ZIP Code · MD

ZIP 21212

Part of Baltimore, MD

Pop. 33,974·Baltimore City·110th most expensive ZIP in Maryland

Median rent (all units)

$1,686/mo

Year-over-Year

+4.1%

Month-over-Month

+0.7%

vs US Median

-$246

Reported rents

Rising (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 21212 · $1,686

More affordable than 59% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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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

Cheapest month to sign

April. Asking rents in ZIP 21212 usually run 1.3% below trend in April and 1.4% above it in January, about $46 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 21212 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2021.

Past year vs. the rest of Maryland

Rent in ZIP 21212 changed +4.1% over the year to September 2026. Across the 124 Maryland ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.6%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 4 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($96,685) is $2,417 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 3-bedroom ($2,280); a 4-bedroom is $2,550.

Rank in Baltimore

11th cheapest of 20 ZIP codes in Baltimore.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 21239, 1 mile away, rents for 12% less ($1,477/mo), about $2,500 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 21212. 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

$20,232/yr

At $1,686/mo median

Location

CityBaltimore

StateMD

CountyBaltimore City

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (4.1% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+4.1% YoY, +0.7% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 21212 (Baltimore, MD) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 56.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

33,974

Median income

$96,685

Median age

38.5

Renters

31.2%

Age distribution

23.7%

20.6%

28.6%

16.1%

Under 1823.7%

18–3420.6%

35–5428.6%

55–6411%

65+16.1%

Gender

45%

55%

Male45%

Female55%

Race & ethnicity

50.4%

34.2%

White50.4%

Black34.2%

Hispanic6.9%

Asian3.9%

Other4.5%

Education (25+)

15.2%

19.9%

56.8%

No HS diploma8.1%

HS diploma15.2%

Some college19.9%

Bachelor's+56.8%

Housing tenure

68.8%

31.2%

Owner68.8%

Renter31.2%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 21212 in Baltimore, MD has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,263 → $1,686

up 33.5%

Income

$88,679 → $96,685

up 9.0%

Population

34,525 → 33,974

down 1.6%

Renter share

30.7% → 31.2%

+0.5 pts

Bachelor's+

55.4% → 56.8%

+1.4 pts

Compared with 2021, rent in ZIP 21212 in Baltimore, MD has climbed by $423 per month, settling near $1,686 after starting the period at $1,263. Median household income grew from $88,679 to $96,685 between 2021 and 2024, a 9.0% shift. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 24.5 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 34,525 to 33,974 between 2021 and 2024, a 1.6% change. Taken together, the five-year picture in ZIP 21212 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 21212

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 21212 covers Baltimore, MD. The median rent here is $1,686/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 21% of local median household income ($96,685/yr), ZIP 21212 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.1% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 21212?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $67,000/year (about $32/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,686/mo in ZIP 21212. The local median household income is $96,685/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 21212?

Rent in ZIP 21212 has risen 4.1% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2021.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 21212?

Asking rents in ZIP 21212 are usually lowest in April, about 1.3% below their yearly trend, and highest in January, about 1.4% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $46 a month. This pattern comes from 5 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 21212 compare to other ZIPs in Maryland?

ZIP 21212 is one of the more affordable among Maryland ZIP codes for rent, ranking #110 of 140 at $1,686/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 21212 changed +4.1%, against a typical +2.6% across the 124 Maryland ZIP codes Zillow tracks.