Rents are 4% below what Silver Spring's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
Rent by unit size
Bedroom figures are derived from HUD Fair Market Rents and scaled to match Silver Spring's market median, because the published HUD values all ran above it. They are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
January. Asking rents in Silver Spring usually run 0.8% below trend in January and 0.8% above it in August, about $32 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Silver Spring is 0.8% below its high of $1,985 in July 2025, at $1,969 as of September 2026.
Rent in Silver Spring changed -0.1% 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 Silver Spring rose 18.8% while median household income rose 19.2% ($83,782 to $99,860). Income kept ahead of rent.
Rent in Silver Spring is 18.7% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 6 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($99,860) is $2,497 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,292); a 3-bedroom is $2,867.
The priciest of 6 ZIP codes in Silver Spring, 20901 ($2,088/mo), costs 17% more than the cheapest, 20903 ($1,786/mo).
Takoma Park, 4 miles away, rents for 18% less ($1,607/mo), about $4,300 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Silver Spring. The seasonal pattern compares Zillow’s seasonally adjusted and unadjusted series. 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
Silver Spring, MD is majority renter-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 60.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Silver Spring, MD has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Silver Spring, MD stood at $1,638 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,969, reflecting a 20.2% increase over the period. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $91,970 in 2021 to $99,860 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 1.2% since 2021, moving from about 82,472 residents to roughly 81,462. College-educated residents now make up 60.6% of adults here, versus 58.6% in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Silver Spring, MD market of 2021.
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Can you afford rent in Silver Spring on your salary?
At $1,969/mo, how Silver Spring rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Silver Spring rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Silver Spring. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Silver Spring
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Silver Spring is $1,969/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,592/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,832/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,627/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,292/mo.
At 24% of local median household income ($99,860/yr), Silver Spring ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 0.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Silver Spring?
At $1,969/mo, rent takes ~24% of Silver Spring's median household income ($99,860/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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