The Maryland rental market
Maryland tracks median rent across 93 cities, ranging from Cumberland at $1,018/mo to Potomac at $4,426/mo. The state average of $2,082/mo runs about 8% above the national median of $1,932/mo.
Across Maryland cities, rents are rising, changing an average of +2.3% over the past year. 53 of 100 tracked cities are priced above the national median, while 47 fall below it. The largest rental markets are Baltimore, Columbia, Germantown.
What the numbers show
Rent fell in 11 of 93 Maryland cities Zillow tracks over the year to September 2026, and rose in the rest.
37 cities are at the highest rent in at least three years of Zillow records. See the list.
Among cities with 15,000+ residents, Potomac ($4,426/mo) costs 4.3 times as much as Cumberland ($1,018/mo).
Across 43 Maryland cities with five or more years of data, asking rents usually bottom out in December and peak in August, a typical swing of 1.4%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent grew faster than median household income in 20 of 26 Maryland cities with both figures. See where the gap is widest.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Maryland cities, as of September 2026. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates).
Maryland rent questions
What is the average rent in Maryland?
The average median rent across 93 tracked cities in Maryland is $2,082/mo, about 8% above the national median of $1,932/mo.
Which Maryland city has the highest rent?
Potomac has the highest median rent in Maryland at $4,426/mo.
Which Maryland city has the most affordable rent?
Cumberland is the most affordable tracked city in Maryland, with a median rent of $1,018/mo.
Are rents rising or falling in Maryland?
Across Maryland cities, median rents are rising, changing an average of +2.3% over the past year.
How does Maryland rent compare to the rest of the country?
53 of 100 tracked Maryland cities have a median rent above the national median of $1,932/mo, and 47 fall below it.
What are the largest rental markets in Maryland?
By population, the largest rental markets in Maryland are Baltimore, Columbia, Germantown. Each has its own rent data, trends, and ZIP-level breakdowns on RentDataNow.