Rents are 2% above what Capitol Heights'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 $2,012 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: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
Rent in Capitol Heights is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2023.
Rent in Capitol Heights changed +10.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 81 Maryland cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.4%.
Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($97,155) is $2,429 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,310); a 4-bedroom is $2,730.
District Heights, 2 miles away, rents for 14% less ($1,725/mo), about $3,400 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Capitol Heights. 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
Capitol Heights, MD is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 20.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Capitol Heights, MD has changed in 5 years
Across the past five years, the going rent in Capitol Heights, MD has shifted from $1,720 to $2,012, up 17.0% since 2023. Household income in the area moved from $85,104 to $97,155 across the same window, up 14.2% versus 2021. Census counts show Capitol Heights, MD losing about 63 residents over the five-year window, down 1.5% on net. The renter share has eased from 28.6% to 22.7%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 17.8% to 20.5% across the same window. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Capitol Heights, MD look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Capitol Heights on your salary?
At $2,012/mo, how Capitol Heights rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Capitol Heights rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Capitol Heights. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Capitol Heights
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Capitol Heights is $2,012/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,610/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,850/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,640/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,310/mo.
At 25% of local median household income ($97,155/yr), Capitol Heights ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 10.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Capitol Heights?
Is rent going up or down in Capitol Heights?
How does Capitol Heights rent compare to other cities in Maryland?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Capitol Heights?
At $2,012/mo, rent takes ~25% of Capitol Heights's median household income ($97,155/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
How does this area stack up?
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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