Lanham has been known for its commuter convenience for centuries
Less than 15 miles east of Washington, D.C., Lanham was originally settled in the early 1800s as a stop along the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad. Though the line no longer operates, this Maryland suburb is still known for its commuter routes, with easy access to Route 50 and Interstate 495, which is locally called the Capital Beltway. “Route 50 is a straight shot into D.C., and being near the Capital Beltway is just convenient because it circles around the entire city,” says Maria Hairston-Purcell, a Lanham local and broker with Prime Resource Realty and Property Management. “There are also two train stations and plenty of bus stations.” Aside from commuter convenience, Lanham also offers proximity to large recreation spaces, like Greenbelt Park, and some of the biggest shopping centers in Prince George’s County, including Woodmore Towne Centre.
Lanham is primarily residential, with an abundance of split-level, Cape Cod, townhomes and new traditional homes.
New Carrollton Metro Station connects Lanham residents to downtown DC, making this a very commuter friendly area.
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Midcentury homes and new-build townhouses
Lanham has a lot of ranch-style homes, Cape Cod cottages and bi-level houses from the 1950s and ‘60s. Colonial Revivals and New Traditional houses built between the early 2000s and 2010s are also common, as are townhouses from the past five years. The median single-family home price here is around $453,000, while the median townhouse price is about $412,000. Both are higher than the national median.
According to 2024 data from the Maryland Department of State Police, Prince George’s County has a lower violent crime rate than state and national figures, while property crime rates are higher.
Rows of brick Minimal Traditional homes make up the Lanham area.
New build townhome communities are going up all over Lanham.
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Reach D.C. via Route 50 or Metro and MARC lines
A 14-mile drive on Route 50 leads to D.C. Hairston-Purcell warns that commute times can vary widely. “I’ve left at 6 a.m. and gotten to D.C. in 20 minutes,” she says. “But I’ve also left around 8, and it’s taken me 2 hours. Everything depends on when you leave.” There are several Capital Beltway on-ramps just west of Lanham. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority buses in the area offer routes into the city and to nearby rail stations. The Seabrook train station, a mile north, follows the Maryland Area Regional Commuter Penn Line, while the New Carrollton station, 3.5 miles west, is part of the same line, as well as the Metro’s Orange Line. Each route reaches D.C. in under an hour. Though it's still operating, the New Carrolton station is currently under construction, as the Metro’s Purple Line eastern terminus will be built here by 2027.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is 18 miles southwest, while Dulles International Airport is 39 miles northwest. The Luminis Health Doctors Community Medical Center in north Lanham has an emergency room and 330 beds. It's also one of the top employers in Prince George’s County, providing around 1,300 jobs.
Prince George’s County Public Schools
Lanham is zoned for the Prince George’s County Public Schools district, which earns a C-plus grade from Niche. The district serves around 131,100 students and has a 15-to-1 student-teacher ratio. The prekindergarten through 12th grade Lanham Christian School earns a B-minus.
Lanham Christian School gets a B+ from Niche and is known for having small class sizes.
Seabrook Elementary School one of the PG County public schools Lanham students have access to.
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Shopping at the nearby Woodmore Towne Centre and the Mall at Prince George’s
Hotels and strip malls with chain restaurants and big-box grocery stores line Annapolis Road, but Hairston-Purcell says most people drive to neighboring suburbs for big shopping trips. “Lanham is less known for its own shopping centers and more known for the ones it's near.” Woodmore Towne Centre, 5 miles south, is an outdoor mall with over 60 stores, while the indoor Mall at Prince George’s is 7 miles to the west.
Seabrook Station shopping plaza has restaurants, a grocery store and various other shops.
Lanham reswidents can travel to the Mall at Prince Georges in nearby Hyattsville for all their other shopping needs.
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Hiking and camping at nearby Greenbelt Park
Lanham experiences all four seasons, with humid summers and mild winters. It's home to several neighborhood parks with playgrounds and sports facilities, but Hairston-Purcell says Greenbelt Park, less than 6 miles north, is the area's most popular recreation space. “It’s one of the most notable parks in the county. Even if you haven’t been there, you know about it just because it’s so big.” Within its 1,100 acres are trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding, as well as 172 tent campsites.
The area also has several indoor recreation facilities, including the Lanham Skate Center roller rink. The Good Luck Community Center offers a fitness room and exercise classes, like Pilates and youth ballet. Multiple religions are also represented here, with houses of worship ranging from Christian churches to masjids and Hindu temples. Both on Cipriano Road, Sri Siva Vishnu Temple is one of the biggest temples in the U.S., and Murugan Temple of North America hosts numerous holidays, like Diwali and Shivaratri.
Lanham Skate Center is open weeknights and can be booked for private events like birthday parties.
Greenbelt Park has miles of hiking trails and camping areas which can be reserved.
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Written By
Meghan Baker
Photography Contributed By
Jack Adams
Video By
Matthew Link
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Eric Coaxum,
an experienced agent in this area.
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