Rents are right about where Chillum's 10-year trend predicts.
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 $1,779 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 Chillum is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2022.
Rent in Chillum changed +5.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 81 Maryland cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.4%.
Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($79,864) is $1,997 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,821); a 3-bedroom is $2,075.
Bladensburg, 4 miles away, rents for 16% less ($1,501/mo), about $3,300 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Chillum. 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
Chillum, MD is majority renter-occupied, 22.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Chillum, MD has changed in 5 years
Rent in Chillum, MD has increased 18.2% since 2022, going from about $1,505 per month to roughly $1,779 today. On the earnings side, the typical household in Chillum, MD now reports about $79,864, up from $65,462 in 2021. Income growth outran rent by about 3.8 percentage points, easing the affordability math somewhat compared with 2021. Headcount in the area went from 36,428 to 34,871 between 2021 and 2024, a 4.3% change. About 60.3% of households rent today, against 58.8% in 2021. For context, the 2022 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Chillum, MD reflects that arc in its own way.
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Can you afford rent in Chillum on your salary?
At $1,779/mo, how Chillum rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Chillum rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Chillum. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Chillum
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Chillum is $1,779/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,410/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,821/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,419/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,075/mo.
At 27% of local median household income ($79,864/yr), Chillum ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Chillum?
Is rent going up or down in Chillum?
How does Chillum rent compare to other cities in Maryland?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Chillum?
At $1,779/mo, rent takes ~27% of Chillum's median household income ($79,864/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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