ZIP Code · MD

ZIP 21220

Part of Middle River, MD

Pop. 42,824·Baltimore County·108th most expensive ZIP in Maryland

Median rent (all units)

$1,708/mo

Year-over-Year

-0.8%

Month-over-Month

Stable

vs US Median

-$224

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 21220 · $1,708

More affordable than 57% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,370

1 BR

$1,520

2 BR

$1,870

3 BR

$2,370

4 BR+

$2,630

Research median

$1,870/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 21220 is 1.2% below its high of $1,729 in October 2025, at $1,708 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Maryland

Rent in ZIP 21220 changed -0.8% 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 21220 rose 28.8% while median household income rose 15.6% ($70,800 to $81,817). Rent outpaced income.

Since before the pandemic

Rent in ZIP 21220 is 32.3% higher than in March 2020. Across the US, rent is up 37.3% over the same stretch.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 3 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($81,817) is $2,045 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,870); a 3-bedroom is $2,370.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 21222, 8 miles away, rents for 19% less ($1,391/mo), about $3,800 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 21220. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$20,496/yr

At $1,708/mo median

Location

CityMiddle River

StateMD

CountyBaltimore County

Rent Market Meter

Balanced Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are roughly steady, with neither renters nor landlords holding a strong edge right now.

Based on rent-price momentum (-0.8% YoY, +0.1% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 21220 (Middle River, MD) is majority owner-occupied, 30% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

42,824

Median income

$81,817

Median age

37.7

Renters

31.2%

Age distribution

22.9%

22.3%

27.1%

13.8%

Under 1822.9%

18–3422.3%

35–5427.1%

55–6413.8%

65+13.8%

Gender

47.3%

52.7%

Male47.3%

Female52.7%

Race & ethnicity

52.6%

30.8%

White52.6%

Black30.8%

Hispanic5%

Asian6%

Other5.6%

Education (25+)

32.4%

27.2%

30%

No HS diploma10.4%

HS diploma32.4%

Some college27.2%

Bachelor's+30%

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 21220 in Middle River, MD has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,412 → $1,708

up 21.0%

Income

$72,724 → $81,817

up 12.5%

Population

41,627 → 42,824

up 2.9%

Renter share

34.2% → 31.2%

-3.0 pts

Bachelor's+

24.9% → 30%

+5.1 pts

Median age

39.2 → 37.7

-1.5 yrs

Rent in ZIP 21220 in Middle River, MD has increased 21.0% since 2021, going from about $1,412 per month to roughly $1,708 today. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 21220 in Middle River, MD now reports about $81,817, up from $72,724 in 2021. Rent outpaced income growth by roughly 8.5 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 41,627 to 42,824 between 2021 and 2024, a 2.9% change. About 31.2% of households rent today, against 34.2% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 24.9% to 30%. For context, the 2021 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 21220 in Middle River, MD reflects that arc in its own way.

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About renting in ZIP 21220

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 21220 covers Middle River, MD. The median rent here is $1,708/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,520/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,870/mo.

At 25% of local median household income ($81,817/yr), ZIP 21220 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 0.8% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 21220?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $68,000/year (about $33/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,708/mo in ZIP 21220. The local median household income is $81,817/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 21220?

Rent in ZIP 21220 has fallen 0.8% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 1.2% below its high of $1,729 in October 2025.

Has rent outpaced income in ZIP 21220?

Yes. From 2019 to 2024, rent in ZIP 21220 rose 28.8% while median household income rose 15.6%, from $70,800 to $81,817. Rent is Zillow's yearly average; income is the Census 5-year estimate for the same years.

How does ZIP 21220 compare to other ZIPs in Maryland?

ZIP 21220 is one of the more affordable among Maryland ZIP codes for rent, ranking #108 of 140 at $1,708/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 21220 changed -0.8%, against a typical +2.6% across the 124 Maryland ZIP codes Zillow tracks.