ZIP Code · MD

ZIP 20855

Part of Derwood, MD

Pop. 17,279·Montgomery County·21st most expensive ZIP in Maryland

Median rent (all units)

$2,493/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.9%

Month-over-Month

+1.5%

vs US Median

+$561

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 20855 · $2,493

More expensive than 80% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,350

1 BR

$2,420

2 BR

$2,700

3 BR

$3,410

4 BR+

$4,010

Research median

$2,700/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

Past year vs. the rest of Maryland

Rent in ZIP 20855 changed +2.8% over the year to September 2026. Across the 124 Maryland ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.6%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($149,110) is $3,728 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($3,410); a 4-bedroom is $4,010.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 20877, 3 miles away, rents for 18% less ($2,051/mo), about $5,300 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 20855. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$29,916/yr

At $2,493/mo median

Location

CityDerwood

StateMD

CountyMontgomery County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (2.9% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.9% YoY, +1.5% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 20855 (Derwood, MD) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 66.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

17,279

Median income

$149,110

Median age

41.3

Renters

25.6%

Age distribution

20.7%

18.7%

25.4%

15.6%

19.6%

Under 1820.7%

18–3418.7%

35–5425.4%

55–6415.6%

65+19.6%

Gender

47%

53%

Male47%

Female53%

Race & ethnicity

45.5%

15.9%

20.7%

White45.5%

Black15.9%

Hispanic11.7%

Asian20.7%

Other6.1%

Education (25+)

19.3%

66.8%

No HS diploma4.2%

HS diploma9.6%

Some college19.3%

Bachelor's+66.8%

Housing tenure

74.4%

25.6%

Owner74.4%

Renter25.6%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 20855 in Derwood, MD has changed in 5 years

Income

$139,899 → $149,110

up 6.6%

Population

17,123 → 17,279

up 0.9%

Renter share

20.6% → 25.6%

+5.0 pts

Bachelor's+

65.3% → 66.8%

+1.5 pts

Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $139,899 in 2021 to $149,110 more recently. Renters now make up 25.6% of households, compared with 20.6% five years ago.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 20855

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 20855 covers Derwood, MD. The median rent here is $2,493/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,420/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,700/mo.

At 20% of local median household income ($149,110/yr), ZIP 20855 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.9% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 20855?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $100,000/year (about $48/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,493/mo in ZIP 20855. The local median household income is $149,110/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 20855?

Rent in ZIP 20855 has risen 2.9% over the past year.

How does ZIP 20855 compare to other ZIPs in Maryland?

ZIP 20855 is one of the pricier among Maryland ZIP codes for rent, ranking #21 of 140 at $2,493/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 20855 changed +2.8%, against a typical +2.6% across the 124 Maryland ZIP codes Zillow tracks.