Studio Apartment Rent in Essex, MD
Median asking rent for a studio apartment in Essex, Maryland as of August 2026. That's +15% lower than the citywide median of $1,477 and +3% below the national studio median of $1,290.
Income needed for a studio in Essex
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income guideline (the threshold above which households are considered rent-burdened), here's what you need to earn to comfortably afford a studio at the current median rent.
Rent by apartment size in Essex
Compare Essex's median rent across every apartment size.
Cheapest cities for a studio in Maryland
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cumberland | $680 |
| 2 | Hagerstown | $820 |
| 3 | Ocean City | $880 |
| 4 | Salisbury | $1,090 |
| 5 | Lochearn | $1,168 |
| 6 | Easton | $1,170 |
| 7 | Bladensburg | $1,206 |
| 8 | Brooklyn Park | $1,250 |
| 9 | Dundalk | $1,250 |
| 10 | Essex (this page) | $1,250 |
| 11 | Halethorpe | $1,250 |
| 12 | Westminster | $1,250 |
| 13 | Aberdeen | $1,270 |
| 14 | Rossville | $1,270 |
| 15 | Temple Hills | $1,281 |
Most expensive cities for a studio in Maryland
| # | City | Studio rent |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Potomac | $3,020 |
| 2 | Bethesda | $2,675 |
| 3 | New Market | $2,530 |
| 4 | Derwood | $2,400 |
| 5 | Olney | $2,380 |
| 6 | Chevy Chase | $2,370 |
| 7 | Rockville | $2,297 |
| 8 | Brandywine | $2,250 |
| 9 | Lake Arbor | $2,130 |
| 10 | Upper Marlboro | $2,115 |
| 11 | Jessup | $2,110 |
| 12 | Gambrills | $2,100 |
| 13 | Kensington | $2,080 |
| 14 | Hanover | $2,050 |
| 15 | Germantown | $2,050 |
Nearby cities — studio rent
Most nearby cities have similar or higher studio rents than Essex.
| City | Distance | Studio rent | vs Essex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dundalk, MD | 4.3 mi | $1,250 | — |
| Rossville, MD | 5.5 mi | $1,270 | +$20 (+2%) |
| Nottingham, MD | 7.6 mi | $1,400 | +$150 (+12%) |
| Parkville, MD | 9.9 mi | $1,340 | +$90 (+7%) |
| Towson, MD | 14.2 mi | $1,550 | +$300 (+24%) |
| Edgewood, MD | 14.3 mi | $1,300 | +$50 (+4%) |
| Severn, MD | 20.4 mi | $1,700 | +$450 (+36%) |
| Cockeysville, MD | 21.7 mi | $1,430 | +$180 (+14%) |
| Windsor Mill, MD | 23.8 mi | $1,400 | +$150 (+12%) |
| Garrison, MD | 23.9 mi | $1,706 | +$456 (+36%) |
| Crofton, MD | 25.9 mi | $1,880 | +$630 (+50%) |
| Jessup, MD | 26.7 mi | $2,110 | +$860 (+69%) |
Studio rent in Essex — common questions
How much is a studio apartment in Essex?
As of August 2026, the median studio apartment rent in Essex, Maryland is $1,250 per month. This is +15% below the citywide median of $1,477.
What income do you need to afford a studio in Essex?
Using the standard 30% rent-to-income rule, you would need an annual income of about $50,000 ($4,167/month gross), which works out to roughly $24.04/hour at a full-time job.
Is Essex expensive for a studio compared to the rest of the US?
Essex's studio median of $1,250 is +3% below the national studio median of $1,290. It ranks in the 47th percentile of US cities tracked.
How does Essex rank for studio rent in Maryland?
Among the 89 cities in Maryland with studio data, Essex ranks #10 from cheapest to most expensive.
Are there cheaper studio options near Essex?
Most nearby cities have similar or higher studio rents than Essex.