Pomological Watercolor POM00004159, 1898
Chillum’s story
132 years in pictures
Census counts: 35,656 in 1970, 36,039 in 2020. The archive holds 6 old photos and papers going back to 1898 and 2 maps from 1900 on.
- 1894Chillum is settled
ChillumMD
A town of 34,871, settled in 1894.
Population
34,871
Census survey, 2020–24
Typical home
$391K
−2.4% in a year
Household income
$80K
median
Median age
35.9
years
Jobs based here
2,923
A commuter town
TownGrade
C−
#230 of 259 in MD
What should you know before moving to Chillum?
Chillum's standout: few places in the country are easier to get around without a car. Overall it grades C−, ranked 230th of 259 in Maryland. 16% of its land is conserved. Its weakest subject is schools: its schools rank behind 92% of the state's. 17% of the land in Chillum is conserved, above both the Maryland town median (9.5%) and the median of U.S. towns (4.3%). On hazard risk, just 25 of Maryland’s 329 towns do worse. The biggest park or preserve is Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park, at 128 acres.
What makes Chillum stand out
Where Chillum beats most towns, and one thing worth knowing.
WalkabilityA+
More walkable than 99% of U.S. towns
18.3% of workers walk, bike or ride transit
EPA National Walkability Index; Census ACS.
Prince George's County Public Schools
| School | Grades | Students |
|---|---|---|
| Ridgecrest Elementary | PK–5 | 631 |
| Rosa L. Parks Elementary | PK–5 | 607 |
| Lewisdale Elementary | PK–5 | 533 |
Worth knowing · SchoolsD
On state tests and graduation
NCES · EDFacts.
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Chillum for work
Where Chillum’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
2,923jobs based in Chillum
1%of working residents work in town
6 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
How Chillum grades
Each subject compared with towns across the country (schools within Maryland), ordered by how far Chillum is from typical.
Its grades run from A+ for walkability (better than 99% of comparable towns) to D for schools (better than 8%), so the C− overall blends very different results.
WalkabilityEPA walkability 13.5 of 20; 16.9% of households have no carA+Open →SchoolsDOpen →Hazard riskFEMA risk higher than 37% of U.S. communities; inland flooding tops the listB+Open →HealthLess healthy than 63% of U.S. towns; Medstar Washington Hospital Center 3.1 miles awayC+Open →Cost of livingC+Open →Jobs & income$80K median household incomeB−Open →
Character Graded, but not part of the overall grade.
Described, not graded Taste, not quality: snow or an older crowd is neither good nor bad.
Climate–Open →Housing market76 days on market–Open →Who lives hereMedian age 35.9; 23% of adults have a four-year degree–Open →
How TownRatings grades towns →
Nearby attractions
All 319 attractions →White House and 285 more within 40 miles
Museums, parks, gardens and other places to visit around Chillum. Close and well known come first.
Big draw6 mi National park siteWhite House311K visitors a year
Big draw6 mi National MemorialWashington Monument204K visitors a year
Big draw6 mi MuseumSmithsonian Institution30.0M visitors a year
Big draw8 mi LandmarkArlington National Cemetery
Big draw7 mi LandmarkUnited States Triumphal Arch
Big draw7 mi National MemorialLincoln Memorial7.7M visitors a yearSources: National Park Service · ski areas © OpenSkiMap / OpenStreetMap contributors · Wikidata · Wikipedia readership · photos via Wikimedia Commons
Photo credits
White House: This image or media was taken or created by Matt H. Wade. To see his entire port, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Washington Monument: Oren Rozen, CC BY-SA 4.0 · Smithsonian Institution: Highsmith, Carol M., 1946-, photographer, Public domain · Arlington National Cemetery: Protoant, Public domain · United States Triumphal Arch: Hstoops, CC0 · Lincoln Memorial: Aerial_view_of_Lincoln_Memorial_-_east_side.jpg: Carol M. Highsmith derivative w, Public domain
Getting set up
Moving to Chillum: who provides what
Chillum is unincorporated, so Prince George's County and regional agencies provide most services.
