ZIP Code · MD

ZIP 21801

Part of Salisbury, MD

Pop. 30,088·Wicomico County·113th most expensive ZIP in Maryland

Median rent (all units)

$1,647/mo

Year-over-Year

+3.4%

Month-over-Month

+0.5%

vs US Median

-$285

Reported rents

Stable (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 21801 · $1,647

More affordable than 62% 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

$1,020

1 BR

$1,030

2 BR

$1,350

3 BR

$1,780

4 BR+

$1,780

Research median

$1,350/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: September 25, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Past year vs. the rest of Maryland

Rent in ZIP 21801 changed +3.4% over the year to August 2026. Across the 124 Maryland ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.3%.

Recent direction

Rent has risen 2 months in a row, and rose in 9 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($71,313) is $1,783 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 4-bedroom ($1,780).

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 21801. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost

$19,764/yr

At $1,647/mo median

Location

CitySalisbury

StateMD

CountyWicomico County

Rent Market Meter

Landlord's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are climbing (3.4% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.

Based on rent-price momentum (+3.4% YoY, +0.5% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 21801 (Salisbury, MD) is majority owner-occupied, 33.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

30,088

Median income

$71,313

Median age

36.9

Renters

41.8%

Age distribution

23%

24.9%

20.1%

13.5%

18.5%

Under 1823%

18–3424.9%

35–5420.1%

55–6413.5%

65+18.5%

Gender

48.2%

51.8%

Male48.2%

Female51.8%

Race & ethnicity

51%

33.8%

White51%

Black33.8%

Hispanic6.4%

Asian2.1%

Other6.6%

Education (25+)

30.5%

25.2%

33.5%

No HS diploma10.8%

HS diploma30.5%

Some college25.2%

Bachelor's+33.5%

Housing tenure

58.2%

41.8%

Owner58.2%

Renter41.8%

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

2021 vs 2026

How ZIP 21801 in Salisbury, MD has changed in 5 years

Income

$60,466 → $71,313

up 17.9%

Population

30,692 → 30,088

down 2.0%

Renter share

45.8% → 41.8%

-4.0 pts

Bachelor's+

32.9% → 33.5%

+0.6 pts

Census figures show median household income at $71,313 today, compared with $60,466 five years earlier. Census counts show ZIP 21801 in Salisbury, MD losing about 604 residents over the five-year window, down 2.0% on net. The renter share has eased from 45.8% to 41.8%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder.

Community

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Local insights

Tips for renters in ZIP 21801

About renting in ZIP 21801

Last updated: September 25, 2026

ZIP code 21801 covers Salisbury, MD. The median rent here is $1,647/mo as of September 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,030/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,350/mo.

At 28% of local median household income ($71,313/yr), ZIP 21801 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 3.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 21801?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $66,000/year (about $32/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,647/mo in ZIP 21801. The local median household income is $71,313/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 21801?

Rent in ZIP 21801 has risen 3.4% over the past year.

How does ZIP 21801 compare to other ZIPs in Maryland?

ZIP 21801 is one of the more affordable among Maryland ZIP codes for rent, ranking #113 of 142 at $1,647/mo. Over the year to August 2026, rent in ZIP 21801 changed +3.4%, against a typical +2.3% across the 124 Maryland ZIP codes Zillow tracks.