Real Estate Investing in Dayton, Maryland (21036)

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

Howard County • Population: 2,162 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 21036 (Dayton, MD)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (64/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 35.7 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Dayton, MD (21036)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $1,037,611
Avg Monthly Rent $2,421
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $185,195
% Renters 4.3%

Market Analysis: 21036 Dayton

Investors eyeing 21036 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $1.0M come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

On balance, the numbers look inviting — $1.0M purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 21036 is substantial and deserves full respect.

The gap between 21036 and stronger Dayton ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

The 21036 ZIP's population of 2,162 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that reflects the need for careful underwriting.

The right play in 21036 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Dayton:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,421/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.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
35 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.9%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$1.1M$974K$875K$776K$677K$578KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 21036 Compare?

Metric 21036 Dayton Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Maryland
Home Value $1,037,611 $1,037,611 N/A $424,997
5-Year CAGR 5.1% 5.1% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $2,421 $2,421 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.8% 1.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 21036? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 21036 (Dayton, MD). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Howard County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Advanced Property Management, Inc. offers residential property management services for condos, townhomes, and single-family homes with no upfront fees or binding contracts. summary from their website

Single-familySmall multifamily
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

American Community Management provides community association management and HOA services across Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. summary from their website

HOA
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Iko Community Management provides HOA and community association management services in Columbia, MD and Suburban Maryland. summary from their website

HOA
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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.1%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $1,037,611
Monthly Rent $2,421
Price-to-Rent 35.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.8%
Cap Rate 1.8%
5-Year IRR 6.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.8%). 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
4.2%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 21036

Population: 2,162

💰 Median Household Income
$185,195
This area
$185,195
State
$107,932
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
4.3%
This area
4.3%
State
23.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.0%
This area
5.0%
State
-20.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
66.4%
This area
66.4%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
47.6 years
This area
47.6 years
State
1.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.2%
This area
4.2%
State
11.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 84.5%
Other/Mixed 7.8%
Hispanic/Latino 5.0%
Asian 4.2%
Black/African American 3.4%
👶 Under 18
19.3%
This area
19.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
25.8%
This area
25.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.2%
This area
2.2%
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 21036

A+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
13.4:1 Avg Class Size
$20,893 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Dayton Oaks Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
764 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$20,893 Per Student

Nearby Schools (1 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

Glenelg High

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 14025 Burnt Woods Rd, Glenelg
👥
1,367 Students
👨‍🏫
16.5:1 Class Size
💰
$20,893 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

8 Nearby 5,730 Off-Campus Students
C
Howard Community College
8,540 students · 6.8 mi
D
Maryland University of Integrative Health
646 students · 7.7 mi
C
Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia
1,075 students · 9.8 mi
D
Paul Mitchell the School-Jessup
125 students · 12.4 mi
C+
Montgomery College
17,780 students · 12.6 mi
C
Omega Studios' School of Applied Recording Arts & Sciences
74 students · 13.2 mi
C+
Yeshiva College of the Nations Capital
57 students · 13.3 mi
C
Aspen Beauty Academy of Laurel
118 students · 13.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 5,730 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dayton, MD better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

For Dayton, MD, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

How much do tenants pay in Dayton, MD?

Rent in Dayton, MD is around $2,421/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $1.0M pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

Is Dayton, MD a friendly market for rental owners?

Dayton, MD falls under MD landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

What is the renter demographic in Dayton, MD?

Dayton, MD offers a consistent renter base at the $2,421/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

Do rentals sit vacant long in Dayton, MD?

Expect elevated vacancy in Dayton, MD. Rents at $2,421/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

You know 21036 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 21036 ranks in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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