City Report · MD

Takoma Park

Pop. 17,632·82nd most expensive in Maryland·Rental market data updated monthly for Takoma Park, MD
Median rent (all units)
$1,607/mo
Year-over-Year
-1.2%
Month-over-Month
Stable
vs US Median
-$325
Reported rents
Stable (Monthly)
Be the first to discuss Takoma Park rents ↓
Most AffordableMost Expensive
Takoma Park · $1,607
More affordable than 68% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Rent Reality Score
64/100
Good value
OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 7% below what Takoma Park's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent
$1,607/mo
Expected by trend
$1,731/mo
The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Takoma Park's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,298
1 BR
$1,330
2 BR
$1,496
3 BR
$1,868
4 BR+
$2,208
Research median
$1,496/mo

Bedroom figures are derived from HUD Fair Market Rents and scaled to match Takoma Park'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).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

January. Asking rents in Takoma Park usually run 0.9% below trend in January and 1.2% above it in August, about $34 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in Takoma Park is 2.9% below its high of $1,655 in July 2025, at $1,607 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Maryland

Rent in Takoma Park changed -1.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 81 Maryland cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.4%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 6 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($108,136) is $2,703 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,360); a 4-bedroom is $2,790.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Takoma Park. 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.

Annual cost
$19,284/yr
At $1,607/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Balanced Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.
Based on rent-price momentum (-1.2% YoY, +0.1% MoM), not inventory.
Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Takoma Park, MD is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 61.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
17,632
Median income
$108,136
Median age
41.3
Renters
45.8%
Age distribution
27.1%
12.8%
33.2%
14.9%
Under 1827.1%
18–3412.8%
35–5433.2%
55–6411.9%
65+14.9%
Gender
47.1%
52.9%
Male47.1%
Female52.9%
Race & ethnicity
46.2%
29.7%
14.1%
White46.2%
Black29.7%
Hispanic14.1%
Asian4.8%
Other5.3%
Education (25+)
15.1%
16%
61.7%
No HS diploma7.1%
HS diploma15.1%
Some college16%
Bachelor's+61.7%
Housing tenure
54.2%
45.8%
Owner54.2%
Renter45.8%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Takoma Park, MD has changed in 5 years

Rent
$1,359 → $1,607
up 18.2%
Income
$86,644 → $108,136
up 24.8%
Population
17,610 → 17,632
up 0.1%
Renter share
49.8% → 45.8%
-4.0 pts
Bachelor's+
58.7% → 61.7%
+3.0 pts
Median age
40.1 → 41.3
+1.2 yrs

Compared with 2021, rent in Takoma Park, MD has increased by $248 per month, settling near $1,607 after starting the period at $1,359. Median household income grew from $86,644 to $108,136 between 2021 and 2024, a 24.8% shift. Income growth outran rent by about 6.6 percentage points, easing the affordability math somewhat compared with 2021. About 45.8% of households rent today, against 49.8% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 58.7% to 61.7%. Taken together, the five-year picture in Takoma Park, 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 Takoma Park

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

View Takoma Park rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Takoma Park on your salary?

At $1,607/mo, how Takoma Park rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Takoma Park rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Takoma Park

About renting in Takoma Park, MD

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Takoma Park is $1,607/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,298/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,496/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,330/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $1,868/mo.

At 18% of local median household income ($108,136/yr), Takoma Park ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 1.2% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Takoma Park?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $64,000/year (about $31/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,607/mo in Takoma Park. The local median household income is $108,136/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Takoma Park?

Rent in Takoma Park has fallen 1.2% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 2.9% below its high of $1,655 in July 2025.

When is the cheapest time to rent in Takoma Park?

Asking rents in Takoma Park are usually lowest in January, about 0.9% below their yearly trend, and highest in August, about 1.2% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $34 a month. This pattern comes from 5 years of Zillow rent data.

How does Takoma Park rent compare to other cities in Maryland?

Takoma Park is one of the more affordable among Maryland cities for rent, ranking #82 of 93 tracked cities at $1,607/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Takoma Park changed -1.2%, against a typical +2.4% across the 81 Maryland cities Zillow tracks.
Income Affordability
18%
VERY AFFORDABLE

At $1,607/mo, rent takes ~18% of Takoma Park's median household income ($108,136/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Takoma Park 18%Benchmark 30%
State income tax2–5.75%
Run the Takoma Park affordability calculator →
Lowest-rent ZIP codes in Takoma Park
Compare

How does this area stack up?

Pick another city or ZIP to compare.

Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Takoma Park, MD

Recent submissions

Be the first to submit your rent for Takoma Park.

Recent discussions

No discussions yet.