ZIP Code · MD

ZIP 21122

Part of Pasadena, MD

Pop. 61,566·Anne Arundel County·19th most expensive ZIP in Maryland

Median rent (all units)

$2,538/mo

Year-over-Year

+5.4%

Month-over-Month

+1.5%

vs US Median

+$606

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 21122 · $2,538

More expensive than 81% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,720

1 BR

$1,910

2 BR

$2,350

3 BR

$2,980

4 BR+

$3,300

Research median

$2,350/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

Cheapest month to sign

February. Asking rents in ZIP 21122 usually run 1.3% below trend in February and 1.1% above it in June, about $61 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 21122 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2017.

Past year vs. the rest of Maryland

Rent in ZIP 21122 changed +5.4% 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 21122 rose 38.7% while median household income rose 29.1% ($98,845 to $127,587). Rent outpaced income.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 21122 is 48.4% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 6 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($127,587) is $3,190 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,980); a 4-bedroom is $3,300.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 21060, 6 miles away, rents for 30% less ($1,768/mo), about $9,200 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 21122. 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

$30,456/yr

At $2,538/mo median

Location

CityPasadena

StateMD

CountyAnne Arundel County

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 5.4% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+5.4% YoY, +1.5% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 21122 (Pasadena, MD) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 31.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

61,566

Median income

$127,587

Median age

40.2

Renters

13.4%

Age distribution

20.5%

22%

25.5%

16.3%

15.7%

Under 1820.5%

18–3422%

35–5425.5%

55–6416.3%

65+15.7%

Gender

49.2%

50.8%

Male49.2%

Female50.8%

Race & ethnicity

81.8%

White81.8%

Black6.3%

Hispanic5.5%

Asian2%

Other4.4%

Education (25+)

30%

31.4%

No HS diploma7.2%

HS diploma30%

Some college31.4%

Bachelor's+31.4%

Housing tenure

86.6%

13.4%

Owner86.6%

Renter13.4%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 21122 in Pasadena, MD has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,860 → $2,538

up 36.5%

Income

$111,376 → $127,587

up 14.6%

Population

61,212 → 61,566

up 0.6%

Renter share

14.1% → 13.4%

-0.7 pts

Bachelor's+

30.8% → 31.4%

+0.6 pts

Since 2021, the typical rent in ZIP 21122 in Pasadena, MD has climbed from $1,860 to $2,538, a 36.5% change over five years. Median household income rose from $111,376 to $127,587 between 2021 and 2024, a 14.6% shift. That spread, with rent up faster than earnings, points to a tougher affordability environment than five years ago. Taken together, the five-year picture in ZIP 21122 in Pasadena, MD reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

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About renting in ZIP 21122

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 21122 covers Pasadena, MD. The median rent here is $2,538/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,910/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $2,350/mo.

At 24% of local median household income ($127,587/yr), ZIP 21122 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 21122?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $102,000/year (about $49/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,538/mo in ZIP 21122. The local median household income is $127,587/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 21122?

Rent in ZIP 21122 has risen 5.4% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2017.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 21122?

Asking rents in ZIP 21122 are usually lowest in February, about 1.3% below their yearly trend, and highest in June, about 1.1% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $61 a month. This pattern comes from 9 years of Zillow rent data.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 21122?

Yes. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 21122 rose 38.7% while median household income rose 29.1%, from $98,845 to $127,587. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 21122 compare to other ZIPs in Maryland?

ZIP 21122 is one of the pricier among Maryland ZIP codes for rent, ranking #19 of 140 at $2,538/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 21122 changed +5.4%, against a typical +2.6% across the 124 Maryland ZIP codes Zillow tracks.