New rental data shows Maryland rents are easing, but high median costs and tight vacancy rates keep housing affordability front and center.
For three straight legislative sessions, Maryland lawmakers have made affordable housing a top priority. New data from Apartment List suggests those efforts are unfolding against a slightly improving rental market, with rents in Maryland and its major metros beginning to ease on a year-over-year basis. Still, the broader picture remains mixed: rents are down compared with last year, but Maryland continues to be one of the more expensive states in the region.
Month-over-month rent growth for 2026 remained modest:
- Nationally: Up 0.5 percent
- Maryland: Up 0.4 percent
- Baltimore Metro: Up 0.5 percent
- DC Metro: Up 0.5 percent
Between March and April, rents increased slightly across the board, largely in line with national trends. That is not unusual as the market moves into the busy summer moving season, when demand typically picks up.
Year-over-year rent growth tells a more encouraging story:
- Nationally: Down 1.7 percent
- Maryland: Down 1.2 percent
- Baltimore Metro: Down 0.8 percent
- DC Metro: Down 2.4 percent
The Washington, DC metro area saw the largest decline, outpacing both Maryland and the national average. The Baltimore metro also saw rents fall, though not as sharply. Statewide, Maryland rents are down year over year, signaling some relief for renters, even if the drop trails the national decline.
Median rent remains the biggest challenge:
- Nationally: $1,370
- Maryland: $1,811
- Baltimore Metro: $1,756
- DC Metro: $2,147
Despite recent rent declines, Maryland remains a high-cost housing state. Median rents statewide and in both major metros remain well above the national median. Compared with nearby jurisdictions, Maryland is also on the higher end, behind only Washington, DC at $2089. Delaware sits at $1,519, Pennsylvania at $1,304, Virginia at $1,776, and West Virginia at $969.
Vacancy rates also show a tighter market in Maryland:
- Nationally: 7.3 percent
- Maryland: 5.7 percent
- Baltimore Metro: 5.5 percent
- DC Metro: 6.8 percent
Maryland’s multifamily vacancy rate is below the national average, as are the rates in the Baltimore and DC metros. While lower vacancy can reflect demand and market strength, it also points to tighter housing availability, a key challenge for residents looking for affordable options.
Median time on the market offers a mixed picture:
- Nationally: 34.7 days
- Maryland: 30.3 days
- Baltimore Metro: 30.7 days
- DC Metro: 40.3 days
Statewide and in the Baltimore metro, rentals are moving faster than the national average, suggesting continued competition for available units. The DC metro is the exception, with units staying on the market for nearly a week longer than the national average.
Overall, the data points to cautious progress. Rents are easing compared with last year, but Maryland’s high median rent and relatively tight vacancy rates show why housing affordability remains front and center for state and local policymakers.
