Rents are right about where Essex'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 $1,685 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 Essex is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in June 2022.
Rent in Essex changed +2.3% over the year to September 2026. Across the 81 Maryland cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.4%.
Rent rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($67,168) is $1,679 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,430); a 2-bedroom is $1,750.
Dundalk, 4 miles away, rents for 13% less ($1,460/mo), about $2,700 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Essex. 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
Essex, MD is majority owner-occupied, 19.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Essex, MD has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Essex, MD stood at $1,517 in 2023 and currently runs about $1,685, reflecting a 11.1% increase over the period. On the earnings side, the typical household in Essex, MD now reports about $67,168, up from $59,914 in 2021. Renters now make up 38.7% of households, compared with 41.4% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 19.9% of adults here, versus 16.2% in 2021. For context, the 2023 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Essex, MD reflects that arc in its own way.
Discussions about Essex
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Can you afford rent in Essex on your salary?
At $1,685/mo, how Essex rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Essex rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Essex. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Essex
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Essex is $1,685/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,250/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,750/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,430/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,270/mo.
At 30% of local median household income ($67,168/yr), Essex ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.3% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Essex?
Is rent going up or down in Essex?
How does Essex rent compare to other cities in Maryland?
At $1,685/mo, rent takes ~30% of Essex's median household income ($67,168/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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