PowerPotomac Electric Power21.7¢/kWh · EIA 2025HIFLD · EIA
WaterWSSC WaterNo health-based violations in 5 years · EPAEPA
Internet5 providers100% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsFCC
Trash & county servicesPrince George's CountyPrince George's County provides services here
Register to voteOnlineIn Maryland you can register online until 21 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 21 days before).vote.govWho runs elections herePrince George's County Board of ElectionsPrince George's County; contacts on the Handbook page.FVAP, Jul 2023
ZIP codes20782, 20783, 2091220782 52% · 20783 39% · 20912 8%Census 2020
EPA SDWIS (Oct 9, 2026) · HIFLD + EIA-861 2025 · Census 2020 ZCTAs · NCES 2024–25 · registration: vote.gov, updated Mar 11, 2026.
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Chillum.
Chillum sends many workers across the state line to Arlington and is mostly renters, but it carries more natural-hazard risk than most of Maryland (mostly inland flooding).
SchoolsD
For schools, Chillum earns a D
Its public schools are run by the Prince George's County Public Schools. Two of its 7 schools are shown below, with the reason for each. Public school enrollment in Chillum: 2,434 students across 5 schools.
8%of MD districts it outscoresDSchool Grade
| School | Level | Students | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ridgecrest ElementaryLargest public elementary schoolGrades PK–5 | Grades PK–5 | 631 | C |
| The Children's Guild PrivateLargest high schoolGrades 2–12 | Grades 2–12 | 96 | – |
NCES · EDFacts · graded within MD on state tests and graduation
Work & commuteJobs & income grade B−
About two in five of Chillum’s working residents commute to Washington
40% of working residents cross a state line to work, Arlington among the top destinations. Chillum has 2,923 jobs for its 12,017 working residents: even if every job went to a resident, most would still commute out.
Jobs in Chillum fell by 535 from 2013 to 2023, to 2,923. Most people who work leave Chillum to do it: just 1% work in town. The average commute for Chillum comes to 37 minutes, against 32 minutes in Maryland’s towns and 25 minutes across U.S. towns. The share of residents in Chillum who live below the poverty line: 12%.
1%work in town
| Chillum | Maryland towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average trip to work | 37 minutes | 32 minutes | 25 minutes |
| Work from home | 10% | 18% | 11% |
| Below the poverty line | 12% | 7% | 9.6% |
| Median household income | $80,000 | $113,000 | $80,000 |
Where working residents work
In Chillum1%
Washington38%
Bethesda3%
College Park2%
Baltimore2%
6 mi
median commute distance
2,923
jobs based in Chillum
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
A+
Walkability grade: more walkable than 98% of U.S. towns
Census LEHD 2023 · ACS
OutdoorsA−
In Chillum, 16.5% of the land is conserved
Across 11 parks and preserves: 1.6 miles of trail. Parks and preserves in Chillum: 11, covering 264 acres.
#135for trails in MD
16.5%
conserved · 359 of 2,173 acres
1.6 mi
of trails · 0.5 per sq mi
| Biggest places to walk | Trails | Acres |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park | 0.1 mi | 128 |
| 2. Sligo Creek Stream Valley Park | — | 52 |
| 3. Lane Manor Park | 0.1 mi | 29 |
Trails & parks © OpenStreetMap contributors · Conserved land: USGS PAD-US
Climate
Expect four seasons and pleasant summers in Chillum
In July, afternoons reach 88°; in January, nights fall to 26°, and about 16 inches of snow falls in a winter.
16″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter28–46°
Spring44–66°
Summer66–86°
Fall48–68°
Nov 1
typical first frost
Apr 10
typical last frost
+1.7°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020
HealthC+
Chillum stands out in Maryland and nationally: a larger share of its adults 18 to 64 have no health insurance
In Chillum, 39% of adults feel lonely. On the CDC’s 32 measures, Chillum is ahead of Maryland on 5 and behind on 19. 15% of adults in the town have been diagnosed with depression; 44% sleep under 7 hours.
