ZIP Code · MD

ZIP 21206

Part of Baltimore, MD

Pop. 48,902·Baltimore City·118th most expensive ZIP in Maryland

Median rent (all units)

$1,607/mo

Year-over-Year

+5.2%

Month-over-Month

+1.1%

vs US Median

-$325

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 21206 · $1,607

More affordable than 65% 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

$1,270

1 BR

$1,450

2 BR

$1,770

3 BR

$2,280

4 BR+

$2,550

Research median

$1,770/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

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 21206 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in February 2022.

Past year vs. the rest of Maryland

Rent in ZIP 21206 changed +5.2% over the year to September 2026. Across the 124 Maryland ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.6%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($64,531) is $1,613 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,450); a 2-bedroom is $1,770.

Rank in Baltimore

10th cheapest of 20 ZIP codes in Baltimore.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 21222, 6 miles away, rents for 13% less ($1,391/mo), about $2,600 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 21206. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$19,284/yr

At $1,607/mo median

Location

CityBaltimore

StateMD

CountyBaltimore City

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 5.2% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+5.2% YoY, +1.1% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 21206 (Baltimore, MD) is roughly split between renters and owners, has a median income below the national average, 27.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

48,902

Median income

$64,531

Median age

36.7

Renters

46.8%

Age distribution

23.2%

23.7%

25.7%

13.8%

13.6%

Under 1823.2%

18–3423.7%

35–5425.7%

55–6413.8%

65+13.6%

Gender

43.6%

56.4%

Male43.6%

Female56.4%

Race & ethnicity

19.4%

74%

White19.4%

Black74%

Hispanic2.8%

Asian0.9%

Other2.9%

Education (25+)

34.7%

28.1%

27.5%

No HS diploma9.7%

HS diploma34.7%

Some college28.1%

Bachelor's+27.5%

Housing tenure

53.2%

46.8%

Owner53.2%

Renter46.8%

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

2022 vs 2026

How ZIP 21206 in Baltimore, MD has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,206 → $1,607

up 33.3%

Income

$58,036 → $64,531

up 11.2%

Population

51,643 → 48,902

down 5.3%

Renter share

45.3% → 46.8%

+1.5 pts

Bachelor's+

22.6% → 27.5%

+4.9 pts

Median age

36.2 → 36.7

+0.5 yrs

Rent in ZIP 21206 in Baltimore, MD has increased 33.3% since 2022, going from about $1,206 per month to roughly $1,607 today. Median household income grew from $58,036 to $64,531 between 2021 and 2024, a 11.2% shift. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 22.1 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 51,643 to 48,902 between 2021 and 2024, a 5.3% change. About 46.8% of households rent today, against 45.3% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 22.6% to 27.5%. Taken together, the five-year picture in ZIP 21206 in Baltimore, 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 21206

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 21206 covers Baltimore, MD. The median rent here is $1,607/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,450/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,770/mo.

At 30% of local median household income ($64,531/yr), ZIP 21206 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 5.2% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 21206?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $64,000/year (about $31/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,607/mo in ZIP 21206. The local median household income is $64,531/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 21206?

Rent in ZIP 21206 has risen 5.2% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in February 2022.

How does ZIP 21206 compare to other ZIPs in Maryland?

ZIP 21206 is one of the more affordable among Maryland ZIP codes for rent, ranking #118 of 140 at $1,607/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 21206 changed +5.2%, against a typical +2.6% across the 124 Maryland ZIP codes Zillow tracks.