Real Estate Investing in Barton, Maryland (21521)

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

Garrett County • Population: 1,521 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 21521 (Barton, MD)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (81/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

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

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

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 11.0% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

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

What’s happening in Barton, MD (21521)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $122,153
Avg Monthly Rent $972
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $59,792
% Renters 11.7%

Market Analysis: 21521 Barton

Investors eyeing 21521 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $122K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

For an experienced owner, 21521 can be a worth a close look for hunting ground — but the discount at $122K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Within MD, ZIP 21521 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Garrett County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and sturdy enough to shape underwriting.

Resident income in 21521 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

New investors are better served looking at Barton's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 21521. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Barton:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 75/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+9.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $972/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Cumberland, MD-WV Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
10.0%
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 Cumberland, MD-WV metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$128K$112K$96K$80K$65K$49KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 21521 Compare?

Metric 21521 Barton Cumberland, MD-WV Maryland
Home Value $122,153 $122,153 N/A $424,997
5-Year CAGR 6.8% 6.8% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $972 $972 N/A -
Cap Rate 6.2% 6.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 21521? 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 21521 (Barton, MD). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
6.2%
Good
5yr Growth
+6.8%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $122,153
Monthly Rent $972
Price-to-Rent 10.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 9.6%
Cap Rate 6.2%
5-Year IRR 13.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +9.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +8.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 6.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (6.2%). 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
11.0%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.8%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 21521

Population: 1,521

💰 Median Household Income
$59,792
This area
$59,792
State
$107,932
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
11.7%
This area
11.7%
State
23.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
6.3%
This area
6.3%
State
-20.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
9.9%
This area
9.9%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
53.9 years
This area
53.9 years
State
1.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
11.0%
This area
11.0%
State
11.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 99.4%
Other/Mixed 0.6%
Hispanic/Latino 0.4%
👶 Under 18
14.2%
This area
14.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
28.0%
This area
28.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.8%
This area
5.8%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

3 Nearby 281 Off-Campus Students
C
Potomac State College of West Virginia University
1,143 students · 8.5 mi
B
Mineral County Vocational Technical Center
14 students · 9.1 mi
C+
Frostburg State University
4,075 students · 9.2 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do home prices stand in Barton, MD?

Barton, MD home values average about $122K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $972/mo in monthly income.

What type of investing works in Barton, MD?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Barton, MD. With home values at $122K and rents near $972/mo, other strategies can work but produce stable rather than outsized returns.

What kind of tenants rent in Barton, MD?

Barton, MD offers a predictable renter base at the $972/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

Is Barton in MD worth investing in?

Our data puts Barton, MD at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $122K and rents around $972/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

Does house hacking make sense in Barton, MD?

House hacking in Barton, MD is reasonable to execute. Prices around $122K and rents of $972/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

You know 21521 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 21521 ranks in Cumberland, MD-WV

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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