compare with New Carrollton →Not sure New Carrollton is the one?
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