ZIP 21216
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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
February. Asking rents in ZIP 21216 usually run 0.6% below trend in February and 0.9% above it in August, about $23 a month apart at today's median. Based on 9 years of data.
Rent in ZIP 21216 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in August 2016.
Rent in ZIP 21216 changed +6.4% 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 21216 rose 46% while median household income rose 4.6% ($40,178 to $42,031). Rent outpaced income.
Rent in ZIP 21216 is 52.6% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.
Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.
30% of the median household income ($42,031) is $1,051 a month. That is less than HUD's Fair Market Rent for a studio ($1,270).
8th cheapest of 20 ZIP codes in Baltimore.
ZIP 21215, 2 miles away, rents for 15% less ($1,312/mo), about $2,800 a year in savings.
From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 21216. 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 21216 (Baltimore, MD) is roughly split between renters and owners, has a large share of families with children, has a median income below the national average, 17.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates
How ZIP 21216 in Baltimore, MD has changed in 5 years
Five years ago, renters in ZIP 21216 in Baltimore, MD paid around $1,106 a month. That figure now sits near $1,547, up 39.9% from the 2021 baseline. Census figures show median household income at $42,031 today, compared with $42,906 five years earlier. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show ZIP 21216 in Baltimore, MD adding about 1,783 residents over the five-year window, up 6.5% on net. The renter share has eased from 51.6% to 49.8%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2021.
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Tips for renters in ZIP 21216
Last updated: October 17, 2026
ZIP code 21216 covers Baltimore, MD. The median rent here is $1,547/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 44% of local median household income ($42,031/yr), ZIP 21216 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.4% over the past year.
Frequently asked questions
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How does ZIP 21216 compare to other ZIPs in Maryland?
How does ZIP 21216 compare to the rest of Baltimore?
At $1,547/mo, rent takes ~44% of ZIP 21216's median household income ($42,031/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.
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