Real Estate Investing in Salisbury, Maryland (21801)

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

Wicomico County • Population: 30,063 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 21801 (Salisbury, MD)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (75/100)

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

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

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 Salisbury, MD (21801)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $293,662
Avg Monthly Rent $1,529
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $65,750
% Renters 44.7%

Market Analysis: 21801 Salisbury

The 21801 ZIP covers a section of Salisbury that demands careful diligence. Prices near $294K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 21801 shows the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Statewide comparisons place 21801 among MD's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Demographically, 21801 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. impressive returns are possible in 21801, 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 Salisbury:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 75/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,529/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Salisbury, MD-DE Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
76 days
Average time to sell
Slow
9.0%
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 Salisbury, MD-DE metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 21801

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+9.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$86,369/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $172,737 $1,350 5.6% +9.6% $86,369
3BR $279,791 $1,780 4.6% +8.9% $93,264
4BR $383,814 $1,780 3.3% +8.2% $95,954
5BR $469,728 +7.7% $93,946

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$308K$275K$241K$208K$174K$140KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,747$1,692$1,637$1,581$1,526$1,470Jan 2025Oct 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 21801 Compare?

Metric 21801 Salisbury Salisbury, MD-DE Maryland
Home Value $293,662 $136,290 N/A $424,997
5-Year CAGR 5.5% 5.3% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,529 $1,569 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.1% 4.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 21801? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 45% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 21801 (Salisbury, MD). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.1%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.5%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $293,662
Monthly Rent $1,529
Price-to-Rent 16.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.3%
Cap Rate 4.1%
5-Year IRR 9.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -6.4% ▼
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.1%). 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
7.5%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 21801

Population: 30,063

💰 Median Household Income
$65,750
This area
$65,750
State
$107,932
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
44.7%
This area
44.7%
State
23.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.9%
This area
3.9%
State
-20.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
33.3%
This area
33.3%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.2 years
This area
37.2 years
State
1.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.5%
This area
7.5%
State
11.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 54.7%
Black/African American 33.7%
Other/Mixed 8.7%
Hispanic/Latino 5.3%
Asian 2.8%
👶 Under 18
23.6%
This area
23.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.4%
This area
17.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.0%
This area
9.0%
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 21801

A+ Avg School Grade
6 Schools
12.0:1 Avg Class Size
$20,295 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Charles H. Chipman Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 01 Elementary
👥
303 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
💰
$20,295 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Salisbury Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
869 Students
👨‍🏫
9.8:1 Class Size
💰
$20,295 Per Student
A+ Excellent

North Salisbury Elementary

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
520 Students
👨‍🏫
12.1:1 Class Size
💰
$20,295 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Pemberton Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
503 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$20,295 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Pinehurst Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
542 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$20,295 Per Student
A+ Excellent

West Salisbury

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
389 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$20,295 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

4 Nearby 669 Off-Campus Students
B
Salisbury University
7,030 students · 3.1 mi
C
Del-Mar-Va Beauty Academy
43 students · 3.6 mi
C
Wor-Wic Community College
2,636 students · 7.7 mi
C+
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
2,844 students · 12.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 669 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does house hacking look like in Salisbury, MD?

House hacking works a challenging in Salisbury, MD. Rents of $1,529/mo against $294K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

How strong is the working-renter base in Salisbury, MD?

Tenant quality in Salisbury, MD ranks as solid. Landlords generally report reliable occupancy at market rents of $1,529/mo.

How much is rent in Salisbury, MD?

Rental rates in Salisbury, MD average $1,529/mo. Tenant demand and $294K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

Is Salisbury, MD good for landlords?

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

What investment strategy works best in Salisbury, MD?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Salisbury, MD best. The market produces stable results for that approach at the $294K price point.

You know 21801 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 21801 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 21801 ranks in Salisbury, MD-DE

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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