Which Maryland county has the highest rent-to-price ratio?

Baltimore city, at 0.87%: a 2-bedroom rent of $2,006 against a median home value of $229,600. It's a rough comparison, and a high ratio can come with slower growth or weaker demand, so check the other columns too.

Where have Maryland home prices grown fastest?

Worcester County, at an average of +10.2% a year over five years, on the FHFA House Price Index. Past growth doesn't predict future growth.

Where is the Maryland population growing fastest?

Frederick County, at +2.7% a year, comparing two Census releases five years apart. These are estimates, and they're less exact for small places.

How does Maryland compare with the rest of the US?

Among counties of 50,000 people or more, the median rent-to-price is 0.49% in Maryland and 0.52% nationwide. The ratio is the 2-bedroom rent as a percent of the median home value.

Are home prices going up in Maryland?

Home prices in Maryland rose 32% over the 5 years to Q2 2026. In the latest year (to Q2 2026) they rose 2%. These figures come from the FHFA House Price Index for Maryland (state level), which tracks repeat sales and refinance appraisals of the same homes. It shows the trend for the area, not what any one home is worth.

Maryland real estate markets

Compare 24 Maryland counties by rent, home prices and property tax, using public government data. Among counties of 50,000 people or more, the median rent-to-price is 0.49% in Maryland and 0.52% nationwide.

Where the numbers stand out

Highest rent-to-price: 0.87%; Baltimore city
Fastest price growth, 5-yr average: +10.2% a year; Worcester County
Lowest property tax: 0.65%; Talbot County
Lowest median home value: $154,900; Allegany County
Fastest population growth: +2.7% a year; Frederick County
Lowest unemployment: 3.1%; Carroll County

24 counties · Swipe the table to see every column

US counties ranked by the column you choose. Column headers sort the table.
Market
Baltimore city, MDBaltimore rents · Run a deal	0.87%	+2.6%	+5.5%	$229,600	$2,006	1.46%	573,243
Somerset County, MDWestover rents · Run a deal	0.66%	+7.6%	+8.8%	$173,200	$1,144	0.92%	24,822
Allegany County, MDCumberland rents · Run a deal	0.65%	+3.3%	+7.7%	$154,900	$1,014	1.06%	67,452
Prince George's County, MDBowie rents · Run a deal	0.57%	+2.8%	+6.6%	$426,000	$2,438	1.12%	959,754
Baltimore County, MDTowson rents · Run a deal	0.57%	+2.9%	+6.8%	$349,300	$2,006	1.07%	850,796
Charles County, MDWaldorf rents · Run a deal	0.57%	+1.6%	+6.9%	$428,500	$2,438	1.01%	170,527
Wicomico County, MDSalisbury rents · Run a deal	0.56%	+5.7%	+9.6%	$254,700	$1,428	0.85%	104,914
Cecil County, MDElkton rents · Run a deal	0.54%	+6.4%	+8.5%	$343,400	$1,860	0.89%	104,960
Frederick County, MDFrederick rents · Run a deal	0.52%	+0.9%	+7.7%	$464,600	$2,438	0.99%	287,048
Harford County, MDBel Air rents · Run a deal	0.52%	+3.7%	+7.6%	$386,400	$2,006	0.89%	263,757
Carroll County, MDWestminster rents · Run a deal	0.46%	+1.7%	+7.2%	$434,000	$2,006	0.91%	175,321
Caroline County, MDMaryland rents · Run a deal	0.46%	+3.9%	+8.1%	$290,100	$1,320	0.90%	33,669
St. Mary's County, MDMaryland rents · Run a deal	0.44%	+6.1%	+7.4%	$407,600	$1,787	0.84%	115,126
Dorchester County, MDMaryland rents · Run a deal	0.44%	+2.8%	+9.7%	$262,400	$1,159	0.94%	32,754
Anne Arundel County, MDAnnapolis rents · Run a deal	0.43%	+3.4%	+6.9%	$467,900	$2,006	0.85%	598,166
Washington County, MDHagerstown rents · Run a deal	0.43%	+3.3%	+8.6%	$296,100	$1,284	0.84%	155,709
Queen Anne's County, MDMaryland rents · Run a deal	0.43%	-0.1%	+7.2%	$462,700	$2,006	0.78%	51,825
Garrett County, MDMaryland rents · Run a deal	0.43%	+2.4%	+9.9%	$235,300	$1,014	0.78%	28,615
Calvert County, MDMaryland rents · Run a deal	0.41%	+4.0%	+6.7%	$460,200	$1,890	0.84%	94,313
Montgomery County, MDSilver Spring rents · Run a deal	0.38%	+1.3%	+6.2%	$640,300	$2,438	0.87%	1,065,949
Kent County, MDChestertown rents · Run a deal	0.38%	+4.9%	+9.2%	$330,900	$1,241	0.91%	19,346
Talbot County, MDMaryland rents · Run a deal	0.35%	+3.1%	+7.9%	$409,700	$1,421	0.65%	37,917
Howard County, MDMaryland rents · Run a deal	0.34%	+2.0%	+6.9%	$597,900	$2,006	1.17%	336,328
Worcester County, MDOcean City rents · Run a deal	0.32%	+2.6%	+10.2%	$374,700	$1,184	0.73%	53,700

