The Baltimore metro is home to 2,839,409 people (up 1.7% over five years), with a median household income of $97,300. Typical rent of $1,937/month works out to 23.9% of the median household income — comfortably below the 30% affordability threshold (Census ACS + Zillow, September 2026).
The share of Baltimore's workforce by sector — the base of tenant demand:
| Sector | % of workforce |
|---|---|
| Education & health care | 25.8% |
| Professional & management | 15.4% |
| Public administration | 9.9% |
| Retail trade | 9.4% |
| Arts, food & hospitality | 7.2% |
Education & health care is the metro's largest employment base — sectors like education and health care are recession-resilient anchors for rental demand.
Rents at 23.9% of median income leave room for rent growth without pricing out the median tenant. Market pricing, yields and the Star Score live on the Baltimore market page; run a deal in the calculator.
At the 30%-of-income affordability rule, typical rent of $1,937/month suggests a household income around $77,000/year. The metro's median household income is $97,300.
By workforce share: Education & health care (25.8%), Professional & management (15.4%), Public administration (9.9%) (Census ACS 5-year).