Rents are 6% below what Middle River'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 $1,708 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 Middle River is 1.2% below its high of $1,728 in October 2025, at $1,708 as of September 2026.
Rent in Middle River changed -0.8% 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 Middle River rose 28.8% while median household income rose 36.1% ($57,621 to $78,398). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Middle River is 32.4% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent rose in 3 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($78,398) is $1,960 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,940); a 3-bedroom is $2,500.
Dundalk, 8 miles away, rents for 15% less ($1,460/mo), about $3,000 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Middle River. 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
Middle River, MD is majority owner-occupied, 32.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Middle River, MD has changed in 5 years
Since 2021, the typical rent in Middle River, MD has climbed from $1,411 to $1,708, a 21.0% change over five years. Census figures show median household income at $78,398 today, compared with $67,306 five years earlier. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 3.6% since 2021, moving from about 30,606 residents to roughly 31,712. Renters now make up 33.6% of households, compared with 38.3% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 32.3% of adults here, versus 26.3% in 2021. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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At $1,708/mo, how Middle River rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Middle River rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Middle River. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Middle River
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Middle River is $1,708/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,390/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,940/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,580/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,500/mo.
At 26% of local median household income ($78,398/yr), Middle River ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 0.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Is rent going up or down in Middle River?
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How does Middle River rent compare to other cities in Maryland?
At $1,708/mo, rent takes ~26% of Middle River's median household income ($78,398/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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