How much does it cost to rent in Ellicott City, MD?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Ellicott City, MD is $2,552. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Ellicott City cheaper than other Maryland cities?

Ellicott City is one of the pricier cities in Maryland, ranking #13 out of 95 cities tracked at $2,552/mo.

When was Ellicott City rent data last updated?

Ellicott City rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · MD

Ellicott City

Name: Average Rent Prices in Ellicott City, MD
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 75,257·13th most expensive in Maryland·Ellicott City rents are up 13.8% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$2,552/mo

Year-over-Year

+13.8%

Month-over-Month

+7.0%

vs US Median

+$587

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Ellicott City · $2,552

More expensive than 81% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

31/100

Overpriced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 10% above what Ellicott City's 10-year trend predicts — running hotter than its own history.

Actual rent

$2,552/mo

Expected by trend

$2,326/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Ellicott City's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,810

1 BR

$2,065

2 BR

$2,530

3 BR

$3,260

4 BR+

$3,635

Research median

$2,530/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$30,624/yr

At $2,552/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 13.8% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+13.8% YoY, +7.0% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Ellicott City, MD is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 68.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

75,257

Median income

$156,964

Median age

43.2

Renters

28%

Age distribution

24.7%

14.8%

28.7%

13.3%

18.5%

Under 1824.7%

18–3414.8%

35–5428.7%

55–6413.3%

65+18.5%

Gender

49.4%

50.6%

Male49.4%

Female50.6%

Race & ethnicity

50.8%

30.7%

White50.8%

Black9.1%

Hispanic4.5%

Asian30.7%

Other4.9%

Education (25+)

16%

68.8%

No HS diploma4.3%

HS diploma11%

Some college16%

Bachelor's+68.8%

Housing tenure

72%

28%

Owner72%

Renter28%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How Ellicott City, MD has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,784 → $2,552

up 43.0%

Income

$136,234 → $156,964

up 15.2%

Population

74,432 → 75,257

up 1.1%

Renter share

27.8% → 28%

+0.2 pts

Bachelor's+

68.7% → 68.8%

+0.1 pts

Median age

41.8 → 43.2

+1.4 yrs

Five years ago, renters in Ellicott City, MD paid around $1,784 a month. That figure now sits near $2,552, up 43.0% from the 2021 baseline. Census figures show median household income at $156,964 today, compared with $136,234 five years earlier. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Ellicott City, MD adding about 825 residents over the five-year window, up 1.1% on net. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

Discussions about Ellicott City

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View Ellicott City rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Ellicott City on your salary?

At $2,552/mo, how Ellicott City rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $102,038/yr · Rent = 30% income

stretched

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $72,446/yr · Rent = 42.3% income

rent-burdened

Police Officer

Avg $83,452/yr · Rent = 36.7% income

stretched

Software Developer

Avg $149,159/yr · Rent = 20.5% income

affordable

Lawyer

Avg $190,588/yr · Rent = 16.1% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $67,835/yr · Rent = 45.1% income

rent-burdened

Truck Driver

Avg $61,247/yr · Rent = 50% income

severely rent-burdened

Electrician

Avg $75,492/yr · Rent = 40.6% income

rent-burdened

By apartment size

Ellicott City rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Ellicott City. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Ellicott City

About renting in Ellicott City, MD

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Ellicott City is $2,552/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,810/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,530/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,065/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,260/mo.

At 20% of local median household income ($156,964/yr), Ellicott City ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 13.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Ellicott City an affordable city for renters?

Ellicott City is considered very affordable for renters. At $2,552/mo, rent takes approximately 20% of the local median household income ($156,964/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Ellicott City falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Ellicott City?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $102,000/year (~$49/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,552/mo in Ellicott City. The local median household income is $156,964/yr, meaning the typical Ellicott City household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Ellicott City?

Rent in Ellicott City has increased 13.8% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Ellicott City neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Ellicott City are 21043 ($2,421/mo), and 21042 ($2,867/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Ellicott City is $2,552/mo.

How does Ellicott City rent compare to other cities in Maryland?

Ellicott City is one of the pricier cities in Maryland for rent, ranking #13 out of 95 tracked cities at $2,552/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Ellicott City?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Ellicott City ($2,552/mo): Randallstown ($1,481/mo), Windsor Mill ($1,545/mo), Catonsville ($1,692/mo).

What percentage of Ellicott City residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 28% of Ellicott City households are renters, while 72% are owner-occupied. Ellicott City leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.

How does Ellicott City rent compare to the national average?

Ellicott City's median rent of $2,552/mo is $587 (30%) above the US national median of $1,965/mo. Within Maryland, it ranks #13 out of 95 tracked cities.

Income Affordability

20%

VERY AFFORDABLE

At $2,552/mo, rent takes ~20% of Ellicott City's median household income ($156,964/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Ellicott City 20%Benchmark 30%

State income tax2–5.75%

Run the Ellicott City affordability calculator →

Nearby cities