Real Estate Investing in Chester, Maryland (21619)

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

Queen Annes County • Population: 5,905 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 21619 (Chester, MD)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (52/100)

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

📈 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 vacancy: 17.1% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Chester, MD (21619)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $535,618
Avg Monthly Rent $2,267
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $94,815
% Renters 25.7%

Market Analysis: 21619 Chester

ZIP 21619 in Chester, MD carries a sturdy set of headwinds. Home values near $536K and rents of $2,267/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

On the rental side, the numbers look inviting — $536K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 21619 is substantial and deserves full respect.

The gap between 21619 and stronger Chester ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Looking more closely, 5,905 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.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. durable returns are possible in 21619, 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 Chester:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 60/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,267/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 21619

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+7.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$163,285/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $448,788 $2,200 3.5% +7.4% $224,394
3BR $489,855 $2,790 4.1% +6.3% $163,285
4BR $668,782 $3,130 3.4% +7.0% $167,196
5BR $975,954 +7.4% $195,191

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$555K$502K$449K$397K$344K$291KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,272$2,257$2,242$2,227$2,212$2,197May 2026Jun 2026Jun 2026

📊 How Does 21619 Compare?

Metric 21619 Chester Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD Maryland
Home Value $535,618 $535,618 N/A $424,997
5-Year CAGR 4.4% 4.4% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $2,267 $2,267 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.3% 3.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 21619? 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 21619 (Chester, MD). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.4%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $535,618
Monthly Rent $2,267
Price-to-Rent 19.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.1%
Cap Rate 3.3%
5-Year IRR 7.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.3%). 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
17.1%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 21619

Population: 5,905

💰 Median Household Income
$94,815
This area
$94,815
State
$107,932
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
25.7%
This area
25.7%
State
23.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.5%
This area
1.5%
State
-20.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
33.7%
This area
33.7%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
49.6 years
This area
49.6 years
State
1.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
17.1%
This area
17.1%
State
11.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 82.8%
Other/Mixed 8.6%
Black/African American 7.5%
Hispanic/Latino 4.3%
Asian 1.0%
👶 Under 18
17.2%
This area
17.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.7%
This area
22.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.2%
This area
5.2%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

5 Nearby 8,530 Off-Campus Students
C
Chesapeake College
1,980 students · 10.5 mi
A
United States Naval Academy
4,465 students · 11.0 mi
C+
St. John's College
578 students · 11.6 mi
C
Anne Arundel Community College
11,158 students · 14.2 mi
C
The Temple Annapolis-A Paul Mitchell Partner School
221 students · 14.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 8,530 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How high is vacancy risk in Chester, MD?

Chester, MD carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect measured absorption at market rents of $2,267/mo.

Where do home prices stand in Chester, MD?

Chester, MD median home values land near $536K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $2,267/mo-per-month rentals.

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

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

Are landlord laws favorable in Chester, MD?

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

What is the average monthly rent in Chester, MD?

Expect rents around $2,267/mo per month in Chester, MD. With home values at $536K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

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How 21619 ranks in Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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