ZIP Code · MD

ZIP 20646

Part of La Plata, MD

Pop. 21,400·Charles County·16th most expensive ZIP in Maryland

Median rent (all units)

$2,613/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

+0.5%

vs US Median

+$681

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 20646 · $2,613

More expensive than 83% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,620

1 BR

$1,670

2 BR

$1,860

3 BR

$2,350

4 BR+

$2,760

Research median

$1,860/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($131,974) is $3,299 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,760).

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 20603, 7 miles away, rents for 10% less ($2,341/mo), about $3,300 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 20646. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$31,356/yr

At $2,613/mo median

Location

CityLa Plata

StateMD

CountyCharles County

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (+0.0% YoY, +0.5% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 20646 (La Plata, MD) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 34.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

21,400

Median income

$131,974

Median age

42.9

Renters

13.5%

Age distribution

21.5%

17.7%

28%

14.8%

18%

Under 1821.5%

18–3417.7%

35–5428%

55–6414.8%

65+18%

Gender

49.6%

50.4%

Male49.6%

Female50.4%

Race & ethnicity

61.6%

24.7%

White61.6%

Black24.7%

Hispanic4.1%

Asian2.9%

Other6.7%

Education (25+)

29%

32.4%

34.9%

No HS diploma3.7%

HS diploma29%

Some college32.4%

Bachelor's+34.9%

Housing tenure

86.5%

13.5%

Owner86.5%

Renter13.5%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 20646 in La Plata, MD has changed in 5 years

Income

$119,306 → $131,974

up 10.6%

Population

20,608 → 21,400

up 3.8%

Renter share

16.3% → 13.5%

-2.8 pts

Bachelor's+

32.4% → 34.9%

+2.5 pts

Census figures show median household income at $131,974 today, compared with $119,306 five years earlier. The population has grown by 3.8% since 2021, moving from about 20,608 residents to roughly 21,400. Renters now make up 13.5% of households, compared with 16.3% five years ago. College-educated residents now make up 34.9% of adults here, versus 32.4% in 2021.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 20646

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 20646 covers La Plata, MD. The median rent here is $2,613/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,670/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,860/mo.

At 24% of local median household income ($131,974/yr), ZIP 20646 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 20646?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $105,000/year (about $50/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,613/mo in ZIP 20646. The local median household income is $131,974/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.