Baltimore multifamily market, October 2026

Landlords have the edge in Baltimore, and it is cooling: asking rents are up 2.2% on a year, while jobs slipped 0.2%.

Updated October 31, 2026 · from Zillow, BLS and the US Census Bureau

+2.2%

Asking rent, year over year

Zillow · September 2026

-0.2%

Jobs, year over year

BLS · September 2026, preliminary

4.4%YEARLY

Vacancy

Census · 2024 count

What is moving now

Asking rents are up 2.2% on a year to September 2026, which is the figure the condition is read from. Jobs are down 0.2% over the same year to September 2026, a first release the BLS revises the following month. Job growth has cooled (September 2026).

The backdrop

These are yearly Census counts, not this month's: 4.4% of rentals sat empty in 2024, permits for new apartments were down 11% in 2025, more people moved out than in in 2025, and the typical rent was $1,633 a month in 2024. They are the background the monthly figures move against, and they are the newest the Census has published.

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Common questions about Baltimore

Answered from the data, updated October 31, 2026

Is the Baltimore rental market tight or soft right now?

In Baltimore right now, landlords have the edge, and it is cooling.

Which way is the Baltimore market heading?

Baltimore is cooling right now, as asking rents firm over the past year (Zillow ZORI, monthly).

Is Baltimore a landlord's or a renter's market?

Baltimore is a landlord's market right now: landlords have the edge, and it is cooling.

What is the vacancy rate in Baltimore?

Vacancy in Baltimore is 4.4% in the 2024 count, a yearly snapshot rather than a monthly reading (US Census Bureau).

How much have Baltimore rents changed?

Asking rents in Baltimore are up 2.2% over the past year (Zillow ZORI, monthly, latest Sep 2026).

Recent coverage

Daily, from the MetroSgnl news feed. Headlines only.

Baltimore’s housing fund has $46M unspent. The city wants to borrow $22M moreBaltimore Sun

Baltimore’s affordable housing fund has $46M unspent. The city wants to borrow $22M moreWBFF

OpEd: How a surge in long-term renters is affecting the housing marketThe Business Journals

Breakfast links: Housing features in new developer’s plans for Baltimore PeninsulaGreater Greater Washington

Fifth Phase of $398M Baltimore Public Housing Redevelopment to Begin this FallMultifamily & Affordable Housing Business

Baltimore District 4 residents hear updates on safety, housing from ConwayCapital Gazette

See all Baltimore news →

Data: Zillow ZORI, BLS, US Census Bureau, FRED, and the MetroSgnl news feed. Recomputed daily. Market information only, not investment advice.
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