ZIP Code · MD

ZIP 21804

Part of Salisbury, MD

Pop. 40,430·Wicomico County·113th most expensive ZIP in Maryland

Median rent (all units)

$1,665/mo

Year-over-Year

-0.7%

Month-over-Month

-1.4%

vs US Median

-$267

Reported rents

Falling (Monthly)

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Most AffordableMost Expensive

ZIP 21804 · $1,665

More affordable than 60% of US ZIP codes · National median $1,932/mo

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Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio

$1,140

1 BR

$1,150

2 BR

$1,490

3 BR

$1,970

4 BR+

$1,980

Research median

$1,490/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

May. Asking rents in ZIP 21804 usually run 0.6% below trend in May and 0.5% above it in December, about $18 a month apart at today's median. Based on 5 years of data.

Compared with the peak

Rent in ZIP 21804 is 2.6% below its high of $1,710 in June 2026, at $1,665 as of September 2026.

Past year vs. the rest of Maryland

Rent in ZIP 21804 changed -0.7% over the year to September 2026. Across the 124 Maryland ZIP codes Zillow tracks, the typical change was +2.6%.

Recent direction

Rent has fallen 3 months in a row, and rose in 5 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($73,156) is $1,829 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,490); a 3-bedroom is $1,970.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for ZIP 21804. 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

$19,980/yr

At $1,665/mo median

Location

CitySalisbury

StateMD

CountyWicomico County

Rent Market Meter

Renter's Market

Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market

Rents are softening (down 0.7% YoY), so renters have negotiating leverage.

Based on rent-price momentum (-0.7% YoY, -1.4% MoM), not inventory.

Demographics

Who lives here

ZIP 21804 (Salisbury, MD) is roughly split between renters and owners, skews toward younger working-age adults, 28.2% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population

40,430

Median income

$73,156

Median age

32.6

Renters

48.6%

Age distribution

21.6%

31.3%

22.2%

14.4%

Under 1821.6%

18–3431.3%

35–5422.2%

55–6410.6%

65+14.4%

Gender

49.3%

50.7%

Male49.3%

Female50.7%

Race & ethnicity

55.2%

30.4%

White55.2%

Black30.4%

Hispanic7.9%

Asian3.2%

Other3.3%

Education (25+)

32.7%

29.4%

28.2%

No HS diploma9.7%

HS diploma32.7%

Some college29.4%

Bachelor's+28.2%

Housing tenure

51.4%

48.6%

Owner51.4%

Renter48.6%

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

2022 vs 2026

How ZIP 21804 in Salisbury, MD has changed in 5 years

Rent

$1,367 → $1,665

up 21.8%

Income

$58,900 → $73,156

up 24.2%

Population

38,566 → 40,430

up 4.8%

Renter share

53.2% → 48.6%

-4.6 pts

Bachelor's+

27.8% → 28.2%

+0.4 pts

Median age

31.8 → 32.6

+0.8 yrs

Five years ago, renters in ZIP 21804 in Salisbury, MD paid around $1,367 a month. That figure now sits near $1,665, up 21.8% from the 2022 baseline. Local incomes tracked alongside that move, going from a median of $58,900 in 2021 to $73,156 more recently. Census counts show ZIP 21804 in Salisbury, MD adding about 1,864 residents over the five-year window, up 4.8% on net. The renter share has eased from 53.2% to 48.6%, with owner-occupied housing accounting for the remainder. These shifts give renters and would-be renters a longer baseline for sizing up today's listings against the ZIP 21804 in Salisbury, MD market of 2022.

Community

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Local insights

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About renting in ZIP 21804

Last updated: October 17, 2026

ZIP code 21804 covers Salisbury, MD. The median rent here is $1,665/mo as of October 2026. A 1-bedroom rents for a median of $1,150/mo. A 2-bedroom rents for a median of $1,490/mo.

At 27% of local median household income ($73,156/yr), ZIP 21804 ranks as affordable compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have decreased 0.7% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in ZIP 21804?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $67,000/year (about $32/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $1,665/mo in ZIP 21804. The local median household income is $73,156/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in ZIP 21804?

Rent in ZIP 21804 has fallen 0.7% over the past year as of September 2026. It sits 2.6% below its high of $1,710 in June 2026.

When is the cheapest time to rent in ZIP 21804?

Asking rents in ZIP 21804 are usually lowest in May, about 0.6% below their yearly trend, and highest in December, about 0.5% above it. At today's median that is a gap of roughly $18 a month. This pattern comes from 5 years of Zillow rent data.

How does ZIP 21804 compare to other ZIPs in Maryland?

ZIP 21804 is one of the more affordable among Maryland ZIP codes for rent, ranking #113 of 140 at $1,665/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in ZIP 21804 changed -0.7%, against a typical +2.6% across the 124 Maryland ZIP codes Zillow tracks.