ZIP Code · MD

ZIP 20878

Part of Gaithersburg, MD

Pop. 66,115·Montgomery County·32nd most expensive ZIP in Maryland

Median rent (all units)

$2,384/mo

Year-over-Year

+1.2%

Month-over-Month

Stable

vs US Median

+$452

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss 20878 rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 20878 · $2,384

More expensive than 76% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$2,100

1 BR

$2,160

2 BR

$2,410

3 BR

$3,040

4 BR+

$3,580

Research median

$2,410/mo

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

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Cheapest month to sign

January. Asking rents in ZIP 20878 usually run 1.5% below trend in January and 1% above it in August, about $60 a month apart at today's median. Based on 11 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 20878 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.

Past year vs. the rest of Maryland

Rent in ZIP 20878 changed +1.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 124 Maryland ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.6%.

Rent vs. income since 2019

From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 20878 rose 26.9% while median household income rose 8.6% ($132,917 to $144,313). Rent outpaced income.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 20878 is 26% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 5 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($144,313) is $3,608 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($3,580).

Rank in Gaithersburg

3rd cheapest of 3 ZIP codes in Gaithersburg.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 20874, 3 miles away, rents for 16% less ($1,994/mo), about $4,700 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 20878. 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.

Annual cost

$28,608/yr

At $2,384/mo median

Location

CityGaithersburg

StateMD

CountyMontgomery 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 (+1.2% YoY, +0.0% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 20878 (Gaithersburg, MD) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 70.3% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

66,115

Median income

$144,313

Median age

41.4

Renters

30.8%

Age distribution

22%

18.2%

30.3%

13.5%

16%

Under 1822%

18–3418.2%

35–5430.3%

55–6413.5%

65+16%

Gender

47.9%

52.1%

Male47.9%

Female52.1%

Race & ethnicity

45.5%

14.2%

27.4%

White45.5%

Black10.4%

Hispanic14.2%

Asian27.4%

Other2.6%

Education (25+)

15%

70.3%

No HS diploma4.1%

HS diploma10.6%

Some college15%

Bachelor's+70.3%

Housing tenure

69.2%

30.8%

Owner69.2%

Renter30.8%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 20878 in Gaithersburg, MD has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,904 → $2,384

up 25.2%

Income

$130,469 → $144,313

up 10.6%

Population

65,999 → 66,115

up 0.2%

Renter share

32.2% → 30.8%

-1.4 pts

Bachelor's+

70.5% → 70.3%

-0.2 pts

Median age

40.7 → 41.4

+0.7 yrs

Rent in ZIP 20878 in Gaithersburg, MD has increased 25.2% since 2021, going from about $1,904 per month to roughly $2,384 today. Census figures show median household income at $144,313 today, compared with $130,469 five years earlier. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 14.6 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 20878

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 20878

About renting in ZIP 20878

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 20878 covers Gaithersburg, MD. The median rent here is $2,384/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,160/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,410/mo.

At 20% of local median household income ($144,313/yr), ZIP 20878 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 1.2% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 20878?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $95,000/year (about $46/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,384/mo in ZIP 20878. The local median household income is $144,313/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 20878?

Rent in ZIP 20878 has risen 1.2% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 20878?

Asking rents in ZIP 20878 are usually lowest in January, about 1.5% below their yearly trend, and highest in August, about 1% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $60 a month. This pattern comes from 11 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 20878?

Yes. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 20878 rose 26.9% while median household income rose 8.6%, from $132,917 to $144,313. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 20878 compare to other ZIPs in Maryland?

ZIP 20878 is one of the pricier among Maryland ZIP codes for rent, ranking #32 of 140 at $2,384/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 20878 changed +1.2%, against a typical +2.6% across the 124 Maryland ZIP codes Zillow tracks.