Rents are right about where Waldorf's 10-year trend predicts.
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 $2,345 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
May. Asking rents in Waldorf usually run 0.4% below trend in May and 0.5% above it in November, about $21 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.
Rent in Waldorf is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.
Rent in Waldorf changed +6.2% 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 Waldorf rose 38.3% while median household income rose 21.3% ($95,695 to $116,089). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in Waldorf is 47.2% 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 9 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($116,089) is $2,902 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,867); a 4-bedroom is $3,383.
The priciest of 3 ZIP codes in Waldorf, 20602 ($2,405/mo), costs 3% more than the cheapest, 20603 ($2,341/mo).
Fort Washington, 11 miles away, rents for 27% less ($1,722/mo), about $7,500 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Waldorf. 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
Waldorf, MD is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 34.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Waldorf, MD has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in Waldorf, MD paid around $1,800 a month. That figure now sits near $2,345, up 30.3% from the 2021 baseline. On the earnings side, the typical household in Waldorf, MD now reports about $116,089, up from $103,611 in 2021. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show Waldorf, MD adding about 3,753 residents over the five-year window, up 4.7% on net. The renter share has eased from 29.1% to 25.1%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 32.7% to 34.7% across the same window. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and Waldorf, MD reflects that arc in its own way.
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At $2,345/mo, how Waldorf rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Waldorf rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Waldorf. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Waldorf
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Waldorf is $2,345/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,993/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $2,293/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $2,040/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,867/mo.
At 24% of local median household income ($116,089/yr), Waldorf ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Waldorf?
At $2,345/mo, rent takes ~24% of Waldorf's median household income ($116,089/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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