Greenbelt, MD

Greenbelt was founded in the 1930s as a New Deal experiment, planned from scratch as a walkable garden suburb. Its original neighborhood was designed around interior courtyards, pedestrian paths, and underpasses so residents could walk to the town center and schools without crossing busy roads. Although early federal rules excluded Black families, the community later integrated and grew into a diverse city of roughly 25,000 residents. Today, the historic core is listed as a National Historic Landmark, preserved for its pioneering urban design and distinct mid-century architecture.

ATTRArtistsInResidence / CC BY-SA 3.0

If you look at properties in the historic core, you will encounter Greenbelt Homes, Inc., a cooperative made up of about 1,600 townhouses. Buying in GHI means purchasing a membership share in the co-op that grants you occupancy of your home. Monthly co-op fees cover exterior maintenance, structural upkeep, and shared grounds, and prospective buyers complete an orientation to learn the community rules. Homes face shared lawns while vehicle parking is kept to outer service courts, which creates a friendly village vibe where neighbors often cross paths on the sidewalks.

ATTRAndrew Bossi / CC BY-SA 2.5

Beyond the historic center, modern Greenbelt features a wide mix of traditional single-family homes, modern townhouses, and garden condominiums spread across Greenbelt East and West. Commuting is straightforward, with the Greenbelt station offering Metrorail Green Line trains and the MARC Camden Line for direct trips into Washington and Baltimore. Drivers also benefit from quick access to the Capital Beltway and the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. Right on the city's eastern edge, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center serves as a major employer and brings a large scientific community to town.

ATTRAndrew Bossi / CC BY-SA 2.5

Daily life still centers around Roosevelt Center, the pedestrian plaza that serves as the town's main gathering spot. Residents pick up groceries at the member-owned Greenbelt Co-op Supermarket, catch movies at the vintage Old Greenbelt Theatre, and listen to live music at the New Deal Café. Just across the street, the Community Center hosts art classes and recreation programs, as well as the annual Labor Day Festival. For outdoor recreation, Buddy Attick Lake Park offers a scenic loop path around the water, while the federally protected Greenbelt Park provides over a thousand acres of wooded trails and campsites.