ZIP 21044
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Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).
12-month history
Last updated: October 17, 2026
What the numbers show
January. Asking rents in ZIP 21044 usually run 1.2% below trend in January and 1.4% above it in August, about $61 a month apart at today's median. Based on 10 years of data.
Rent in ZIP 21044 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in May 2016.
Rent in ZIP 21044 changed +4.4% 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 21044 rose 27.4% while median household income rose 26.8% ($106,533 to $135,057). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in ZIP 21044 is 31.2% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 11 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($135,057) is $3,376 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($3,150); a 4-bedroom is $3,490.
3rd cheapest of 3 ZIP codes in Columbia.
ZIP 21046, 3 miles away, rents for 16% less ($1,952/mo), about $4,600 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 21044. 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 21044 (Columbia, MD) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 67.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 21044 in Columbia, MD has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in ZIP 21044 in Columbia, MD paid around $1,854 a month. That figure now sits near $2,332, up 25.8% from the 2021 baseline. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $110,785 in 2021 to $135,057 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show ZIP 21044 in Columbia, MD losing about 548 residents over the five-year window, down 1.2% on net. The renter share has risen from 38% to 39.7%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 65.9% to 67.9% across the same window. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 21044 in Columbia, MD market of 2021.
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Tips for renters in ZIP 21044
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 21044 covers Columbia, MD. The median rent here is $2,332/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $2,020/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,480/mo.
At 21% of local median household income ($135,057/yr), ZIP 21044 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does ZIP 21044 compare to other ZIPs in Maryland?
How does ZIP 21044 compare to the rest of Columbia?
At $2,332/mo, rent takes ~21% of ZIP 21044's median household income ($135,057/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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