What are the schools like in Greenbelt, MD?

Greenbelt is served primarily by Prince George's County Public Schools. The district operates 139 elementary schools, 25 middle schools, and 25 high schools with a student-to-teacher ratio of 14.1:1.

What is the median household income in Greenbelt?

The median household income in Greenbelt, MD is $82,019 according to the most recent US Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates. The unemployment rate is 8.6%.

What is the weather like in Greenbelt, MD?

Greenbelt has an average high temperature of 42.7°F in January and 87.1°F in July. Annual precipitation averages 44.0 inches and annual snowfall averages 15.8 inches.

Greenbelt, MD Cost of Living, Crime & Is It a Good Place to Live? (2026)

Q: Is Greenbelt, MD affordable or expensive?

Greenbelt's cost of living index is 109, where 100 represents the national average. This means Greenbelt is 9% more expensive than the average US city. The median home value is $258,300 and the median rent is $1,788 per month.

Q: What is the crime rate in Greenbelt, MD?

Greenbelt has a violent crime rate of 648.9 incidents per 100,000 residents and a property crime rate of 4377.3 per 100,000. The national average violent crime rate is approximately 380 per 100,000.

Is Greenbelt, MD a Good Place to Live?

Greenbelt is a small city of 24,646 in Maryland, with a median household income of $82,019 and a 8.6% unemployment rate. Its cost of living index is 109 (US average = 100), which is 9% above the national average.

Strengths: Greenbelt stands out for solid school ratings (B+), a well-educated population.

Trade-offs: Potential downsides include a higher-than-average crime index, longer commutes, an elevated unemployment rate. Whether Greenbelt is right for you depends on your priorities — the full breakdown is below.

All Greenbelt city data on this page comes from official government sources — the US Census Bureau, FBI, NCES, BEA, and NOAA — updated annually.

Cost of Living

Index: 108.6

Greenbelt's overall cost of living index is 108.6, where 100 represents the US national average. Living in Greenbelt costs roughly 9% more than the average American city.

Metric	Greenbelt, MD	National Avg
Median Home Value	$258,300	$244,900
Median Monthly Rent	$1,788	$1,163
Homeownership Rate	51.3%	65.9%
Median Household Income	$82,019	$74,755

Crime & Safety

High Crime

Greenbelt's violent crime rate is 648.9 per 100,000 residents — 71% higher than the national average of ~380 per 100,000.

Violent Crime

648.9 /100k

Property Crime

4377.3 /100k

Vertical marker = national average. Source: FBI UCR Program.

Schools & Education

Greenbelt is served primarily by Prince George's County Public Schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.1:1 (better than the national average of ~16:1).

Metric	Greenbelt, MD	National Avg
School District	Prince George's County Public Schools	—
Elementary Schools	139	—
Middle Schools	25	—
High Schools	25	—
Student/Teacher Ratio	14.1:1	16:1
Bachelor's Degree or Higher	46.5%	35.4%
High School Diploma or Higher	89.6%	91.1%

Weather & Climate

Greenbelt sees average highs of 42.7°F in January and 87.1°F in July, with 44.0 inches of annual precipitation and 15.8 inches of snow per year.

Metric	Greenbelt, MD
Average High — January	42.7°F
Average High — July	87.1°F
Annual Precipitation	44.0"
Annual Snowfall	15.8"

Demographics

Metric	Greenbelt, MD	National Avg
Population	24,646	—
Median Age	37.2	38.9
Unemployment Rate	8.6%	3.7%
Avg Commute Time	32.8 min	26 min
White (non-Hispanic)	22.6%	59.3%
Black or African American	47.1%	13.6%
Hispanic or Latino	14.2%	18.9%
Asian	11.7%	6.3%
Under 18	21.9%	22.2%
65 and over	13.6%	16.8%

Nearby Cities

Berwyn Heights, MD 2 mi Seabrook, MD 2 mi New Carrollton, MD 2 mi College Park, MD 3 mi East Riverdale, MD 3 mi

ZIP Codes in Greenbelt

Greenbelt, MD is covered by 1 ZIP code:

20770

Greenbelt vs Other Cities

Greenbelt, MD vs Berwyn Heights, MD Greenbelt, MD vs Seabrook, MD Greenbelt, MD vs New Carrollton, MD Greenbelt, MD vs College Park, MD Greenbelt, MD vs East Riverdale, MD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Greenbelt, MD affordable or expensive?

Greenbelt's cost of living index is 109, where 100 is the national average. That puts Greenbelt roughly 9% above the national average in cost. The median home price is $258,300 and median rent is $1,788/month.

What is the crime rate in Greenbelt, MD?

Greenbelt's violent crime rate is 648.9 per 100,000 residents — the national average is ~380 per 100,000. Property crime is 4377.3 per 100,000 (national avg ~2,100). Data from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

What are the schools like in Greenbelt?

Public schools in Greenbelt are operated by Prince George's County Public Schools. The district has 139 elementary, 25 middle, and 25 high schools. The student-to-teacher ratio is 14.1:1. 46.5% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Is Greenbelt, MD a good place to live?

Greenbelt, MD has a population of 24,646, a median household income of $82,019, and an unemployment rate of 8.6%. Whether it's right for you depends on your priorities — use the compare tool above to stack it against another city you're considering.

What is the weather like in Greenbelt?

Greenbelt averages 42.7°F in January and 87.1°F in July. Annual rainfall is 44.0 inches with about 15.8 inches of snow per year. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020).

What ZIP codes are in Greenbelt?

Greenbelt, MD is covered by 1 ZIP code: 20770.

What is the population of Greenbelt?

The population of Greenbelt, Maryland is 24,646 with a median age of 37.2. Source: US Census ACS 5-Year Estimates.

What are the pros and cons of living in Greenbelt?

Key numbers for living in Greenbelt: cost of living index 109 (100 = US average), median home $258,300, median household income $82,019, crime index 186 (100 = US average, lower is safer), schools rated B+. Whether these are benefits or drawbacks depends on where you're coming from — compare Greenbelt side by side with your current city to see the trade-offs.