Cost of Living in Montgomery County, Maryland
At a Glance
Rent burden measured as median gross rent as a percentage of renter household income (Census ACS B25071)
These figures are county medians, not a personal budget. Use them to frame rent, ownership, and income tradeoffs, then account for household size, commute, financing, insurance, taxes, debt, and local availability before making a decision.
How Montgomery County Compares
Median monthly rent comparison
Detailed Housing Stats
National Ranking
Affordability Rank
Montgomery County ranks #3,104 of 3,142 counties for affordability (bottom 1%)
Sourced county brief
Montgomery County Median Home Value Estimated at $640,300
In Montgomery County, the median home value is $640,300, which is $270,283 above the Maryland unweighted county mean of $370,017. Median monthly owner costs for all owner-occupied units are $2,362, compared to the state unweighted mean of $1,660. The median gross rent in the county was recorded at $2,068 per month. Regarding renter affordability, the official B25071 median gross rent as a percentage of household income (GRAPI) is 30.8%. This figure is 0.6 percentage points higher than the state unweighted county mean official GRAPI of 30.2%. The median income for renter households in the county was estimated at $79,810. These statistics represent a static snapshot from the 2020-2024 ACS 5-Year Estimates and are not intended for use as market predictions. See ACS table B25071 for the underlying estimate.
Source record
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25064 Median Gross Rent
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25071 GRAPI
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25077 Median Home Value
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25088 Selected Monthly Owner Costs
- U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020-2024 5-Year Estimates — B25119 Household Income by Tenure
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-brief-v1
Cost of Living Advisory: Montgomery County
Affordability Verdict
ACS B25071 estimates median gross rent at 30.8% of renter household income in Montgomery County, which is between the 30% and 50% rent-burden benchmarks. This is a median percentage among renter-occupied units, not the share of households above a threshold.
Rent vs. Own
Median gross rent is $2,068 per month; median selected monthly owner costs are $2,362. These ACS medians describe different tenure groups and are not a personalized rent-versus-buy calculation.
Income Needed
Using the common 30% budgeting benchmark, $82,720 in annual gross income would allocate 30% to the county's median gross rent. This is a reproducible illustration, not evidence that a particular household can afford housing.
Regional Context
The Maryland unweighted mean of county median rents is $1,459 per month. Montgomery County's $2,068 median is 41.7% above that comparison value.
Data version acs5-2020-2024 · Method cost-advisory-v2
Affordability Calculator
See how your income compares to housing costs in Montgomery County
Rent Burden
18.7%
of gross income
Max Housing (28% Rule)
$3,091
per month
Owner Cost Burden
21.4%
of gross income
The median home in Montgomery County may be a stretch
Median home value is $640,300. Estimated monthly cost: $5,112 vs. your max of $3,091.
Rent Affordability Guide
Income Needed Calculator
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Based on the 30% rule for rent and 28% rule for housing costs (mortgage + owner costs). Mortgage estimate assumes 20% down, 7.2% interest, 30-year fixed.
Frequently Asked Questions
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See Today's RatesData: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2020-2024). Data is informational only and is not personalized financial advice.
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