Rents are 4% below what Gaithersburg's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
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 $2,196 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
December. Asking rents in Gaithersburg usually run 1.3% below trend in December and 0.8% above it in June, about $46 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Gaithersburg is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Gaithersburg changed +0.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 81 Maryland cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.4%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in Gaithersburg rose 27.3% while median household income rose 25.3% ($89,763 to $112,467). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Gaithersburg is 25.6% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($112,467) is $2,812 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,283); a 3-bedroom is $2,857.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Gaithersburg, 20878 ($2,384/mo), costs 19% more than the cheapest, 20879 ($1,995/mo).
Silver Spring, 12 miles away, rents for 10% less ($1,969/mo), about $2,700 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Gaithersburg. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. 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
Gaithersburg, MD is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income above the national average, 52.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Gaithersburg, MD has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Gaithersburg, MD paid around $1,761 a month. That figure now sits near $2,196, up 24.7% from the 2021 baseline. Household income in the area moved from $98,089 to $112,467 across the same window, up 14.7% versus 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Gaithersburg, MD adding about 998 residents over the five-year window, up 1.5% on net. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Gaithersburg, MD look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Gaithersburg on your salary?
At $2,196/mo, how Gaithersburg rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Gaithersburg rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Gaithersburg. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Gaithersburg
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Gaithersburg is $2,196/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,983/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,283/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,027/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,857/mo.
At 23% of local median household income ($112,467/yr), Gaithersburg ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.9% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Gaithersburg?
At $2,196/mo, rent takes ~23% of Gaithersburg's median household income ($112,467/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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