ZIP Code · MD

ZIP 21228

Part of Catonsville, MD

Pop. 50,492·Baltimore County·100th most expensive ZIP in Maryland

Median rent (all units)

$1,750/mo

Year-over-Year

+2.9%

Month-over-Month

Stable

vs US Median

-$182

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 21228 · $1,750

More affordable than 55% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,290

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

February. Asking rents in ZIP 21228 usually run 1.1% below trend in February and 1.6% above it in October, about $47 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 21228 is 0.1% below its high of $1,751 in August 2026, at $1,750 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Maryland

Rent in ZIP 21228 changed +2.9% over the year to September 2026. Across the 124 Maryland ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.6%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 8 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($112,656) is $2,816 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,550).

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 21229, 3 miles away, rents for 13% less ($1,528/mo), about $2,700 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 21228. 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

$21,000/yr

At $1,750/mo median

Location

CityCatonsville

StateMD

CountyBaltimore County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (2.9% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+2.9% YoY, -0.1% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 21228 (Catonsville, MD) is majority owner-occupied, has a large retiree population, has a median income above the national average, 52.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

50,492

Median income

$112,656

Median age

42.2

Renters

29%

Age distribution

21.1%

19.2%

23.2%

14%

22.5%

Under 1821.1%

18–3419.2%

35–5423.2%

55–6414%

65+22.5%

Gender

47.6%

52.4%

Male47.6%

Female52.4%

Race & ethnicity

54.4%

18.9%

13.7%

White54.4%

Black18.9%

Hispanic9.2%

Asian13.7%

Other3.7%

Education (25+)

17%

22%

52.5%

No HS diploma8.6%

HS diploma17%

Some college22%

Bachelor's+52.5%

Housing tenure

71%

29%

Owner71%

Renter29%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 21228 in Catonsville, MD has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,411 → $1,750

up 24.0%

Income

$93,792 → $112,656

up 20.1%

Population

50,781 → 50,492

down 0.6%

Renter share

28.3% → 29%

+0.7 pts

Bachelor's+

48.5% → 52.5%

+4.0 pts

Five years ago, renters in ZIP 21228 in Catonsville, MD paid around $1,411 a month. That figure now sits near $1,750, up 24.0% from the 2021 baseline. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $93,792 in 2021 to $112,656 more recently. Because rent grew faster than wages over the same span, the affordability picture has tightened relative to 2021. Bachelor's-degree-or-higher attainment moved from 48.5% to 52.5% across the same window. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 21228 in Catonsville, MD market of 2021.

Community

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Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 21228

About renting in ZIP 21228

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 21228 covers Catonsville, MD. The median rent here is $1,750/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 19% of local median household income ($112,656/yr), ZIP 21228 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 2.9% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 21228?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $70,000/year (about $34/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,750/mo in ZIP 21228. The local median household income is $112,656/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 21228?

Rent in ZIP 21228 has risen 2.9% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 0.1% below its high of $1,751 in August 2026.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 21228?

Asking rents in ZIP 21228 are usually lowest in February, about 1.1% below their yearly trend, and highest in October, about 1.6% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $47 a month. This pattern comes from 5 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 21228 compare to other ZIPs in Maryland?

ZIP 21228 is one of the more affordable among Maryland ZIP codes for rent, ranking #100 of 140 at $1,750/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 21228 changed +2.9%, against a typical +2.6% across the 124 Maryland ZIP codes Zillow tracks.