Rents are 4% below what Westminster'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 $1,705 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
Rent in Westminster is 0.2% below its high of $1,709 in August 2026, at $1,705 as of September 2026.
Rent in Westminster changed +2.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 81 Maryland cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.4%.
Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($86,219) is $2,155 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,750); a 3-bedroom is $2,270.
Reisterstown, 11 miles away, rents for 14% less ($1,473/mo), about $2,800 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Westminster. 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
Westminster, MD is majority owner-occupied, 36.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How Westminster, MD has changed in 5 years
Since 2023, the typical rent in Westminster, MD has climbed from $1,495 to $1,705, a 14.0% change over five years. Median household income rose from $65,816 to $86,219 between 2021 and 2024, a 31.0% shift. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. The population has grown by 3.3% since 2021, moving from about 19,783 residents to roughly 20,445. Renters now make up 43.5% of households, compared with 46.4% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 36.3% of adults here, versus 32.9% in 2021. Taken together, the five-year picture in Westminster, 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.
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Can you afford rent in Westminster on your salary?
At $1,705/mo, how Westminster rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).
Westminster rent by bedroom count
Median rent for each apartment size in Westminster. Click any size for full breakdown.
Tips for renters in Westminster
Last updated: October 17, 2026
The median rent in Westminster is $1,705/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,250/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,750/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,430/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,270/mo.
At 24% of local median household income ($86,219/yr), Westminster ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.8% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
How much income do you need to rent in Westminster?
Is rent going up or down in Westminster?
How does Westminster rent compare to other cities in Maryland?
Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Westminster?
At $1,705/mo, rent takes ~24% of Westminster's median household income ($86,219/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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Estimated from ZIP-level data
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