ZIP Code · MD

ZIP 21239

Part of Baltimore, MD

Pop. 27,346·Baltimore City·130th most expensive ZIP in Maryland

Median rent (all units)

$1,477/mo

Year-over-Year

+6.5%

Month-over-Month

+0.3%

vs US Median

-$455

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 21239 · $1,477

More affordable than 75% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Compare your rent to the local median.

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 21239 is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2021.

Past year vs. the rest of Maryland

Rent in ZIP 21239 changed +6.5% 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 6 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($62,650) is $1,566 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 1-bedroom ($1,450); a 2-bedroom is $1,770.

Rank in Baltimore

5th cheapest of 20 ZIP codes in Baltimore.

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 21215, 5 miles away, rents for 11% less ($1,312/mo), about $2,000 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 21239. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$17,724/yr

At $1,477/mo median

Location

CityBaltimore

StateMD

CountyBaltimore City

Rent Market Meter

Strong Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are up 6.5% year-over-year. Expect competition, and move quickly to lock in terms.

Based on rent-price momentum (+6.5% YoY, +0.3% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 21239 (Baltimore, MD) is majority owner-occupied, has a median income below the national average, 32.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

27,346

Median income

$62,650

Median age

37.1

Renters

44.8%

Age distribution

21.6%

26.1%

21.9%

12.6%

17.8%

Under 1821.6%

18–3426.1%

35–5421.9%

55–6412.6%

65+17.8%

Gender

40.3%

59.7%

Male40.3%

Female59.7%

Race & ethnicity

78.6%

White11.9%

Black78.6%

Hispanic4.9%

Asian4.5%

Education (25+)

29.1%

33%

32.7%

No HS diploma5.2%

HS diploma29.1%

Some college33%

Bachelor's+32.7%

Housing tenure

55.2%

44.8%

Owner55.2%

Renter44.8%

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

2022 vs 2026

How ZIP 21239 in Baltimore, MD has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,246 → $1,477

up 18.5%

Income

$57,103 → $62,650

up 9.7%

Population

29,619 → 27,346

down 7.7%

Renter share

45.4% → 44.8%

-0.6 pts

Bachelor's+

30.8% → 32.7%

+1.9 pts

Median age

35.1 → 37.1

+2.0 yrs

Across the past five years, the going rent in ZIP 21239 in Baltimore, MD has shifted from $1,246 to $1,477, up 18.5% since 2022. Census figures show median household income at $62,650 today, compared with $57,103 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 21239 in Baltimore, MD losing about 2,273 residents over the five-year window, down 7.7% on net. The combined trend lines point to a market that has changed measurably from where it stood in early 2022.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 21239

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 21239 covers Baltimore, MD. The median rent here is $1,477/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 28% of local median household income ($62,650/yr), ZIP 21239 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 6.5% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 21239?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $59,000/year (about $28/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,477/mo in ZIP 21239. The local median household income is $62,650/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 21239?

Rent in ZIP 21239 has risen 6.5% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2021.

How does ZIP 21239 compare to other ZIPs in Maryland?

ZIP 21239 is one of the more affordable among Maryland ZIP codes for rent, ranking #130 of 140 at $1,477/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 21239 changed +6.5%, against a typical +2.6% across the 124 Maryland ZIP codes Zillow tracks.