Home prices

Home prices in Maryland rose 32% over the 5 years to Q2 2026.

1 year: +2%
5 years: +32%
10 years: +64%

From the FHFA House Price Index for Maryland (state level), updated Mar 31, 2026. It tracks repeat sales and refinance appraisals of the same homes, so it shows the area's trend, not what any one home is worth. See what local prices suggest your rental is worth.

Keep looking

How to read this

Use this to shortlist, not to decide. These are county-wide figures, and a single county can hold very different neighborhoods. Check a real deal with the rental cash flow calculator.

Rent-to-price is the 2-bedroom rent as a percent of the median home value. It's a rough comparison between counties. The two figures describe different homes, and the home value lags current prices, so it can look better than today's market in places where prices rose quickly.

2-bed rent is HUD's Fair Market Rent (fiscal year from Oct 1, 2026): the 40th percentile for recent movers, including utilities. HUD often uses one figure across a whole metro area, so neighboring counties can match.

Home value and population are Census American Community Survey 5-year estimates through 2024. Home values are what owners report. Counties under 10,000 people aren't listed.

Prices are the FHFA House Price Index through 2025: the latest year's change, and the average yearly change over five years. FHFA calls its county index developmental, and it doesn't cover every county.

Property tax is median taxes paid divided by median home value, from the Census. It reflects what current owners pay. An investor buying today can pay more where assessments are capped for homeowners, as in Florida and California.

People and jobs: income, vacant homes (seasonal homes count as vacant, which can look high in vacation areas) and renters are Census 5-year estimates. Population growth compares two Census releases five years apart. Rent ÷ income is a year of the 2-bedroom rent as a percent of median household income. Unemployment is the Bureau of Labor Statistics yearly average for 2025.

See all data sources

Frequently asked questions

Which Maryland county has the highest rent-to-price ratio?: Baltimore city, at 0.87%: a 2-bedroom rent of $2,006 against a median home value of $229,600. It's a rough comparison, and a high ratio can come with slower growth or weaker demand, so check the other columns too.
Where have Maryland home prices grown fastest?: Worcester County, at an average of +10.2% a year over five years, on the FHFA House Price Index. Past growth doesn't predict future growth.
Which Maryland county has the lowest property tax?: Talbot County, at about 0.65% of home value, based on what current owners pay. An investor buying today can pay more where assessments are capped for homeowners.
Where is the Maryland population growing fastest?: Frederick County, at +2.7% a year, comparing two Census releases five years apart. These are estimates, and they're less exact for small places.
How does Maryland compare with the rest of the US?: Among counties of 50,000 people or more, the median rent-to-price is 0.49% in Maryland and 0.52% nationwide. The ratio is the 2-bedroom rent as a percent of the median home value.
Are home prices going up in Maryland?: Home prices in Maryland rose 32% over the 5 years to Q2 2026. In the latest year (to Q2 2026) they rose 2%. These figures come from the FHFA House Price Index for Maryland (state level), which tracks repeat sales and refinance appraisals of the same homes. It shows the trend for the area, not what any one home is worth.