ZIP Code · MD

ZIP 21223

Part of Baltimore, MD

Pop. 19,572·Baltimore City·121st most expensive ZIP in Maryland

Median rent (all units)

$1,596/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.6%

Month-over-Month

+0.2%

vs US Median

-$336

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 21223 · $1,596

More affordable than 66% 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 21223 is 0.3% below its high of $1,601 in March 2026, at $1,596 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Maryland

Rent in ZIP 21223 changed +2.6% 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 3 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($45,840) is $1,146 a month. That is less than HUD's Fair Market Rent for a studio ($1,270).

Rank in Baltimore

9th cheapest of 20 ZIP codes in Baltimore.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 21225, 4 miles away, rents for 11% less ($1,416/mo), about $2,200 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 21223. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$19,152/yr

At $1,596/mo median

Location

CityBaltimore

StateMD

CountyBaltimore City

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (2.6% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.6% YoY, +0.2% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 21223 (Baltimore, MD) is majority renter-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 15.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

19,572

Median income

$45,840

Median age

38.6

Renters

68%

Age distribution

23%

21.2%

28.5%

13.8%

13.5%

Under 1823%

18–3421.2%

35–5428.5%

55–6413.8%

65+13.5%

Gender

44.4%

55.6%

Male44.4%

Female55.6%

Race & ethnicity

13.9%

74.6%

White13.9%

Black74.6%

Hispanic5.4%

Asian1%

Other5.2%

Education (25+)

22.4%

37.7%

24.2%

15.6%

No HS diploma22.4%

HS diploma37.7%

Some college24.2%

Bachelor's+15.6%

Housing tenure

32%

68%

Owner32%

Renter68%

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

2022 vs 2026

How ZIP 21223 in Baltimore, MD has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,245 → $1,596

up 28.2%

Income

$31,947 → $45,840

up 43.5%

Population

20,531 → 19,572

down 4.7%

Renter share

66.2% → 68%

+1.8 pts

Bachelor's+

10.3% → 15.6%

+5.3 pts

Compared with 2022, rent in ZIP 21223 in Baltimore, MD has climbed by $351 per month, settling near $1,596 after starting the period at $1,245. On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 21223 in Baltimore, MD now reports about $45,840, up from $31,947 in 2021. Income growth outran rent by about 15.3 percentage points, easing the affordability math somewhat compared with 2021. Headcount in the area went from 20,531 to 19,572 between 2021 and 2024, a 4.7% change. About 68% of households rent today, against 66.2% in 2021. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 10.3% to 15.6%. For context, the 2022 to 2026 window covers an unusually volatile run for US rents nationally, and ZIP 21223 in Baltimore, MD reflects that arc in its own way.

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About renting in ZIP 21223

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 21223 covers Baltimore, MD. The median rent here is $1,596/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 42% of local median household income ($45,840/yr), ZIP 21223 ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.6% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 21223?

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 $1,596/mo in ZIP 21223. The local median household income is $45,840/yr, so the typical household falls short of that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 21223?

Rent in ZIP 21223 has risen 2.6% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.3% below its high of $1,601 in March 2026.

How does ZIP 21223 compare to other ZIPs in Maryland?

ZIP 21223 is one of the more affordable among Maryland ZIP codes for rent, ranking #121 of 140 at $1,596/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 21223 changed +2.6%, against a typical +2.6% across the 124 Maryland ZIP codes Zillow tracks.