ZIP 21043
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12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
January. Asking rents in ZIP 21043 usually run 1.3% below trend in January and 1% above it in August, about $57 a month apart at today's median. Based on 8 years of data.
Rent in ZIP 21043 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in November 2017.
Rent in ZIP 21043 changed +4.2% 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 21043 rose 28.9% while median household income rose 20.4% ($123,037 to $148,125). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in ZIP 21043 is 35.1% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($148,125) is $3,703 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($3,210).
ZIP 21228, 3 miles away, rents for 29% less ($1,750/mo), about $8,800 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 21043. 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 21043 (Ellicott City, MD) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 64.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 21043 in Ellicott City, MD has changed in 5 years
Compared with 2021, rent in ZIP 21043 in Ellicott City, MD has climbed by $570 per month, settling near $2,481 after starting the period at $1,911. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 21043 in Ellicott City, MD now reports about $148,125, up from $138,261 in 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 22.7 percentage points, which means renters are spending a larger slice of each paycheck on housing than they did in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 47,358 to 48,525 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.5% change. About 33.1% of households rent today, against 30.8% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher slipped from 67.1% to 64.2%. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 21043 in Ellicott City, MD reflects that arc in its own way.
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Tips for renters in ZIP 21043
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 21043 covers Ellicott City, MD. The median rent here is $2,481/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,850/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,280/mo.
At 20% of local median household income ($148,125/yr), ZIP 21043 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.2% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does ZIP 21043 compare to the rest of Ellicott City?
At $2,481/mo, rent takes ~20% of ZIP 21043's median household income ($148,125/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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