Real Estate Investing in Madison, Maryland (21648)

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

Dorchester County • Population: 104 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 21648 (Madison, MD)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (47/100)

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

📈 For Investors
WEAK
2.0 / 5 (33/100)

Structural challenges here. The numbers may look cheap but operational risk is high. Only for experienced, hands-on investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 15.6% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Madison, MD (21648)?

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2.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

0.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $297,064
Avg Monthly Rent $1,341
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $137,500
% Renters 7.9%

Market Analysis: 21648 Madison

ZIP 21648 in Madison, MD carries a impressive set of headwinds. Home values near $297K and rents of $1,341/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Stepping back, the numbers look inviting — $297K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 21648 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Regionally, 21648 sits on the difficult end of the MD spectrum. The a solid fit for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Demographically, 21648 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. solid returns are possible in 21648, 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 Madison:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 71/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,341/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
Cambridge, MD Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.5%
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 Cambridge, MD metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$307K$297K$288K$278K$269K$259KFeb 2022May 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 21648 Compare?

Metric 21648 Madison Cambridge, MD Maryland
Home Value $297,064 $297,064 N/A $424,997
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,341 $1,341 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.5% 3.5% - -
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 21648 (Madison, MD). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
3.5%
Low

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Cambridge, MD metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
65%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $297,064
Monthly Rent $1,341
Price-to-Rent 18.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.4%
Cap Rate 3.5%
5-Year IRR 6.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.5%). 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
15.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
N/A
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 21648

Population: 104

💰 Median Household Income
$137,500
This area
$137,500
State
$107,932
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
7.9%
This area
7.9%
State
23.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
-20.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
17.9%
This area
17.9%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
48.2 years
This area
48.2 years
State
1.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.6%
This area
15.6%
State
11.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 90.6%
Asian 6.6%
Black/African American 2.2%
Hispanic/Latino 0.6%
Other/Mixed 0.6%
👶 Under 18
11.0%
This area
11.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.0%
This area
21.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.5%
This area
8.5%
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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical rental rate in Madison, MD?

Madison, MD rentals go for roughly $1,341/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $297K acquisition costs.

Is Madison, MD landlord-friendly?

Madison, MD operates under MD law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect consistent treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

How tight is the rental market in Madison, MD?

Occupancy in Madison, MD runs predictable with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $1,341/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

Are renters plentiful in Madison, MD?

Tenant demand in Madison, MD is solid. The local workforce $1,341/mo rents across most rental classes.

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

With a 2.0/5 investability score, Madison, MD ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $297K and rents of $1,341/mo drive the underlying numbers.

You know 21648 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 21648 ranks in Cambridge, MD

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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