Bethesda, Maryland, sits just over the line from Washington, D.C., and it has a character all its own.
It feels suburban in many ways with its tree-lined streets, established neighborhoods, and a lot of residents who’ve been here for years, yet downtown Bethesda hums with city energy. Restaurants spill out onto Woodmont Avenue, the Metro Red Line carries commuters into D.C., and weekends often mean catching a show at Round House Theatre or walking the Capital Crescent Trail.
For anyone thinking about moving to Bethesda or weighing the cost of living in this part of Montgomery County, questions about safety naturally come up. People want to know: what are the actual crime rates in Bethesda, and how does that affect everyday life?
The answer isn’t as simple as a single ranking or letter grade.
Crime in Bethesda, like in most towns, varies by neighborhood and time of day, and understanding the numbers alongside the local context is the best way to get a clear picture of what it’s like to live here.
What Are The Official Crime Rates in Bethesda, MD?
Bethesda doesn’t report crime separately the way incorporated cities do, since it is a census-designated place within Montgomery County. That means residents rely on county-level data and neighborhood estimates.
According to NeighborhoodScout, the overall rate of crime in Bethesda is about 21 incidents per 1,000 residents. For people who live in Bethesda, that translates to roughly a 1 in 48 chance of experiencing property crime in a given year and a 1 in 725 chance of being a victim of violent crime.
Another independent source, CrimeGrade.org, assigns Bethesda a B- overall grade for safety. This score takes into account both property and violent crimes and shows how Bethesda compares to the rest of Maryland and the national average.
Areas near downtown Bethesda and Wisconsin Avenue, where nightlife and restaurants are concentrated, tend to have higher reports of incidents than quiet residential streets tucked away near Rock Creek Park or suburban cul-de-sacs north of Old Georgetown Road.
Numbers on a page can sometimes feel abstract, but locals know that patterns play out in real, recognizable ways. A Friday night along Bethesda Row, when residents pack into bars and theaters, is a very different environment from an early morning jog along the Capital Crescent Trail. Both are part of what Bethesda offers, and both shape the community’s safety profile.
How Does Crime In Bethesda Compare To U.S. Averages?
Bethesda crime rates don’t exist in a vacuum; they’re often compared to national averages and to nearby parts of the Washington metropolitan area.
Property Crime in Bethesda, MD
Property crime makes up the majority of incidents in town. NeighborhoodScout reports about 19.5 property crimes per 1,000 residents, which is close to the U.S. median. This means the chance of being a victim of theft, burglary, or motor vehicle theft in Bethesda is about 1 in 51.
That risk is similar to what you might find in other suburbs outside of Washington, D.C., but it tends to concentrate near major shopping centers and commuter hubs.
Downtown Bethesda, with its busy parking garages and Metro station entrances, records more theft than quieter neighborhoods where most Bethesda residents own their homes. Around Wisconsin Avenue and East-West Highway, foot traffic and nightlife bring more opportunities for pickpocketing or car break-ins.
In contrast, streets lined with single-family homes west of Arlington Road see fewer incidents, although no part of the suburb is completely free of property crime.
Violent Crime in Bethesda, MD
Violent crime in Bethesda remains well below the national average.
At 1.4 violent crimes per 1,000 residents, Bethesda is significantly lower than the U.S. median of around 4 per 1,000. For locals, this means a 1 in 725 chance of being a victim of violent crime, figures that compare favorably not just to national averages, but also to nearby parts of Montgomery County and D.C. Proper.
That said, the nature of violent crime varies. Incidents reported in Bethesda often involve aggravated assault or robbery rather than higher-level offenses.
For context, areas closer to downtown D.C. record significantly higher rates, which is why many people looking for places like Bethesda choose this suburb for its balance of urban access and lower crime exposure.
How to Research Crime Data for Specific Neighborhoods in Bethesda?
Crime rates are averages, but Bethesda reviews from residents often point out that safety feels very different from one block to another.
To get granular, Montgomery County offers a Crime Incident Map. Anyone can type in a Bethesda ZIP code and filter incidents by date, type, or police district. This is the same map residents use to check incidents near their commute routes or around schools.
For example, someone considering a home in Bethesda near the NIH campus might use the map to compare reported crimes along Rockville Pike with quieter streets off Bradley Boulevard. A commuter who plans to go to D.C. daily by Metro could review incidents around the Bethesda or Medical Center stations to understand patterns in those busy areas.
Who Keeps Bethesda Safe? Police and Emergency Services Explained
Law enforcement in Bethesda is handled by the Montgomery County Police Department, with the 2nd District station on Rugby Avenue serving as the local hub. Officers cover downtown Bethesda, Chevy Chase, and portions of Potomac and Kensington. The station offers community policing initiatives and works directly with neighborhood groups. Residents can call 911 for emergencies or the county’s non-emergency line at 301-279-8000 for issues like suspicious activity or noise complaints.
Fire and EMS coverage comes from the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service, which has stations along Wisconsin Avenue and Old Georgetown Road. The volunteer-based Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad, located near the Bethesda Metro entrance, is another recognizable part of the local safety landscape. They operate ambulances and a heavy rescue unit that Bethesda residents often see responding along major arteries like River Road or Arlington Road.
Is There A Community Watch in Bethesda?
Many neighborhoods in Bethesda maintain some form of community watch, often supported by Montgomery County’s official Neighborhood Watch program.
Areas such as Woodmont Triangle, Glen Echo Heights, and Bradley Hills organize block captains, email listservs, and regular meetings with police community services officers.
These programs don’t eliminate crime, but they do help residents share information, coordinate with law enforcement, and keep an eye on patterns in their own streets.
FAQs About Bethesda Crime and Safety
Bethesda tends to report lower violent crime than the county average and similar levels of property crime, according to NeighborhoodScout.
Yes. CrimeGrade.org highlights that residential neighborhoods north of downtown and closer to Rock Creek Park generally report fewer incidents than nightlife-heavy blocks near Bethesda Row.
Property crimes like larceny, burglary, and auto theft are most frequently reported. Violent crimes are rare relative to national averages.
Use Montgomery County’s Crime Incident Map, type in your address or ZIP code, and filter by offense and date range. It’s a helpful tool for comparing areas before moving to Bethesda.
Bethesda’s proximity to D.C. does bring more activity downtown, but the suburb still records far lower crime rates than the capital city. This balance is part of why Bethesda has caught the attention of people looking for a nice metropolitan area with easy access to the subway.
For Montgomery County Police, call 301-279-8000. For anonymous tips, residents can use Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS.
Housing is expensive here, and Bethesda real estate costs often factor into how residents view the trade-offs of living in Bethesda. Safety is one piece of the puzzle, along with commute options, schools, and the broader real estate market.
