Real Estate Investing in Waldorf, Maryland (20602)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Charles County • Population: 29,425 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 20602 (Waldorf, MD)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (73/100)

Solid choice — stable market with a reasonable entry point and good rental backup if you ever need to move.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Waldorf, MD (20602)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $391,554
Avg Monthly Rent $2,472
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $102,536
% Renters 34.5%

Market Analysis: 20602 Waldorf

Put differently, ZIP 20602 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $392K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 20602 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Regionally, 20602 sits on the difficult end of the MD spectrum. The worth a close look for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

From a cash-flow lens, 29,425 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

appears to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Waldorf:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.8× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,472/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
🏠

Property Strategy for 20602

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
5.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+6.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$100,349/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $338,495 $2,090 4.4% +6.6% $169,247
3BR $366,471 $2,640 5.2% +6.1% $122,157
4BR $434,828 $3,100 5.1% +5.0% $108,707
5BR $501,743 +5.1% $100,349

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$412K$364K$316K$267K$219K$171KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,671$2,610$2,549$2,488$2,427$2,366Sep 2025Mar 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 20602 Compare?

Metric 20602 Waldorf Maryland
Home Value $391,554 $448,671 $424,997
5-Year CAGR 2.5% 2.3% 4.9%
Avg Rent $2,472 $2,596 -
Cap Rate 4.9% 4.5% -
💡 Why Invest in 20602? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 20602 (Waldorf, MD). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.9%
Fair
5yr Growth
+2.5%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $391,554
Monthly Rent $2,472
Price-to-Rent 13.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.6%
Cap Rate 4.9%
5-Year IRR 7.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.4% ▼
3-Year CAGR +1.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.9%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
3.2%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 20602

Population: 29,425

💰 Median Household Income
$102,536
This area
$102,536
State
$107,932
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
34.5%
This area
34.5%
State
23.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.6%
This area
4.6%
State
-20.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
27.9%
This area
27.9%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
34.9 years
This area
34.9 years
State
1.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.2%
This area
3.2%
State
11.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 64.2%
White 22.5%
Other/Mixed 11.3%
Hispanic/Latino 4.1%
Asian 2.0%
👶 Under 18
23.9%
This area
23.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
11.3%
This area
11.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.2%
This area
6.2%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 20602

A Avg School Grade
7 Schools
15.8:1 Avg Class Size
$19,839 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Dr. Gustavus Brown Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
416 Students
👨‍🏫
12.7:1 Class Size
💰
$19,839 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
524 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$19,839 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Eva Turner Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
465 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$19,839 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Mary B. Neal Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
589 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$19,839 Per Student
A Very Good

Arthur Middleton Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
696 Students
👨‍🏫
17.2:1 Class Size
💰
$19,839 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Benjamin Stoddert Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
919 Students
👨‍🏫
21.4:1 Class Size
💰
$19,839 Per Student
B Good

St. Charles High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,598 Students
👨‍🏫
18.1:1 Class Size
💰
$19,839 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby 1,330 Off-Campus Students
C
College of Southern Maryland
4,984 students · 6.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,330 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a house cost in Waldorf, MD?

In Waldorf, MD the median home value sits at $392K. Against the broader MD market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

How does Waldorf, MD rate as a rental market?

Waldorf, MD rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $392K and rents near $2,472/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

Does Waldorf, MD favor landlords or tenants?

Rental owners in Waldorf, MD deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

Does house hacking work in Waldorf, MD?

House hacking in Waldorf, MD is reasonable to execute. Prices around $392K and rents of $2,472/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

Is the tenant base reliable in Waldorf, MD?

Tenant demand in Waldorf, MD is solid. The local workforce $2,472/mo rents across most rental classes.

You know 20602 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 20602 ranks in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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