How much does it cost to rent in Laurel, MD?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Laurel, MD is $1,882. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Laurel cheaper than other Maryland cities?

Laurel falls in the middle range for Maryland, ranking #55 out of 95 cities at $1,882/mo.

When was Laurel rent data last updated?

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

Is Laurel a renter's market or a landlord's market?

Based on RentDataNow's Rent Market Meter, Laurel is currently a renter's market. Rents are softening (down 0.8% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage. The meter is derived from rent-price momentum (year-over-year and month-over-month change), not inventory levels.

City Report · MD

Laurel

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

Pop. 29,798·55th most expensive in Maryland·Rental market data updated monthly for Laurel, MD

Median rent (all units)

$1,882/mo

Year-over-Year

-0.8%

Month-over-Month

-1.1%

vs US Median

-$83

Falling (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss Laurel rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

Laurel · $1,882

More expensive than 51% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

62/100

Good value

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 6% below what Laurel's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,882/mo

Expected by trend

$2,003/mo

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

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,396

1 BR

$1,506

2 BR

$1,773

3 BR

$2,251

4 BR+

$2,579

Research median

$1,773/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

$22,584/yr

At $1,882/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are softening (down 0.8% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.

Based on rent-price momentum (-0.8% YoY, -1.1% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

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.

Population

29,798

Median income

$100,504

Median age

36.3

Renters

55.8%

Age distribution

21.2%

26.3%

30.3%

Under 1821.2%

18–3426.3%

35–5430.3%

55–6410.7%

65+11.5%

Gender

45.7%

54.3%

Male45.7%

Female54.3%

Race & ethnicity

14.4%

53.8%

22.2%

White14.4%

Black53.8%

Hispanic22.2%

Asian8.2%

Other1.5%

Education (25+)

16.1%

25.5%

47.7%

No HS diploma10.7%

HS diploma16.1%

Some college25.5%

Bachelor's+47.7%

Housing tenure

44.2%

55.8%

Owner44.2%

Renter55.8%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Laurel, MD has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,610 → $1,882

up 16.9%

Income

$85,615 → $100,504

up 17.4%

Population

29,438 → 29,798

up 1.2%

Renter share

55.4% → 55.8%

+0.4 pts

Bachelor's+

44.9% → 47.7%

+2.8 pts

Median age

35.6 → 36.3

+0.7 yrs

Five years ago, renters in Laurel, MD paid around $1,610 a month. That figure now sits near $1,882, up 16.9% 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.

Community

Discussions about Laurel

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View Laurel rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Laurel on your salary?

At $1,882/mo, how Laurel rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $102,038/yr · Rent = 22.1% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $72,446/yr · Rent = 31.2% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $83,452/yr · Rent = 27.1% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $149,159/yr · Rent = 15.1% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $190,588/yr · Rent = 11.8% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $67,835/yr · Rent = 33.3% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $61,247/yr · Rent = 36.9% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $75,492/yr · Rent = 29.9% income

affordable

By apartment size

Laurel rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Laurel

About renting in Laurel, MD

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Laurel is $1,882/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,396/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,773/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,506/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,251/mo.

At 22% of local median household income ($100,504/yr), Laurel ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 0.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Laurel an affordable city for renters?

Laurel is considered very affordable for renters. At $1,882/mo, rent takes approximately 22% of the local median household income ($100,504/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Laurel falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Laurel?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $75,000/year (~$36/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,882/mo in Laurel. The local median household income is $100,504/yr, meaning the typical Laurel household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Laurel?

Rent in Laurel has decreased 0.8% over the past year as of July 2026, offering some relief compared to 12 months ago.

Which Laurel neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Laurel are 20708 ($1,594/mo), 20707 ($1,886/mo), and 20723 ($2,178/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Laurel is $1,882/mo.

How does Laurel rent compare to other cities in Maryland?

Laurel is middle-of-the-pack for Maryland for rent, ranking #55 out of 95 tracked cities at $1,882/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Laurel?

Beltsville is nearby and more affordable at $1,641/mo, which is $241 less than Laurel.

What percentage of Laurel residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 55.8% of Laurel households are renters, while 44.2% are owner-occupied. With a majority renter population, Laurel has a strong rental market.