City Report · MD

Olney

Pop. 35,797·9th most expensive in Maryland·One of the pricier rental markets in the US
Median rent (all units)
$2,813/mo
Year-over-Year
Stable
Month-over-Month
-1.4%
vs US Median
+$881
Reported rents
Falling (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Olney · $2,813
More expensive than 87% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Affordability
20% of income
VERY AFFORDABLE
0%30% benchmark60%+

At $2,813/mo, rent takes about 20% of the local median household income, comfortably within the 30% benchmark.

Income to afford
$113,000/yr
Local median income
$171,458/yr
Based on the 30%-of-income rule using Olney's median rent and household income. See the full affordability breakdown →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$2,380
1 BR
$2,430
2 BR
$2,740
3 BR
$3,430
4 BR+
$4,040
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$2,740/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,813 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 →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: September 25, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($171,458) is $4,286 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($4,040).

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Olney. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$33,756/yr
At $2,813/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Renter's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are softening (down 0.0% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.
Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, -1.4% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

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Demographics

Who lives here

Olney, MD is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 65% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
35,797
Median income
$171,458
Median age
41.6
Renters
10.8%
Age distribution
26.2%
15.1%
27.9%
14.4%
16.5%
Under 1826.2%
18–3415.1%
35–5427.9%
55–6414.4%
65+16.5%
Gender
49.8%
50.2%
Male49.8%
Female50.2%
Race & ethnicity
56.9%
14.5%
12.1%
White56.9%
Black14.5%
Hispanic12.1%
Asian11.6%
Other4.9%
Education (25+)
12.7%
19.1%
65%
No HS diploma3.2%
HS diploma12.7%
Some college19.1%
Bachelor's+65%
Housing tenure
89.2%
Owner89.2%
Renter10.8%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Olney, MD has changed in 5 years

Income
$161,065 → $171,458
up 6.5%
Population
35,815 → 35,797
down 0.1%
Renter share
10.7% → 10.8%
+0.1 pts
Bachelor's+
66% → 65%
-1.0 pts
Median age
42.4 → 41.6
-0.8 yrs

Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $161,065 in 2021 to $171,458 more recently.

Community

Discussions about Olney

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View Olney rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Olney on your salary?

At $2,813/mo, how Olney rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Olney rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Olney

About renting in Olney, MD

Last updated: September 25, 2026

The median rent in Olney is $2,813/mo as of September 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,380/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,740/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,430/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,430/mo.

At 20% of local median household income ($171,458/yr), Olney ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Olney?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $113,000/year (about $54/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,813/mo in Olney. The local median household income is $171,458/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Olney?

Rent in Olney has been roughly flat over the past year, a 0.0% change.

How does Olney rent compare to other cities in Maryland?

Olney is one of the pricier among Maryland cities for rent, ranking #9 of 96 tracked cities at $2,813/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Olney?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Olney ($2,813/mo) include Silver Spring ($1,969/mo), Gaithersburg ($2,196/mo), and Rockville ($2,372/mo).
Income Affordability
20%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $2,813/mo, rent takes ~20% of Olney's median household income ($171,458/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Olney 20%Benchmark 30%
State income tax2–5.75%
Run the Olney affordability calculator →
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Olney, MD

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