Rents are 5% below what Laurel'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 $1,906 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: August 17, 2026
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Who lives here
Laurel, MD is majority renter-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 47.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Laurel, MD has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Laurel, MD paid around $1,610 a month. That figure now sits near $1,906, up 18.4% from the 2021 baseline. Median household income climbed from $85,615 to $100,504 between 2021 and 2024, a 17.4% shift. Census counts show Laurel, MD adding about 360 residents over the five-year window, up 1.2% on net. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 44.9% to 47.7% across the same window. Taken together, the five-year picture in Laurel, MD reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.
Discussions about Laurel
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Can you afford rent in Laurel on your salary?
At $1,906/mo, how Laurel rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Laurel rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Laurel. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Laurel
Last updated: August 17, 2026
The median rent in Laurel is $1,906/mo as of August 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,900/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,413/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,050/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,063/mo.
At 23% of local median household income ($100,504/yr), Laurel ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 0.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
Is Laurel an affordable city for renters?
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Which Laurel neighborhoods have the lowest rent?
How does Laurel rent compare to other cities in Maryland?
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What percentage of Laurel residents rent vs. own?
How does Laurel rent compare to the national average?
At $1,906/mo, rent takes ~23% of Laurel's median household income ($100,504/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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