Real Estate Investing in Salisbury, Maryland (21804)

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

Wicomico County • Population: 39,461 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 21804 (Salisbury, MD)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (70/100)

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
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.2% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Salisbury, MD (21804)?

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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 $251,496
Avg Monthly Rent $1,609
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $64,513
% Renters 51.3%

Market Analysis: 21804 Salisbury

ZIP 21804 inside Wicomico County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $251K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

The 21804 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Within MD, ZIP 21804 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Wicomico County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and sturdy enough to shape underwriting.

The demographic picture in 21804 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Salisbury averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 21804 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 3.9× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,609/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 21804

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
6.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+10.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$81,146/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $126,566 $1,150 6.5% +7.7% $126,566
2BR $175,348 $1,490 6.1% +10.0% $87,674
3BR $255,539 $1,970 5.6% +8.6% $85,180
4BR $324,585 $1,980 4.4% +8.2% $81,146
5BR $421,798 +7.8% $84,360

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$265K$236K$208K$179K$151K$122KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,767$1,653$1,539$1,426$1,312$1,198Sep 2021Feb 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 21804 Compare?

Metric 21804 Salisbury Salisbury, MD-DE Maryland
Home Value $251,496 $136,290 N/A $424,997
5-Year CAGR 5.2% 5.3% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,609 $1,569 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.0% 4.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 21804? Click to expand

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

51% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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 21804 (Salisbury, MD). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.0%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.2%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $251,496
Monthly Rent $1,609
Price-to-Rent 13.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.7%
Cap Rate 5.0%
5-Year IRR 10.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -4.8% ▼
3-Year CAGR +2.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.0%). 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
8.2%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 21804

Population: 39,461

💰 Median Household Income
$64,513
This area
$64,513
State
$107,932
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
51.3%
This area
51.3%
State
23.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.2%
This area
5.2%
State
-20.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
28.3%
This area
28.3%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
32.9 years
This area
32.9 years
State
1.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.2%
This area
8.2%
State
11.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 58.9%
Black/African American 29.7%
Other/Mixed 7.5%
Asian 3.8%
Hispanic/Latino 3.1%
👶 Under 18
20.4%
This area
20.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.0%
This area
15.0%
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 21804

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

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Glen Avenue School

📚 02 – 05 Elementary
👥
388 Students
👨‍🏫
10.8:1 Class Size
💰
$20,295 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Wicomico Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
796 Students
👨‍🏫
11.1:1 Class Size
💰
$20,295 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Beaver Run School

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
713 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$20,295 Per Student
A+ Excellent

East Salisbury Elementary

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
480 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$20,295 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Parkside High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,223 Students
👨‍🏫
11.4:1 Class Size
💰
$20,295 Per Student
A Very Good

James M. Bennett High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,379 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$20,295 Per Student
A Very Good

Wicomico High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,307 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$20,295 Per Student
A Very Good

Prince Street School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
878 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$20,295 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Wicomico County Evening High

📚 10 – 12 High School
👥
36 Students
👨‍🏫
3.6:1 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
C
Del-Mar-Va Beauty Academy
43 students · 3.8 mi
B
Salisbury University
7,030 students · 4.2 mi
C
Wor-Wic Community College
2,636 students · 4.4 mi
C+
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
2,844 students · 11.1 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there empty rentals in Salisbury, MD?

Salisbury, MD carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect stable absorption at market rents of $1,609/mo.

What do rentals go for in Salisbury, MD?

Salisbury, MD rentals go for roughly $1,609/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $251K acquisition costs.

What is it like being a landlord in Salisbury, MD?

The landlord environment in Salisbury, MD is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Salisbury, MD?

House hacking works a challenging in Salisbury, MD. Rents of $1,609/mo against $251K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

What kind of market is Salisbury, MD for investors?

Salisbury, MD scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $251K and rents near $1,609/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

You know 21804 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 21804 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 21804 ranks in Salisbury, MD-DE

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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