How much does it cost to rent in Towson, MD?

As of July 2026, the median monthly rent in Towson, MD is $1,932. This figure is based on aggregated data from public sources and community-submitted rents.

Is Towson cheaper than other Maryland cities?

Towson falls in the middle range for Maryland, ranking #52 out of 95 cities at $1,932/mo.

When was Towson rent data last updated?

Towson rent data reflects July 2026 and was last refreshed on July 20, 2026. RentDataNow refreshes all data monthly using public and private datasets.

City Report · MD

Towson

Name: Average Rent Prices in Towson, MD
Creator: RentDataNow
License: https://rentdatanow.com/terms-of-service

Pop. 58,679·52nd most expensive in Maryland·Towson rents are up 6.8% over the past year

Median rent (all units)

$1,932/mo

Year-over-Year

+6.8%

Month-over-Month

+0.3%

vs US Median

-$33

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

Towson · $1,932

More expensive than 55% of US cities · National median $1,965/mo

Rent Reality Score

56/100

Fairly priced

OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are 3% below what Towson's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.

Actual rent

$1,932/mo

Expected by trend

$1,988/mo

The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Towson's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,550

1 BR

$1,770

2 BR

$2,165

3 BR

$2,785

4 BR+

$3,115

Research median

$2,165/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: July 20, 2026

Annual cost

$23,184/yr

At $1,932/mo median

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 6.8% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+6.8% YoY, +0.3% MoM), not inventory.

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Demographics

Who lives here

Towson, MD is majority owner-occupied, skews toward younger working-age adults, has a median income above the national average, 69.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

58,679

Median income

$101,320

Median age

33.6

Renters

44.4%

Age distribution

17.8%

33.9%

21.1%

18%

Under 1817.8%

18–3433.9%

35–5421.1%

55–649.2%

65+18%

Gender

45.5%

54.5%

Male45.5%

Female54.5%

Race & ethnicity

68%

16.8%

White68%

Black16.8%

Hispanic6%

Asian6.1%

Other3.1%

Education (25+)

17.6%

69.3%

No HS diploma3.7%

HS diploma9.4%

Some college17.6%

Bachelor's+69.3%

Housing tenure

55.6%

44.4%

Owner55.6%

Renter44.4%

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

2021 vs 2026

How Towson, MD has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,570 → $1,932

up 23.1%

Income

$93,435 → $101,320

up 8.4%

Population

59,014 → 58,679

down 0.6%

Renter share

41.1% → 44.4%

+3.3 pts

Bachelor's+

66.9% → 69.3%

+2.4 pts

Median age

33 → 33.6

+0.6 yrs

The median rent in Towson, MD stood at $1,570 in 2021 and currently runs about $1,932, reflecting a 23.1% increase over the period. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $93,435 in 2021 to $101,320 more recently. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. Renters now make up 44.4% of households, compared with 41.1% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 69.3% of adults here, versus 66.9% in 2021. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the Towson, MD market of 2021.

Community

Discussions about Towson

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View Towson rent history (2015–2026) →

Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Towson on your salary?

At $1,932/mo, how Towson rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

Registered Nurse

Avg $102,038/yr · Rent = 22.7% income

affordable

Elementary School Teacher

Avg $72,446/yr · Rent = 32% income

stretched

Police Officer

Avg $83,452/yr · Rent = 27.8% income

affordable

Software Developer

Avg $149,159/yr · Rent = 15.5% income

very comfortable

Lawyer

Avg $190,588/yr · Rent = 12.2% income

very comfortable

Firefighter

Avg $67,835/yr · Rent = 34.2% income

stretched

Truck Driver

Avg $61,247/yr · Rent = 37.9% income

stretched

Electrician

Avg $75,492/yr · Rent = 30.7% income

stretched

By apartment size

Towson rent by bedroom count

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

Local insights

Tips for renters in Towson

About renting in Towson, MD

Last updated: July 20, 2026

The median rent in Towson is $1,932/mo as of July 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,550/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,165/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,770/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,785/mo.

At 23% of local median household income ($101,320/yr), Towson ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is Towson an affordable city for renters?

Towson is considered very affordable for renters. At $1,932/mo, rent takes approximately 23% of the local median household income ($101,320/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%. Towson falls comfortably within that range.

How much income do you need to rent in Towson?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $77,000/year (~$37/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,932/mo in Towson. The local median household income is $101,320/yr, meaning the typical Towson household meets that threshold.

Is rent going up or down in Towson?

Rent in Towson has increased 6.8% over the past year as of July 2026, putting upward pressure on renter budgets.

Which Towson neighborhoods have the lowest rent?

The most affordable ZIP codes in Towson are 21286 ($1,772/mo), and 21204 ($2,005/mo). Citywide, the median rent in Towson is $1,932/mo.

How does Towson rent compare to other cities in Maryland?

Towson is middle-of-the-pack for Maryland for rent, ranking #52 out of 95 tracked cities at $1,932/mo.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Towson?

Several nearby cities have lower median rents than Towson ($1,932/mo): Carney ($1,478/mo), Parkville ($1,624/mo), Baltimore ($1,799/mo).

What percentage of Towson residents rent vs. own?

According to Census data, approximately 44.4% of Towson households are renters, while 55.6% are owner-occupied. Towson leans toward homeownership, which can mean a smaller rental inventory.