Best rent-to-income cities in Maryland

Cities in Maryland ranked by lowest rent as a percentage of median household income. Cities with 15,000+ residents.

Key findings

Fort Washington ranks first, with rent at 14.4% of median household income.
Across all 54 cities on this list, the median rent is $1,904/mo.
Gaithersburg moved from #30 to #22 compared with a year ago.

Data as of September 2026. Twelve months of median rent as a share of Census median household income (5-year estimates). Updated monthly. Download this list (CSV)

Best value (RRS)Overheated (RRS)Most affordable Most expensive Rent falling Rent rising Best rent/income Most rent-burdened Record-high rent Seasonal swings Rent vs. income

54 cities

Rank	City	Rent/income	Median rent	Income	Vs. a year ago
01	Fort WashingtonMD Pop. 25KCompare →	14.4%	$1,722/mo	$143,333	same
02	Takoma ParkMD Pop. 18KCompare →	17.8%	$1,607/mo	$108,136	↑1 from #3
03	CatonsvilleMD Pop. 43KCompare →	18.3%	$1,741/mo	$114,109	↓1 from #2
04	BethesdaMD Pop. 69KCompare →	18.5%	$2,971/mo	$192,237	same
05	CroftonMD Pop. 30KCompare →	19.4%	$2,439/mo	$150,577	same
06	Ellicott CityMD Pop. 75KCompare →	19.8%	$2,596/mo	$156,964	same
07	SevernMD Pop. 58KCompare →	20.0%	$2,236/mo	$134,423	↑4 from #11
08	BeltsvilleMD Pop. 19KCompare →	20.1%	$1,673/mo	$99,642	same
09	ElkridgeMD Pop. 26KCompare →	20.4%	$2,379/mo	$139,913	↓2 from #7
10	North PotomacMD Pop. 24KCompare →	20.6%	$3,201/mo	$186,514	↑3 from #13
11	ReisterstownMD Pop. 26KCompare →	20.7%	$1,473/mo	$85,543	↓1 from #10
12	GermantownMD Pop. 91KCompare →	20.7%	$2,026/mo	$117,546	same
13	RandallstownMD Pop. 36KCompare →	20.8%	$1,483/mo	$85,735	↑1 from #14
14	ColumbiaMD Pop. 104KCompare →	20.8%	$2,278/mo	$131,490	↓5 from #9
15	BowieMD Pop. 58KCompare →	21.1%	$2,501/mo	$141,995	same
16	CarneyMD Pop. 28KCompare →	21.5%	$1,497/mo	$83,620	same
17	RockvilleMD Pop. 68KCompare →	22.1%	$2,372/mo	$128,649	↑2 from #19
18	TowsonMD Pop. 59KCompare →	22.2%	$1,871/mo	$101,320	same
19	PotomacMD Pop. 46KCompare →	22.4%	$4,426/mo	$236,675	↓2 from #17
20	LaurelMD Pop. 30KCompare →	23.1%	$1,938/mo	$100,504	↑3 from #23
21	OdentonMD Pop. 45KCompare →	23.2%	$2,481/mo	$128,441	↓1 from #20
22	GaithersburgMD Pop. 70KCompare →	23.4%	$2,196/mo	$112,467	↑8 from #30
23	Glen BurnieMD Pop. 73KCompare →	23.5%	$1,729/mo	$88,280	↑4 from #27
24	PasadenaMD Pop. 34KCompare →	23.5%	$2,543/mo	$129,727	↓3 from #21
25	LochearnMD Pop. 27KCompare →	23.6%	$1,470/mo	$74,707	↓3 from #22
26	Silver SpringMD Pop. 81KCompare →	23.7%	$1,969/mo	$99,860	↑6 from #32
27	Oxon HillMD Pop. 18KCompare →	23.7%	$1,839/mo	$93,252	↓2 from #25
28	RossvilleMD Pop. 16KCompare →	23.7%	$1,778/mo	$90,000	↓4 from #24
29	WestminsterMD Pop. 20KCompare →	23.7%	$1,705/mo	$86,219	same
30	Owings MillsMD Pop. 37KCompare →	23.7%	$1,904/mo	$96,243	↓2 from #28
31	WaldorfMD Pop. 83KCompare →	24.2%	$2,345/mo	$116,089	↓5 from #26
32	AnnapolisMD Pop. 41KCompare →	24.7%	$2,344/mo	$113,860	↑1 from #33
33	East RiverdaleMD Pop. 18KCompare →	24.9%	$1,696/mo	$81,831	↑2 from #35
34	HyattsvilleMD Pop. 21KCompare →	25.3%	$1,936/mo	$91,941	↑3 from #37
35	CumberlandMD Pop. 19KCompare →	25.4%	$1,018/mo	$48,162	↓1 from #34
36	ParkvilleMD Pop. 31KCompare →	25.4%	$1,675/mo	$79,178	↓5 from #31
37	Brooklyn ParkMD Pop. 16KCompare →	25.5%	$1,869/mo	$87,989	--
38	EdgewoodMD Pop. 25KCompare →	26.0%	$1,750/mo	$80,772	↓2 from #36
39	Middle RiverMD Pop. 32KCompare →	26.1%	$1,708/mo	$78,398	↑1 from #40
40	FrederickMD Pop. 83KCompare →	26.6%	$2,155/mo	$97,069	↓1 from #39
41	ChillumMD Pop. 35KCompare →	26.7%	$1,779/mo	$79,864	↓3 from #38
42	DundalkMD Pop. 66KCompare →	27.2%	$1,460/mo	$64,520	↓1 from #41
43	CockeysvilleMD Pop. 24KCompare →	29.1%	$1,884/mo	$77,680	↑1 from #44
44	GreenbeltMD Pop. 25KCompare →	29.3%	$2,098/mo	$85,997	↓1 from #43
45	Montgomery VillageMD Pop. 34KCompare →	29.9%	$2,372/mo	$95,348	↓3 from #42
46	EssexMD Pop. 41KCompare →	30.1%	$1,685/mo	$67,168	↓1 from #45
47	ClintonMD Pop. 38KCompare →	30.5%	$3,173/mo	$124,803	--
48	AberdeenMD Pop. 17KCompare →	30.8%	$1,918/mo	$74,826	↓2 from #46
49	HagerstownMD Pop. 44KCompare →	31.6%	$1,377/mo	$52,221	↓2 from #47
50	SalisburyMD Pop. 33KCompare →	33.2%	$1,621/mo	$58,576	↓2 from #48