At $2,864/mo, rent takes about 24% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
Rent by unit size
These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,864 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.
Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →
12-month history
Last updated: September 25, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Arnold changed -0.3% over the year to August 2026. Across the 81 Maryland cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.1%.
Rent has fallen 3 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($141,639) is $3,541 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($3,420); a 4-bedroom is $3,820.
Pasadena, 5 miles away, rents for 12% less ($2,508/mo), about $4,300 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Arnold. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.
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Who lives here
Arnold, MD is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 58% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Arnold, MD has changed in 5 years
Median household income climbed from $133,343 to $141,639 between 2021 and 2024, a 6.2% shift. Census counts show Arnold, MD losing about 753 residents over the five-year window, down 3.0% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 55.1% to 58% across the same window.
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Can you afford rent in Arnold on your salary?
At $2,864/mo, how Arnold rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Arnold rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Arnold. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Arnold
Last updated: September 25, 2026
The median rent in Arnold is $2,864/mo as of September 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,910/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,660/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,170/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,420/mo.
At 24% of local median household income ($141,639/yr), Arnold ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 0.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Arnold?
How does Arnold rent compare to other cities in Maryland?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Arnold?
At $2,864/mo, rent takes ~24% of Arnold's median household income ($141,639/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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