Real Estate Investing in Catonsville, Maryland (21228)
Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.
Should you buy in 21228 (Catonsville, MD)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.
Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.
A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.
No major risk flags on the data we track.
What’s happening in Catonsville, MD (21228)?
Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.
Market Analysis: 21228 Catonsville
From a cash-flow lens, ZIP 21228 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $433K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.
The 21228 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.
In practical terms, 21228 offers a low basis, the region around Catonsville has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.
The demographic picture in 21228 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Catonsville averages, and tenant stability requires active management.
trends toward 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.
Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Catonsville:
Property Strategy for 21228
Which property type performs best in this market?
📊 Compare All Property Types →
| Type | Median Value | Est. Rent | Cap Rate | 5yr CAGR | $/Bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2BR | $301,959 | $1,770 | 4.2% | +5.7% | $150,979 |
| 3BR | $387,362 | $2,280 | 4.2% | +5.4% | $129,121 |
| 4BR | $502,512 | $2,550 | 3.7% | +5.1% | $125,628 |
| 5BR | $605,737 | — | — | +5.1% | $121,147 |
Market Trends
Home Value History (with trend line)
Rent History (with trend line)
📊 How Does 21228 Compare?
| Metric | 21228 | Catonsville | Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | Maryland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Value | $432,805 | $432,805 | N/A | $424,997 |
| 5-Year CAGR | 3.4% | 3.4% | N/A | 4.9% |
| Avg Rent | $1,696 | $1,696 | N/A | - |
| Cap Rate | 3.1% | 3.1% | - | - |
Similar ZIPs Within 25 Miles
Compare other nearby markets to see if a neighbor offers a better fit.
Landlord Ground Truth
Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 21228 (Catonsville, MD). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.
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Property managers serving Baltimore County
Manage rentals here? List your business →American Community Management provides community association management and HOA services across Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. summary from their website
Melan Property Management delivers proactive property management solutions for multifamily and commercial real estate across Maryland, Washington D.C., and Miami. summary from their website
Tidewater Property Management, Inc. is a family-owned company in the Mid-Atlantic providing full-service HOA, condo, and rental property management for single-family and multifamily properties. summary from their website
Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.
📊 Market Snapshot
| Home Value | $432,805 |
| Monthly Rent | $1,696 |
| Price-to-Rent | 21.3:1 |
| 1% Rule | ✗ Fails |
💰 Return Metrics
| Gross Yield | 4.7% |
| Cap Rate | 3.1% |
| 5-Year IRR | 6.5% |
📈 Home Appreciation
| 1-Year | +3.6% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +2.8% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +3.4% ▲ |
| 10-Year CAGR | +4.0% ▲ |
🏠 Rent Trends
| 1-Year | +2.3% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +0.6% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +2.0% ▲ |
The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.1%). 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.
Demographics in 21228
Population: 49,417
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 21228
Schools in This ZIP Code
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
Investor Insight: With 4,192 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Catonsville, MD a good market for buy-and-hold investors?
Our data puts Catonsville, MD at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $433K and rents around $1,696/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.
What are rental rates like in Catonsville, MD?
Average rent in Catonsville, MD is approximately $1,696/mo per month. Against $433K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.
How strong is tenant demand in Catonsville, MD?
Working renters make up the core of the Catonsville, MD tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.
Is vacancy a concern in Catonsville, MD?
Rental vacancy in Catonsville, MD is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.
Can I live-in-and-rent in Catonsville, MD?
House hacking in Catonsville, MD is a challenging. With home values around $433K and rents at $1,696/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.
You know 21228 now. You don’t know where it ranks.
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How 21228 ranks in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.
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Community Ratings
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