ZIP Code · MD

ZIP 21012

Part of Arnold, MD

Pop. 22,570·Anne Arundel County·9th most expensive ZIP in Maryland

Median rent (all units)

$2,878/mo

Year-over-Year

-0.5%

Month-over-Month

-0.8%

vs US Median

+$946

Reported rents

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 21012 · $2,878

More expensive than 88% 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

$1,830

1 BR

$2,030

2 BR

$2,490

3 BR

$3,160

4 BR+

$3,500

Research median

$2,490/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: September 25, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Maryland

Rent in ZIP 21012 changed -0.5% over the year to August 2026. Across the 124 Maryland ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.3%.

Recent direction

Rent has fallen 3 months in a row, and rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($139,432) is $3,486 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($3,160); a 4-bedroom is $3,500.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 21401, 5 miles away, rents for 18% less ($2,358/mo), about $6,200 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 21012. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$34,536/yr

At $2,878/mo median

Location

CityArnold

StateMD

CountyAnne Arundel County

Rent Market Meter

Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are softening (down 0.5% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.

Based on rent-price momentum (-0.5% YoY, -0.8% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 21012 (Arnold, MD) is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 57.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

22,570

Median income

$139,432

Median age

Renters

13.7%

Age distribution

25.3%

17.3%

27.9%

14%

15.4%

Under 1825.3%

18–3417.3%

35–5427.9%

55–6414%

65+15.4%

Gender

49.6%

50.4%

Male49.6%

Female50.4%

Race & ethnicity

81.9%

White81.9%

Black3.9%

Hispanic10%

Asian2.9%

Other1.2%

Education (25+)

13%

27.5%

57.5%

No HS diploma2%

HS diploma13%

Some college27.5%

Bachelor's+57.5%

Housing tenure

86.3%

13.7%

Owner86.3%

Renter13.7%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 21012 in Arnold, MD has changed in 5 years

Income

$133,481 → $139,432

up 4.5%

Population

23,536 → 22,570

down 4.1%

Renter share

14.9% → 13.7%

-1.2 pts

Bachelor's+

56.1% → 57.5%

+1.4 pts

Census figures show median household income at $139,432 today, compared with $133,481 five years earlier. Headcount in the area went from 23,536 to 22,570 between 2021 and 2024, a 4.1% change.

Community

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Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 21012

About renting in ZIP 21012

Last updated: September 25, 2026

ZIP code 21012 covers Arnold, MD. The median rent here is $2,878/mo as of September 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,030/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,490/mo.

At 25% of local median household income ($139,432/yr), ZIP 21012 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 0.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 21012?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $115,000/year (about $55/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,878/mo in ZIP 21012. The local median household income is $139,432/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 21012?

Rent in ZIP 21012 has fallen 0.5% over the past year.

How does ZIP 21012 compare to other ZIPs in Maryland?

ZIP 21012 is one of the pricier among Maryland ZIP codes for rent, ranking #9 of 142 at $2,878/mo. Over the year to August 2026, rent in ZIP 21012 changed -0.5%, against a typical +2.3% across the 124 Maryland ZIP codes Zillow tracks.