Real Estate Investing in Fruitland, Maryland (21826)

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

Wicomico County • Population: 5,656 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 21826 (Fruitland, 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
1 flag
  • Higher unemployment: 7.2% unemployment — tenant risk signal.

What’s happening in Fruitland, MD (21826)?

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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 $255,207
Avg Monthly Rent $1,595
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $60,513
% Renters 40.1%

Market Analysis: 21826 Fruitland

The 21826 ZIP in Fruitland, MD is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $255K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

The 21826 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Nearby ZIPs in Fruitland have seen price recovery that 21826 has not matched. Wicomico County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

On the rental side, 5,656 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.

New investors are better served looking at Fruitland's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 21826. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Fruitland:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 71/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.2× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,595/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 21826

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
6.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+9.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$85,643/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $189,843 $1,600 6.1% +9.3% $94,921
3BR $256,930 $2,110 5.9% +8.0% $85,643
4BR $350,320 $2,120 4.4% +7.1% $87,580

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$270K$240K$210K$180K$150K$120KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,612$1,562$1,512$1,463$1,413$1,363Jan 2026Apr 2026Jun 2026

📊 How Does 21826 Compare?

Metric 21826 Fruitland Salisbury, MD-DE Maryland
Home Value $255,207 $255,207 N/A $424,997
5-Year CAGR 5.5% 5.5% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,595 $1,595 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.9% 4.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 21826? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 40% 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 21826 (Fruitland, MD). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.9%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.5%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $255,207
Monthly Rent $1,595
Price-to-Rent 13.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.5%
Cap Rate 4.9%
5-Year IRR 10.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.9%). 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
7.4%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 21826

Population: 5,656

💰 Median Household Income
$60,513
This area
$60,513
State
$107,932
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
40.1%
This area
40.1%
State
23.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
7.2%
This area
7.2%
State
-20.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
36.4%
This area
36.4%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
28.7 years
This area
28.7 years
State
1.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.4%
This area
7.4%
State
11.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 65.1%
Black/African American 24.5%
Other/Mixed 7.7%
Hispanic/Latino 4.3%
Asian 2.8%
👶 Under 18
22.8%
This area
22.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
11.6%
This area
11.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.4%
This area
2.4%
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 21826

A+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
11.9:1 Avg Class Size
$20,295 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Fruitland Intermediate

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
348 Students
👨‍🏫
12.0:1 Class Size
💰
$20,295 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Bennett Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
919 Students
👨‍🏫
11.2:1 Class Size
💰
$20,295 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Fruitland Primary

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
436 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 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 · 1.7 mi
B
Salisbury University
7,030 students · 2.0 mi
C
Wor-Wic Community College
2,636 students · 7.6 mi
C+
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
2,844 students · 8.6 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of market is Fruitland, MD for investors?

Investors tracking Fruitland, MD will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $255K median home values and $1,595/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting consistent returns.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Fruitland, MD?

Fruitland, MD vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

How strict are landlord regulations in Fruitland, MD?

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

Is house hacking profitable in Fruitland, MD?

House hacking works a challenging in Fruitland, MD. Rents of $1,595/mo against $255K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

How much is rent in Fruitland, MD?

Rents in Fruitland, MD run near $1,595/mo. Compared with median home prices of $255K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

You know 21826 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 21826 ranks in Salisbury, MD-DE

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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