Home to nearly 60,000 residents, Bowie is the largest city in Prince George’s County. The Washington, D.C., suburb was first populated in the late 1800s when a streetcar line reached town, and it’s remained a commuter hub ever since. “It’s commuting central because it’s close to D.C., Annapolis and Baltimore. But the house prices aren’t crazy high considering how convenient it is,” says Nicholas Bogardus, a real estate agent with Compass who has sold several homes in the area. Locals can make the 18-mile trip into D.C. by driving or taking public transportation. But with eclectic recreation hubs, Bowie Town Center for shopping and Bowie State University, there’s plenty to explore within city limits.
Bowie Railway Museum is a popular attraction among residents and visitors.
Route 50 runs from New York Avenue in DC to Ocean City, through the middle of Bowie.
With expansive yards, and tree lined streets, the Colonial homes in Woodmore are a quiet place.
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Houses sell for less than D.C.’s median price
Bowie's houses are mainly in subdivisions built between the 1960s and 2020s. Ranch styles, bi-level homes and New Traditional styles are all common here. The median single-family home price is $500,000, which is higher than Prince George’s County’s $445,000. However, it’s less than the D.C. metropolitan area’s $600,000. Townhouses built between the 1980s and 90s can cost between $350,000 and $450,000, while units from the 2020s may sell in the $500,000 to $600,000 range.
Based on 2023 data from the Maryland State Police, there were 509 violent crimes per 100,000 people in Prince George’s County, where Hyattsville is located, compared to Maryland’s rate of 1,020 per 100,000 people. The county’s property crime rate was 3,702 per 100,000, higher than Maryland's 3,053.
Traditional styles of homes and nice sized yards draw residents to Bowie.
Newer Colonial Revival homes fit in nicely in Bowie
The Bowie neighborhood offers many different but mostly traditional styles of homes.
Single family homes are available in Bowie.
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Reach D.C. by Maryland Route 564 or the Bowie State University MARC station
Maryland Route 564 connects to U.S. Route 50, making D.C. an 18-mile drive southwest. Depending on traffic, the drive can take between 45 minutes and two hours. Baltimore is 27 miles north. The Bowie State University train station follows the Maryland Area Rail Commuter Penn Line, reaching D.C.’s Union Station with a 30-minute trip. Bogardus says people also ride the Metro. “Bowie doesn’t have any Metro stations, but people commute to nearby ones.” There’s a Park & Ride Lot at Bowie University. After parking, locals can take a Metrobus to the nearest Metro station, 7 miles east in New Carrolton. Bowie’s largest employers include Prince George’s County Public Schools and Inovalon, a healthcare technology company. University of Maryland Bowie Health Center is the city’s hospital. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport is 20 miles west, while Washington Dulles International Airport is 40 miles in the same direction.
Inovalon is one of Bowie's largest employers.
Catch the Marc Train at Bowie State to get just about anywhere.
New Carrolton Station connects Woodmore residents to the Greater Washington area.
With a MARC Station at Bowie State it is easy to commute to college classes in Jericho Park.
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Prince George’s County Public Schools and Bowie State University
Bowie is zoned for the Prince George’s County Public School’s system, graded a C-plus by Niche. B-minus-rated Bowie High School serves over 2,400 students. There are also a few private schools for kindergarten through eighth-grade students, like A-rated Belair Baptist Christian Academy and B-rated St. Pius X Regional School.
Founded in 1865, Bowie State University is the oldest HBCU in Maryland. Around 6,500 students attend the liberal arts school, which offers 29 undergraduate majors, like business management, television broadcasting and biology. The school’s 300-acre campus is located on Bowie’s northern end.
Bowie High School, Bowie Md.
Bowie State, a public historically black university is in the heart of Jericho Park.
Kenilworth Elementary School, Bowie Md.
Benjamin Tasker Middle School in Bowie has a student-teacher ratio of 17 to 1.
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Locals enjoy community events at Allen Pond Park
According to the Trust for Public Land, over 60% of Bowie residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park. The 85-acre Allen Pond Park hosts several community events, like the Summer Sunset Concert Series at the amphitheater. The BowieFest takes place here, inviting locals to listen to live music, play carnival games and eat from local vendors. Two community theater groups perform at The Bowie Playhouse, a 150-seat venue in the city’s largest green space, Whitemarsh Park. Bowie experiences humid summers and mild winters, with less than 20 inches of snowfall per year.
Bowie also has a few privately owned recreational hubs, like Six Flags America on the west side of town. The Bowie Baysox, a Minor League team affiliated with the Baltimore Orioles, plays at Prince George’s Stadium. The Bowie Race Track was once dubbed the "cradle of thoroughbred racing," hosting events between 1914 and 1985. Today, the 1-mile track still stands as an equestrian training facility.
“You can get to the bay from Bowie pretty easily, so people will drive to the Chesapeake Bay during the summer,” says Bogardus. Annapolis is just 20 miles east, as is Mayo Beach Park, a popular swimming destination with a boat launch.
Allen Pond Park has the most sports fields in Bowie.
Prince George's Stadium is a multipurpose sport venue housed in Bowie.
Six Flags America has some of the best roller coasters near Greater Upper Marlboro.
Residents of Bowie can go fishing or feed the geese at Allen Pond Park.
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Old Town Bowie is being revitalized
Bowie Town Center is an outdoor shopping center with over 75 nationally recognized retailers. Several chain grocery stores sit along Annapolis Road. The Bowie Farmers Market is in the Bowie High School parking lot every Sunday from May through October. Old Town Bowie is the city’s downtown district, though it’s home to little more than the Bowie Railroad Museum and a welcome center. In 2022, Prince George’s County approved a plan to turn Old Town into a vibrant arts scene by adding more businesses and making it walkable. This project is set to be completed by 2035.
The restored 1913 rail station is now the Bowie Railway Museum.
Come to the Bowie Railway Museum and learn about Bowies rich history of railways.
Old Bowie Welcome Center in Bowie was once part of the Pennsylvania Rail Road.
The Bowie Railway Museum hosts train related activities and events trough the year in Bowie.
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