37%healthier than U.S. townsC+Health Grade
| Chillum | Maryland towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| No health insurance, 18–64 (CDC PLACES) | 23% | 8% | 8.1% |
| Food insecurity (CDC PLACES) | 29% | 14% | 14% |
| Depression (CDC PLACES) | 15% | 20% | 23% |
| Sleep under 7 hours (CDC PLACES) | 44% | 38% | 36% |
32 measures vs. Maryland
5 better8 too close to call19 worse
| What stands out | Chillum | MD |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer adults who have had cancer | 4.3% | 7.6% |
| Fewer adults with depression | 15.3% | 19.4% |
| More uninsured adults | 22.7% | 8.7% |
Washington DC VA Medical Center
3 mi away · emergency room
2 of 3
care shortages: primary care, mental health
15th
percentile among MD towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSA
Natural hazardsHazard risk grade B+
Chillum faces a low natural-hazard risk, led by inland flooding
FEMA rates its natural-hazard risk higher than 97% of Maryland towns, with expected losses of about $119 per resident a year; that rating is what its B+ for hazard risk is built on.
Chillum has had 114 paid flood insurance claims since 1978. Only 8 of the 261 Maryland towns we compare have a higher natural-hazard score from FEMA than Chillum. FEMA puts 62% of the town’s expected hazard losses down to inland flooding, and 10% to heat waves.
37risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingHeat wavesTornadoes
114
paid flood claims since 1978
FEMA flood insurance claims · FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMA
HousingCost of living grade C+
The typical home in Chillum is valued at about $391K
Typical home values fell 2.4% in the year to September 2026. For households in Chillum, the share who are owner-occupiers is 40%. The town’s median rent is $1,735 a month.
$391KZillow home value
| Chillum | Maryland towns | U.S. towns | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that own their home | 40% | 74% | 73% |
| Median rent | $1,735 a month | $1,810 a month | $1,185 a month |
Typical home value
Chillum$391K
Maryland$425K
Market temperature
76
days on market
102.1%
sale-to-list price
−2.4%
value change, 1 year
11
homes sold in May
Census ACS, 2020–24 · Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data Center
Keep exploring
Everything we know about Chillum
18pages on Chillum
The big questions
Out and about
After high school
Colleges nearby
38 within 15 miles of the center of Chillum
Washington Adventist UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · Takoma Park1.8 mi$26,604 tuitionUniversity of Maryland-College ParkUniversity or college · Public · College Park2.4 mi$11,809 in-state tuitionPrince George's Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · Largo9.9 mi$4,034 in-state tuition
About 6 of every 100 Chillum residents are enrolled in college, about the same as Maryland.
About Chillum
Census-designated place in Maryland, US
Chillum is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States, bordering Washington, D.C., and Montgomery County. In addition to being its own unincorporated neighborhood, Chillum is also a census-designated place covering a larger area than the Chillum neighborhood. As of the 2010 census, the Chillum CDP included Chillum, as well as the adjacent unincorporated communities of Avondale, Carole Highlands, Green Meadows, and Lewisdale. The population was 36,039 at the 2020 census. Chillum, the neighborhood, is contained between the Northwest Branch Anacostia River to the east, East West Highway (MD 410) and Sligo Creek to the north, New Hampsh…
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Area
- 3.4 sq mi
- Elevation
- 148 ft
- Area code
- 301, 240
Chillum’s neighbors
5 towns share a border with Chillum.
HyattsvilleMount RainierLangley ParkTakoma ParkAdelphiChillum
How the neighbors grade
| Town | MD rank | Overall | Cost | Safety | Schools | Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chillum | #230 | C− | C+ | — | D | C+ |
| Hyattsville | #242 | C− | C− | D− | D | B+ |
| Mount Rainier | #247 | D | C | D | D | B |
| Langley Park | #248 | D | C+ | — | D | D |
| Takoma Park | #150 | B | C− | D− | B+ | A |
| Adelphi | #234 | C− | C | — | D | C |
Chillum, Langley Park and Adelphi report no FBI crime data of their own. Compare Chillum with a neighbor →
Questions about Chillum
Short answers, built from the data on this page.
Is Chillum, MD a good place to live?
Chillum grades C− overall, better than 24% of U.S. towns and #230 of 259 in Maryland. It grades C+ for health and D for schools. Schools is its weak spot, with a D.
Is Chillum, MD expensive?
That is 3.1 years of the area's median household income ($126,684 across the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area). Cost of living, which also weighs rents, property taxes and how many households pay 30% or more of their income for housing, grades C+.