ZIP Code · MD

ZIP 21217

Part of Baltimore, MD

Pop. 30,792·Baltimore City·124th most expensive ZIP in Maryland

Median rent (all units)

$1,529/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.7%

Month-over-Month

+0.1%

vs US Median

-$403

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 21217 · $1,529

More affordable than 71% 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

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 21217 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.

Past year vs. the rest of Maryland

Rent in ZIP 21217 changed +3.7% 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 21217 rose 37.4% while median household income rose 31.6% ($29,196 to $38,409). Rent outpaced income.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 21217 is 45.5% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 3 months in a row, and rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($38,409) is $960 a month. That is less than HUD's Fair Market Rent for a studio ($1,270).

Rank in Baltimore

7th cheapest of 20 ZIP codes in Baltimore.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 21215, 3 miles away, rents for 14% less ($1,312/mo), about $2,600 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 21217. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$18,348/yr

At $1,529/mo median

Location

CityBaltimore

StateMD

CountyBaltimore City

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (3.7% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.7% YoY, +0.1% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 21217 (Baltimore, MD) is majority renter-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 23.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

30,792

Median income

$38,409

Median age

38.8

Renters

70%

Age distribution

19.5%

25.9%

23.1%

14.5%

17%

Under 1819.5%

18–3425.9%

35–5423.1%

55–6414.5%

65+17%

Gender

49.6%

50.4%

Male49.6%

Female50.4%

Race & ethnicity

12.2%

80.8%

White12.2%

Black80.8%

Hispanic2.4%

Asian2.4%

Other2.1%

Education (25+)

16.7%

32.8%

27.1%

23.4%

No HS diploma16.7%

HS diploma32.8%

Some college27.1%

Bachelor's+23.4%

Housing tenure

30%

70%

Owner30%

Renter70%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 21217 in Baltimore, MD has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,096 → $1,529

up 39.5%

Income

$34,884 → $38,409

up 10.1%

Population

31,694 → 30,792

down 2.8%

Renter share

66.1% → 70%

+3.9 pts

Bachelor's+

21.1% → 23.4%

+2.3 pts

Median age

40.8 → 38.8

-2.0 yrs

Across the past five years, the going rent in ZIP 21217 in Baltimore, MD has shifted from $1,096 to $1,529, up 39.5% since 2021. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $34,884 in 2021 to $38,409 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Census counts show ZIP 21217 in Baltimore, MD losing about 902 residents over the five-year window, down 2.8% on net. The renter share has risen from 66.1% to 70%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 21.1% to 23.4% across the same window. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 21217 in Baltimore, MD market of 2021.

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About renting in ZIP 21217

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 21217 covers Baltimore, MD. The median rent here is $1,529/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 48% of local median household income ($38,409/yr), ZIP 21217 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 21217?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $61,000/year (about $29/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,529/mo in ZIP 21217. The local median household income is $38,409/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 21217?

Rent in ZIP 21217 has risen 3.7% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in January 2015.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 21217?

Yes. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 21217 rose 37.4% while median household income rose 31.6%, from $29,196 to $38,409. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 21217 compare to other ZIPs in Maryland?

ZIP 21217 is one of the more affordable among Maryland ZIP codes for rent, ranking #124 of 140 at $1,529/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 21217 changed +3.7%, against a typical +2.6% across the 124 Maryland ZIP codes Zillow tracks.