Prince George’s County, Maryland · National Historic District · Route 1 Corridor
University Park MD Homes for Sale
University Park is one of the most underestimated addresses in Prince George’s County — a tiny, fully residential town of about 2,500 people surrounded by Hyattsville and College Park, with virtually no commercial development, no apartments, and no new construction to speak of. The whole town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The housing stock — Craftsman bungalows, Tudor Revivals, Colonial Revivals, Cape Cods — was built almost entirely between 1920 and 1945, and the deed covenants that shaped it have kept it unusually coherent. When a house comes up here, it tends to go fast.
The neighborhood, in one paragraph
University Park was incorporated in 1935, developed by the University Park Company on land platted for automobile-era suburban living — one of the first communities in Prince George’s County designed specifically to accommodate the car. Free-standing garages, side-entry lots, modest setbacks: it reads differently than the Victorian streetscapes in Hyattsville or Mt. Rainier, but the architectural quality is high throughout. The whole town — roughly 0.9 square miles — is single-family residential except for two churches and a town hall housed in a former residence. There are no apartments, no mixed-use buildings, no commercial strips. The University Park Community Center on Adelphi Road functions as the social spine of the town.
Housing stock
The stock was built in waves from roughly 1920 to 1945 and reflects the full range of popular styles from that period:
- Tudor and Mediterranean Revival — the most distinctive homes in the town; gabled rooflines, stucco or brick exteriors, original casement windows
- Craftsman bungalows — lower-profile, front-porch-forward, often the most affordably priced in the town
- Colonial Revivals (Georgian and Dutch) — typically larger, with formal entries and more interior square footage than the bungalows
- Cape Cods — post-war additions to the stock, slightly newer, often on the north side of town
Most homes run 1,400–2,500 sq ft on modest lots. The entry point is roughly $600K for a smaller bungalow or Cape; well-preserved Tudors and Colonial Revivals in prime condition trade between $750K and $1.1M. The market is thin — there are rarely more than a dozen active listings at once — which means pricing is less forgiving of condition issues than in larger markets. An unmaintained house here sits; a well-presented one disappears in a week.
The historic district
The University Park Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and covers essentially the entire town — 1,149 contributing buildings. The town has a Historic Preservation Commission that reviews exterior alterations: windows, siding, roofing, additions. The guidelines are generally reasonable, but they matter — budget for the process if you’re planning significant exterior work.
One thing most buyers miss: the University Park Historic District listing means essentially every house in town is individually eligible for historic rehabilitation incentives. In practice, most owners never use them — which means buyers willing to do the paperwork can capture real value.
Maryland Historic Revitalization Tax Credit: 20% of qualified rehabilitation expenses for owner-occupied historic properties. $50,000 cap over any 24-month period. Minimum $5,000 in eligible expenses required.
Federal Historic Tax Credit: 20% of qualified rehabilitation expenses for income-producing historic properties. No dollar cap. Can be layered with the Maryland credit.
Both require advance application — you cannot renovate first and apply after. Source: Maryland Historical Trust.
The market
University Park homes move quickly relative to the surrounding area. Median days on market: 8. The combination of restricted supply (small town, no new construction), consistent owner-occupant demand, and a meaningful quality premium over the broader 20782 zip code keeps the market competitive even in a softening regional environment.
The current year-over-year change reflects the broader Prince George’s County correction — down roughly 3–4% depending on source — rather than anything specific to University Park. The town has historically outperformed the county average on the way back up in prior cycles.
Commute
University Park doesn’t have its own Metro station. The two most practical options:
Final rail was laid in May 2026. The College Park-UMD station — the nearest Purple Line stop to University Park — will connect to Bethesda (~30 min), Silver Spring (~20 min), and New Carrollton in the other direction. University Park residents are well-positioned for the transit upgrades without paying the near-Metro premium that already exists at the College Park station.
Right for you if
You want a cohesive, entirely residential community with genuine architectural character — and you’re willing to pay a modest premium for a block where nothing is getting torn down and nothing new is being built. You appreciate that historic designation here is a feature, not a constraint. You want strong owner-occupant neighbors, a functioning town government, and a level of stability that’s genuinely hard to find this close to DC.
Wrong for you if
You need direct Metro access at your door, newer construction with no renovation exposure, or a larger lot than University Park’s tight street grid allows. The town’s residential purity is also its limitation: there’s no walkable coffee shop, no corner grocery, no commercial amenity inside the town limits. You’re dependent on Hyattsville, College Park, or driving for daily needs.
Current Listings — Updated Daily From Bright MLS
Homes for sale in University Park, MD 20782 — Craftsman bungalows, Tudor Revivals, Colonial Revivals, and Cape Cods in a National Register Historic District.
What buyers ask about University Park
Where is University Park, Maryland?
University Park is a small incorporated town in Prince George’s County, Maryland, surrounded by Hyattsville to the south and College Park to the north. It covers roughly 0.9 square miles with about 2,500 residents and is entirely single-family residential — no apartments, no commercial development. The zip code is 20782, shared with parts of Hyattsville, though University Park trades at a meaningful premium to the broader zip.
What kinds of homes are in University Park, MD?
University Park’s housing was built almost entirely between 1920 and 1945. The stock includes Tudor and Mediterranean Revival homes, Craftsman bungalows, Colonial Revivals (Georgian and Dutch), and Cape Cods. Original deed covenants restricted house size and use in ways that have kept the town’s character unusually intact. The entire town is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Is University Park in a historic district?
Yes — the University Park Historic District encompasses essentially the entire town, with 1,149 contributing buildings. Exterior changes require review by the town’s Historic Preservation Commission. The designation also unlocks the Federal Historic Tax Credit (20%) and the Maryland Historic Revitalization Tax Credit (20%, up to $50K for owner-occupied properties) for qualifying rehabilitations. Both require advance application.
How do I commute from University Park to DC?
University Park doesn’t have its own Metro station. West Hyattsville (Green Line) and College Park-UMD (Green Line, and future Purple Line) are both approximately 10 minutes away by car or bike. Downtown DC is roughly 20 minutes by Metro from either station. Multiple Metrobus lines serve the area via Route 1 and Adelphi Road. By car off-peak, downtown DC is about 20 minutes.
How competitive is the University Park real estate market?
Very competitive. Median days on market is 8, and homes in good condition can go pending in under a week. The town is small with essentially no new supply — when a well-maintained home hits the market, it draws multiple offers. Buyers should be prepared to move quickly and have financing in order before touring.
How does University Park differ from the rest of the 20782 zip code?
Significantly. The broader 20782 zip code includes parts of Hyattsville with a median sale price around $540K; University Park’s median runs closer to $650K. The difference reflects the historic district designation, the exclusively single-family character, the absence of investor conversion, and the community’s stability as an owner-occupant enclave. University Park is effectively its own micro-market within the zip.
What are home prices like in University Park, MD?
The median home value in University Park is approximately $650K as of April 2026 (Redfin median sale price $633K; Zillow average $660,449). Smaller bungalows and Cape Cods can start around $600K; well-preserved Tudors and Colonial Revivals in prime condition trade between $750K and $1.1M. Median days on market is 8. Prices are down approximately 3–4% year-over-year, in line with the broader Prince George’s County correction.
All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Listing information is provided for consumers’ personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Market statistics sourced from Redfin and Zillow Home Value Index, April 2026; refreshed quarterly. Historic district information sourced from National Register of Historic Places and University Park Historic District nomination. Tax credit information sourced from Maryland Historical Trust (mht.maryland.gov); verify current program terms before applying. Purple Line timeline sourced from Maryland Transit Administration, May 2026; subject to change. Equal Housing Opportunity.