Large, wooded lots south of D.C. in Bensville
Twenty-seven miles south of Washington, D.C., Charles County’s Bensville offers buyers a quieter lifestyle with homes on large, wooded lots away from the busyness of the big city. “It’s like a suburb with little pockets of communities,” says Theresa Shoptaw, Realtor with Century 21. “It’s still very affordable compared to Prince George’s County, so you get a little bit more for your money, only you’re a bit further away from D.C.” With a park, a sports complex and a 13-mile trail in the neighborhood, Bensville suits those with an active lifestyle who like to spend time outside, and its zoning to some of Charles County’s top public schools makes it just the right spot for many families.
Ranch-style, bi-level and new traditional homes on large lots
Bensville has mostly single-family homes with a few townhouse options available. The neighborhood offers large lots and homes, with an average single-family home size of nearly 3,800 square feet and many acreage properties available. Mature trees typically shade Bensville’s winding streets, and most roads in the neighborhood do not have sidewalks. Ranch-style, bi-level and new traditional homes are common in Bensville, and prices for single-family homes typically range from around $400,000 to $700,000, while townhouses usually fall in the $350,000 to $450,000 range. Bensville is a highly residential community, with more than 90% of residents owning their properties.
Students attend Charles County’s top high school
Bensville is in the Charles County Public Schools district, which gets a B-plus grade from Niche and ranks on the site as the twelfth best school district in Maryland. All of Bensville’s assigned public schools are located within the neighborhood. Students can attend the B-minus-rated William A. Diggs Elementary School followed by the B-plus-rated Theodore G. Davis Middle School, which ranks on Niche as the second best public middle school in Charles County. After that, they can continue to the A-rated North Point High School, which ranks on Niche as the best public high school in Charles County. North Point High has 16 career and technical education programs, including criminal justice, cosmetology and welding options. Bensville students also have the option to attend Robert D. Stethem Educational Center, a public alternative education center for sixth through twelfth-grade students.
Bensville Park, Indian Head Rail Trail and Southern Maryland Youth Organization
Bensville Park is a neighborhood green space with a playground, zipline, basketball court and picnic pavilion beside a large multi-use field. The park connects to the 13-mile Indian Head Rail Trail, a paved path for walking, running and biking. “The rail trail is the best thing the county ever did,” Shoptaw says. “People are always out walking, jogging and riding their bikes. It’s all shaded with little ponds. I walk my dog there and even saw a beaver once.” Southern Maryland Youth Organization, a youth sports league, has its sports complex on the south end of Bensville, which hosts kids’ baseball, soccer and flag football games.
Neighborhood eateries and grocery shopping
Berry Country Market is a small convenience store central to the neighborhood where residents can pick up alcohol, snacks and other grocery items. On the neighborhood’s north end, Crab Boat Seafood Bar has a large dining room, full bar and menu featuring blue crabs, fresh oysters and seafood boils. To the south, Huntt’s Tavern is a neighborhood bar with live music, pool tables and happy hour specials. Five miles north, Manokeek Village Center has fast-food chains like Starbucks and Wendy’s and a Giant Food for groceries.
Commuting to D.C. and public transit
Bensville is a car-dependent neighborhood 27 miles south of Washington, D.C. VanGO has bus stops in the neighborhood that provide routes around Charles County. The neighborhood’s nearest hospital is UM Charles Regional Medical Center, 9 miles south. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is 23 miles north.
Crime
Bensville has a 1 out of 10 CAP Index Crime Score, significantly below the national average of 4.
Photography Contributed By
Jack Adams
