ZIP Code · MD

ZIP 21784

Part of Sykesville, MD

Pop. 39,258·Carroll County·59th most expensive ZIP in Maryland

Median rent (all units)

$2,103/mo

Year-over-Year

Stable

Month-over-Month

-0.2%

vs US Median

+$171

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

Be the first to discuss 21784 rents ↓

Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 21784 · $2,103

More expensive than 66% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

Rent check

Is your rent fair?

Compare your rent to the local median.

Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,440

1 BR

$1,600

2 BR

$1,970

3 BR

$2,500

4 BR+

$2,770

Research median

$1,970/mo

Bedroom estimates are gross rents that include essential utilities (electricity, water, gas, sewer, trash).

Rent trends

12-month history

Loading…

Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($139,395) is $3,485 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($2,770).

Cheaper nearby

ZIP 21133, 9 miles away, rents for 30% less ($1,481/mo), about $7,500 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 21784. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$25,236/yr

At $2,103/mo median

Location

CitySykesville

StateMD

CountyCarroll 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 (+0.0% YoY, -0.2% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 21784 (Sykesville, MD) is majority owner-occupied, has a large share of families with children, has a median income above the national average, 53% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

39,258

Median income

$139,395

Median age

38.9

Renters

12.7%

Age distribution

25.3%

19.1%

28.4%

15.8%

Under 1825.3%

18–3419.1%

35–5428.4%

55–6411.4%

65+15.8%

Gender

50%

Male50%

Female50%

Race & ethnicity

78.8%

White78.8%

Black6.9%

Hispanic6.8%

Asian4.2%

Other3.3%

Education (25+)

19.3%

23.7%

53%

No HS diploma3.9%

HS diploma19.3%

Some college23.7%

Bachelor's+53%

Housing tenure

87.3%

12.7%

Owner87.3%

Renter12.7%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 21784 in Sykesville, MD has changed in 5 years

Income

$125,497 → $139,395

up 11.1%

Population

36,809 → 39,258

up 6.7%

Renter share

13.6% → 12.7%

-0.9 pts

Bachelor's+

50.2% → 53%

+2.8 pts

Median age

41 → 38.9

-2.1 yrs

On the earnings side, the typical household in ZIP 21784 in Sykesville, MD now reports about $139,395, up from $125,497 in 2021. Headcount in the area went from 36,809 to 39,258 between 2021 and 2024, a 6.7% change. Educational attainment has shifted as well, with the share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher climbed from 50.2% to 53%.

Community

Discussions about ZIP 21784

No discussions yet. Start the conversation.

Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 21784

About renting in ZIP 21784

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 21784 covers Sykesville, MD. The median rent here is $2,103/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,600/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,970/mo.

At 18% of local median household income ($139,395/yr), ZIP 21784 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rent prices have stayed steady over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 21784?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $84,000/year (about $40/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,103/mo in ZIP 21784. The local median household income is $139,395/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.