Real Estate Investing in Frederick, Maryland (21704)

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

Frederick County • Population: 19,623 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 21704 (Frederick, MD)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (69/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Frederick, MD (21704)?

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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 $656,191
Avg Monthly Rent $3,031
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $162,437
% Renters 20.2%

Market Analysis: 21704 Frederick

The 21704 ZIP in Frederick, MD is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $656K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 21704 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

The gap between 21704 and stronger Frederick ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Who lives in 21704 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

The right play in 21704 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Frederick:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 67/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $3,031/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.
🏠

Property Strategy for 21704

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+8.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$176,514/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
3BR $546,438 $3,620 4.8% +7.0% $182,146
4BR $706,055 $4,260 4.3% +7.4% $176,514
5BR $922,079 +8.0% $184,416

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$688K$619K$550K$481K$412K$343KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$3,102$2,898$2,694$2,491$2,287$2,083Jan 2023Oct 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 21704 Compare?

Metric 21704 Frederick Maryland
Home Value $656,191 $397,349 $424,997
5-Year CAGR 3.8% 4.0% 4.9%
Avg Rent $3,031 $2,391 -
Cap Rate 3.6% 3.8% -
💡 Why Invest in 21704? 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 21704 (Frederick, MD). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.8%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $656,191
Monthly Rent $3,031
Price-to-Rent 18.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.5%
Cap Rate 3.6%
5-Year IRR 7.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +15.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +8.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.6%). 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
1.7%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 21704

Population: 19,623

💰 Median Household Income
$162,437
This area
$162,437
State
$107,932
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
20.2%
This area
20.2%
State
23.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.7%
This area
2.7%
State
-20.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
58.6%
This area
58.6%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.4 years
This area
37.4 years
State
1.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
1.7%
This area
1.7%
State
11.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 59.5%
Asian 14.5%
Other/Mixed 14.4%
Black/African American 11.6%
Hispanic/Latino 9.2%
👶 Under 18
33.3%
This area
33.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
9.5%
This area
9.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
1.4%
This area
1.4%
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 21704

B+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
16.4:1 Avg Class Size
$16,833 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Centerville Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
468 Students
👨‍🏫
15.5:1 Class Size
💰
$16,833 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Urbana Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
703 Students
👨‍🏫
16.9:1 Class Size
💰
$16,833 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Sugarloaf Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
842 Students
👨‍🏫
16.8:1 Class Size
💰
$16,833 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

3 Nearby 767 Off-Campus Students
C+
The Temple-A Paul Mitchell Partner School
167 students · 4.9 mi
C
Hood College
2,078 students · 5.4 mi
C
Frederick Community College
6,796 students · 7.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 767 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Frederick, MD?

Frederick, MD is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $656K price point reasonable to enter.

Is the tenant base reliable in Frederick, MD?

Frederick, MD draws a even-keeled base of working renters. Demand at the $3,031/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

What is the average monthly rent in Frederick, MD?

Rental rates in Frederick, MD average $3,031/mo. Tenant demand and $656K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

What investment strategy works best in Frederick, MD?

The best-fit strategy in Frederick, MD is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

How do home values compare in Frederick, MD?

Frederick, MD median home values land near $656K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $3,031/mo-per-month rentals.

You know 21704 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 21704 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 21704 ranks in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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