Rents are 2% below what Upper Marlboro's 10-year trend predicts — a better deal than its own history suggests.
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 $2,393 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
December. Asking rents in Upper Marlboro usually run 0.5% below trend in December and 0.7% above it in September, about $29 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Upper Marlboro is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Upper Marlboro changed +3.1% 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 Upper Marlboro rose 29.7% while median household income rose 21.6% ($96,125 to $116,875). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Upper Marlboro is 34.7% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($116,875) is $2,922 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($2,430); a 3-bedroom is $3,035.
District Heights, 6 miles away, rents for 28% less ($1,725/mo), about $8,000 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Upper Marlboro. 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
Upper Marlboro, MD is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 52.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Upper Marlboro, MD has changed in 5 years
The median rent in Upper Marlboro, MD stood at $1,909 in 2021 and currently runs about $2,393, reflecting a 25.4% increase over the period. Household income in the area moved from $99,667 to $116,875 across the same window, up 17.3% versus 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has grown by 10.0% since 2021, moving from about 621 residents to roughly 683. Renters now make up 12.1% of households, compared with 15.6% five years ago. Reading these numbers side by side helps frame whether current listings in Upper Marlboro, MD look reasonable against where the market sat half a decade ago.
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Can you afford rent in Upper Marlboro on your salary?
At $2,393/mo, how Upper Marlboro rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Upper Marlboro rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Upper Marlboro. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Upper Marlboro
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Upper Marlboro is $2,393/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $2,115/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,430/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,160/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $3,035/mo.
At 25% of local median household income ($116,875/yr), Upper Marlboro ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.1% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does Upper Marlboro rent compare to other cities in Maryland?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Upper Marlboro?
At $2,393/mo, rent takes ~25% of Upper Marlboro's median household income ($116,875/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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