ZIP 20817
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12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
December. Asking rents in ZIP 20817 usually run 2.1% below trend in December and 1.5% above it in June, about $111 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.
Rent in ZIP 20817 is 3.4% below its high of $3,185 in April 2026, at $3,077 as of September 2026.
Rent in ZIP 20817 changed -1.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 124 Maryland ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.6%.
From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 20817 rose 28.8% while median household income rose 22.5% ($203,557 to $249,332). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in ZIP 20817 is 26.8% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has fallen 5 months in a row, and rose in 4 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($249,332) is $6,233 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($5,000).
ZIP 20852, 4 miles away, rents for 25% less ($2,295/mo), about $9,400 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 20817. 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.
Who lives here
ZIP 20817 (Bethesda, MD) is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 85.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 20817 in Bethesda, MD has changed in 5 years
The median rent in ZIP 20817 in Bethesda, MD stood at $2,463 in 2021 and currently runs about $3,077, reflecting a 24.9% increase over the period. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 20817 in Bethesda, MD now reports about $249,332, up from $217,674 in 2021. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. The population has contracted by 2.2% since 2021, moving from about 38,286 residents to roughly 37,454. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 20817 in Bethesda, MD reflects that arc in its own way.
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Tips for renters in ZIP 20817
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 20817 covers Bethesda, MD. The median rent here is $3,077/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $3,020/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $3,370/mo.
At 15% of local median household income ($249,332/yr), ZIP 20817 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 1.9% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does ZIP 20817 compare to other ZIPs in Maryland?
How does ZIP 20817 compare to the rest of Bethesda?
At $3,077/mo, rent takes ~15% of ZIP 20817's median household income ($249,332/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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