Real Estate Investing in Sharptown, Maryland (21861)

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

Wicomico County • Population: 806 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 21861 (Sharptown, MD)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (78/100)

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: 11.0% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

• 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 Sharptown, MD (21861)?

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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 $224,039
Avg Monthly Rent $1,215
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $83,125
% Renters 19.4%

Market Analysis: 21861 Sharptown

The 21861 ZIP in Sharptown, MD is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $224K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 21861 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

ZIP 21861's metrics run below Wicomico County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Demographically, 21861 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.

The 21861 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Sharptown:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 74/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.7× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,215/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

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$249K$216K$183K$150K$117K$84KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 21861 Compare?

Metric 21861 Sharptown Salisbury, MD-DE Maryland
Home Value $224,039 $224,039 N/A $424,997
5-Year CAGR 5.5% 5.5% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,215 $1,215 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.2% 4.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 21861? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 21861 (Sharptown, MD). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.2%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.5%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $224,039
Monthly Rent $1,215
Price-to-Rent 15.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.5%
Cap Rate 4.2%
5-Year IRR 9.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.2%). 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.

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⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
11.0%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 21861

Population: 806

💰 Median Household Income
$83,125
This area
$83,125
State
$107,932
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
19.4%
This area
19.4%
State
23.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.3%
This area
4.3%
State
-20.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
13.8%
This area
13.8%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
35.6 years
This area
35.6 years
State
1.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
11.0%
This area
11.0%
State
11.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 91.8%
Black/African American 6.7%
Other/Mixed 1.5%
Hispanic/Latino 0.5%
👶 Under 18
22.9%
This area
22.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.4%
This area
13.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.9%
This area
0.9%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby 147 Off-Campus Students
B
Salisbury University
7,030 students · 14.7 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical home price in Sharptown, MD?

Homes in Sharptown, MD typically sell near $224K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which reliable long-term demand.

Where do rents currently stand in Sharptown, MD?

Investors in Sharptown, MD typically see rents near $1,215/mo per month against $224K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

What is the renter demographic in Sharptown, MD?

Sharptown, MD offers a even-keeled renter base at the $1,215/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

Is house hacking profitable in Sharptown, MD?

House hacking works a challenging in Sharptown, MD. Rents of $1,215/mo against $224K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

Which real estate strategy fits Sharptown, MD?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Sharptown, MD. The numbers - $224K homes against $1,215/mo rents - support that play.

You know 21861 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 21861 ranks in Salisbury, MD-DE

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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