At $1,658/mo, rent takes about 26% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.
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 $1,658 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
30% of the median household income ($77,750) is $1,944 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($1,662).
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Ocean City. 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
Ocean City, MD is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, 41.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Ocean City, MD has changed in 5 years
On the earnings side, the typical household in Ocean City, MD now reports about $77,750, up from $58,563 in 2021. Renters now make up 25.8% of households, compared with 28.2% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 41.7% of adults here, versus 35.8% in 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Ocean City on your salary?
At $1,658/mo, how Ocean City rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Ocean City rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Ocean City. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Ocean City
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Ocean City is $1,658/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $880/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,375/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,132/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,662/mo.
At 26% of local median household income ($77,750/yr), Ocean City ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Ocean City?
Is rent going up or down in Ocean City?
How does Ocean City rent compare to other cities in Maryland?
At $1,658/mo, rent takes ~26% of Ocean City's median household income ($77,750/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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