ZIP Code · MD

ZIP 20854

Part of Potomac, MD

Pop. 50,498·Montgomery County·1st most expensive ZIP in Maryland

Median rent (all units)

$4,302/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.8%

Month-over-Month

-0.2%

vs US Median

+$2,370

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 20854 · $4,302

More expensive than 98% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,930

1 BR

$3,020

2 BR

$3,370

3 BR

$4,250

4 BR+

$5,000

Research median

$3,370/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

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 20854 is 0.2% below its high of $4,310 in August 2026, at $4,302 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Maryland

Rent in ZIP 20854 changed +3.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 124 Maryland ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.6%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($250,001) is $6,250 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($5,000).

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 20817, 4 miles away, rents for 28% less ($3,077/mo), about $14,700 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 20854. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$51,624/yr

At $4,302/mo median

Location

CityPotomac

StateMD

CountyMontgomery County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (3.8% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.8% YoY, -0.2% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 20854 (Potomac, MD) is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 85.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

50,498

Median income

$250,001

Median age

47.7

Renters

10.6%

Age distribution

24.1%

26.4%

14.5%

23.6%

Under 1824.1%

18–3411.4%

35–5426.4%

55–6414.5%

65+23.6%

Gender

49.8%

50.2%

Male49.8%

Female50.2%

Race & ethnicity

60.7%

22.2%

White60.7%

Black4.1%

Hispanic9.4%

Asian22.2%

Other3.6%

Education (25+)

85.7%

No HS diploma2.9%

HS diploma3.7%

Some college7.7%

Bachelor's+85.7%

Housing tenure

89.4%

Owner89.4%

Renter10.6%

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

2022 vs 2026

How ZIP 20854 in Potomac, MD has changed in 5 years

Rent

$3,457 → $4,302

up 24.4%

Income

$217,477 → $250,001

up 15.0%

Population

49,684 → 50,498

up 1.6%

Renter share

10.2% → 10.6%

+0.4 pts

Bachelor's+

84.4% → 85.7%

+1.3 pts

Across the past five years, the going rent in ZIP 20854 in Potomac, MD has shifted from $3,457 to $4,302, up 24.4% since 2022. Median household income climbed from $217,477 to $250,001 between 2021 and 2024, a 15.0% shift. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show ZIP 20854 in Potomac, MD adding about 814 residents over the five-year window, up 1.6% on net. Taken together, the five-year picture in ZIP 20854 in Potomac, 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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About renting in ZIP 20854

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 20854 covers Potomac, MD. The median rent here is $4,302/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 21% of local median household income ($250,001/yr), ZIP 20854 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 20854?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $172,000/year (about $83/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $4,302/mo in ZIP 20854. The local median household income is $250,001/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 20854?

Rent in ZIP 20854 has risen 3.8% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.2% below its high of $4,310 in August 2026.

How does ZIP 20854 compare to other ZIPs in Maryland?

ZIP 20854 is one of the pricier among Maryland ZIP codes for rent, ranking #1 of 140 at $4,302/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 20854 changed +3.8%, against a typical +2.6% across the 124 Maryland ZIP codes Zillow tracks.