Last updated on June 5, 2026

Average rent in
Essex, MD

Median rent

Median rent in Essex

$2,225/mo

increased by28%

vs previous year

The average rent in Essex is $2,225 per month as of May 2026. This is 14% above the national average rent, or $275 more per month.

$1.84

average price per square foot

Total rentals

Available rentals in Essex

35

for rent on Zumper.com as of May 2026

Rent price distribution

Share of Essex rentals at each price point

85%64%43%21%0%
$0 - $1,500
$1,501 - $3,000
$3,001 - $4,500
$4,501 - $6,000
$6,001 - $50,000

Rent trends in Essex, MD

Average rent prices in Essex have increased by 10% over the last month and have increased by 28% since last year.

Rent trends

Rent prices on this page are calculated on a rolling 30-day basis and updated daily.

Compare rent prices in Essex, MD

Rent prices in Essex vary by bedroom size, rental type, and neighborhood. The average rent for an apartment in Essex is $1,537, whereas a house costs $2,350. 1-bedroom apartments in Essex run $1,100 on average, while 2-bedroom apartments are $1,300.

Listings

Studio

$1,043

22%

11%

1 bedroom

$1,050

31%

3%

2 bedroom

$1,500

12%

28%

3 bedroom

$2,325

5%

22%

4 bedroom

$2,750

4%

4%

Studio

Average rent

$1,043

Last 30 days

22%

Last year

11%

1 bedroom

Average rent

$1,050

Last 30 days

31%

Last year

3%

2 bedroom

Average rent

$1,500

Last 30 days

12%

Last year

28%

3 bedroom

Average rent

$2,325

Last 30 days

5%

Last year

22%

4 bedroom

Average rent

$2,750

Last 30 days

4%

Last year

4%

The table above reflects average rent prices in Essex, MD, broken down by the number of bedrooms, neighborhoods, and property types. The availability of data for each category is dependent on market inventory and will adjust depending on your selected filters.

How does rent in Essex, MD compare to other cities?

Compare median rent prices in Essex and Arbutus by all bedroom counts and property types.

Essex

Median rent price$2,225
increased by14%

higher than the national median

Median rent price$1,600
decreased by18%

lower than the national median

Takeaway

The median rent for all rentals in Essex, MD is 39% higher than the median rent in Arbutus, MD.

Discover rentals in Essex, MD

Verona at Middle River - Photo 1 of 1

3d ago

8.6

Very good

Verona at Middle River

2 Driftwood Ct, Essex, MD 21221

2 beds

1 bath

$1,199

Apartment for rent

Available Jun 5

1130SMA - Photo 1 of 1

2d ago

8.6

Very good

1130SMA

305 S Marlyn Ave Apt A, Essex, MD 21221

2 beds

1 bath

$1,300

Apartment for rent

527 Franklin Ave #529 - Photo 1 of 1

1d ago

Apartment for rent in Essex

2 beds

1 bath

$1,500

Apartment for rent

Available Jan 8

233 Orville Rd #1 - Photo 1 of 1

5d+ ago

House for rent in Essex

233 Orville Rd - Xome - 1

233 Orville Rd #1, Essex, MD 21221

3 beds

2 baths

$1,850

House for rent

Available Dec 1

Stay up to date with rental market insights

Are you interested in licensing our current and historical rental real estate data, or do you have custom data requests? Contact datalicensing@zumper.com.

Frequently asked questions for Essex, MD

Quick answers to common questions about the Essex rental market.

How much is rent in Essex?

The average rent in Essex is $2,225 per month as of May 30, 2026.

Is rent up or down in Essex?

Average rent prices in Essex have increased by 10% over the last month and have increased by 28% since last year.

How does Essex rent compare to the national average?

Rent in Essex is 14% above the national average, which means renters are paying approximately $275 more per month.

What salary do I need to afford rent in Essex?

To comfortably afford rent in Essex, you'd need to earn approximately $89,000/year, based on spending no more than 30% of your income on rent.

When is the best time of year to rent in Essex?

Essex's 2025 rental market shows one-bedroom apartments averaging around $1,000 per month, while two-bedroom units average around $1,400 monthly. These figures reflect the current market conditions across the city's available rental inventory.

Methodology

Rent prices are based on Zumper's rental listings from the past 30 days. Median rent is calculated across all available listings and property types on the platform. If you filter the page by bedroom count or property type, the pricing throughout the page will update automatically to reflect that segment of the rental market.

Household and population data come from the U.S. Census Bureau. Cost-of-living data is sourced from the Council for Community and Economic Research's Cost of Living Index (COLI).

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