Rents are 7% above what Bethesda's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.
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 $3,089 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: August 17, 2026
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Who lives here
Bethesda, MD is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 87.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Bethesda, MD has changed in 5 years
Rent in Bethesda, MD has increased 33.6% since 2021, going from about $2,312 per month to roughly $3,089 today. Census figures show median household income at $192,237 today, compared with $178,370 five years earlier. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 25.8 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 66,294 to 69,397 between 2021 and 2024, a 4.7% change. About 36% of households rent today, against 34.4% in 2021. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Bethesda on your salary?
At $3,089/mo, how Bethesda rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Bethesda rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Bethesda. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Bethesda
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Bethesda is $3,089/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,675/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $3,075/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,730/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,845/mo.
At 19% of local median household income ($192,237/yr), Bethesda ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 7.7% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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What percentage of Bethesda residents rent vs. own?
How does Bethesda rent compare to the national average?
At $3,089/mo, rent takes ~19% of Bethesda's median household income ($192,237/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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