Real Estate Investing in Baltimore, Maryland (21202)

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

Baltimore City • Population: 21,506 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 21202 (Baltimore, MD)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (49/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (57/100)

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
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 17.0% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Declining values: -0.3% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • 1-year downturn: Values declined 3.7% in the last year.

What’s happening in Baltimore, MD (21202)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $180,583
Avg Monthly Rent $1,766
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $59,098
% Renters 77.1%

Market Analysis: 21202 Baltimore

The 21202 ZIP covers a section of Baltimore that demands careful diligence. Prices near $181K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

Rent of $1,766/mo on a $181K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 21202 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

ZIP 21202's metrics run below Baltimore City's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Who lives in 21202 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. solid returns are possible in 21202, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Baltimore:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 61/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
5/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.1× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-3.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,766/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
🏠

Property Strategy for 21202

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
8.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+3.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$67,483/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $161,701 $1,780 7.9% +1.6% $161,701
2BR $254,408 $2,190 6.2% +0.8% $127,204
3BR $248,498 $2,780 8.1% +3.9% $82,833
4BR $269,931 $3,080 8.2% +2.6% $67,483

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$201K$182K$163K$144K$125K$106KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,796$1,710$1,623$1,536$1,449$1,362Jul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 21202 Compare?

Metric 21202 Baltimore Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Maryland
Home Value $180,583 $181,225 N/A $424,997
5-Year CAGR N/A 1.8% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,766 $1,757 N/A -
Cap Rate 7.6% 7.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 21202? Click to expand

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

77% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 21202 (Baltimore, MD). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Baltimore City County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Real Property Management Reliable Solutions is a property management company serving Baltimore, MD. summary from their website

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RPR Property Management, LLC provides property management services for rental properties. summary from their website

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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
7.6%
Good
5yr Growth
-0.3%
Declining

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $180,583
Monthly Rent $1,766
Price-to-Rent 8.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 11.7%
Cap Rate 7.6%
5-Year IRR 7.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -3.7% ▼
3-Year CAGR -1.4% ▼
5-Year CAGR -0.3% ▼
10-Year CAGR +1.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +0.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +1.5% ▲
Neutral Leverage Cap Rate: 7.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage is roughly neutral here.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) is close to the estimated cap rate (7.6%). Financing this market at current rates produces a cash-on-cash return near the cap rate. Appreciation and tax benefits may still support the investment.

⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
17.0%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
-0.3%
Flat
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 21202

Population: 21,506

💰 Median Household Income
$59,098
This area
$59,098
State
$107,932
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
77.1%
This area
77.1%
State
23.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.4%
This area
3.4%
State
-20.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
47.1%
This area
47.1%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
33.3 years
This area
33.3 years
State
1.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
17.0%
This area
17.0%
State
11.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 53.6%
White 34.5%
Other/Mixed 6.5%
Asian 5.3%
Hispanic/Latino 3.9%
👶 Under 18
9.6%
This area
9.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
9.3%
This area
9.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
17.2%
This area
17.2%
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 21202

A Avg School Grade
4 Schools
14.0:1 Avg Class Size
$23,862 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Baltimore Design School

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
504 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A Very Good

Johnston Square Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
244 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Eager Street Academy

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
59 Students
👨‍🏫
6.6:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Baltimore Montessori Public Charter School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School Charter
👥
585 Students
👨‍🏫
18.9:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Commodore John Rodgers Elementary/Middle

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 100 N Chester Street, Baltimore
👥
756 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Baltimore Leadership School for Young Women

📚 06 – 12 High School Charter
📍 128 W Franklin Street, Baltimore
👥
470 Students
👨‍🏫
11.2:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Charles Carroll Barrister Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1327 Washington Boulevard, Baltimore
👥
287 Students
👨‍🏫
10.6:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A+ Excellent

City Springs Elementary/Middle

📚 Pre-K – 08 School Charter
📍 100 S Caroline Street, Baltimore
👥
437 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Margaret Brent Elementary/Middle

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 100 E 26th Street, Baltimore
👥
237 Students
👨‍🏫
11.0:1 Class Size
💰
$23,862 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 1,680 Off-Campus Students
C
Baltimore Studio of Hair Design
39 students · 0.7 mi
D
University System of Maryland-Research Centers
0 students · 0.8 mi
D
University System of Maryland
0 students · 0.8 mi
C
University of Baltimore
3,101 students · 0.8 mi
C+
Maryland Institute College of Art
1,861 students · 1.1 mi
C+
University of Maryland, Baltimore
6,667 students · 1.1 mi
C
Holistic Massage Training Institute
28 students · 1.8 mi
A
Johns Hopkins University
30,362 students · 2.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,680 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do home prices stand in Baltimore, MD?

Baltimore, MD home values average about $181K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $1,766/mo in monthly income.

Does Baltimore, MD favor landlords or tenants?

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

What is the average monthly rent in Baltimore, MD?

Rent in Baltimore, MD is around $1,766/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $181K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

Is Baltimore, MD a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

Investors tracking Baltimore, MD will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $181K median home values and $1,766/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting stable returns.

What is the typical renter like in Baltimore, MD?

Baltimore, MD offers a steady renter base at the $1,766/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

You know 21202 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 21202 ranks in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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