Rent vs buy in Frederick, MD

In Frederick, Maryland, the typical rent is $2,155 /mo and the typical home is $456,642.

Rent

Renting comes out ahead by $50k over 7 years

Today's mortgage rate and 20% down are paired with Frederick's typical rent and home value. The break-even point comes in year 18.

A clearly labeled opinion, with the math shown. These are estimates, not quotes. The stamp updates when you change a number.

Amount renting is ahead by: $50k
When it breaks even: Year 18
Full cost of ownership: $4,072 each month

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Is renting or buying cheaper in Frederick?

Across 7 years, renting costs $49,873 less, including the money you get back when you sell. For the first 17 years, renting costs less. Owning catches up during year 18.

Rent. Own. Net cost to date, organized by year.

Frederick's average rent compared with the mortgage payment

Rent and mortgage payments don't cover everything. Here are all monthly expenses for year 1 at Frederick's typical price.

Each month, year 1	Amount	What it is
Rent	$2,155	All of it, every month
Mortgage payment	$2,490	$2,194 of it is interest in year 1
Property tax	$476	1.25% of the value a year
Insurance	$89	Census median for the city
Upkeep	$381	1% of the value a year
Owning, cash out	$3,435	$295 of it builds equity
Lost return on the down payment	$742	What the cash would earn each year at 8.3%
Buying costs, spread out	$190	3.5% of the price over 7 years
True cost of owning	$4,072	Cash out minus the equity portion, plus both lines above

Frederick verdict: the numbers behind it

Typical home value: Zillow ZHVI, September 2026: $456,642
Typical rent: Zillow ZORI, September 2026: $2,155 monthly
Down payment: 20% avoids private mortgage insurance, which the calculation doesn't include.: 20%
Mortgage rate: Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (FRED MORTGAGE30US): 7.24%
Price growth: FHFA house-price index, Maryland, 1995 through 2025: Every year: 4.1%.
Rent growth: CPI primary residence rent, yearly growth 2006 to 2026: Every year: 3.5%.
Savings return: 60% S&P 500 with dividends plus 40% 10-year Treasuries, rebalanced each year, 1928 to 2025: Every year: 8.3%.
Property tax: Census ACS 2020-2024, Frederick figures: Rate applied to value: 1.25%.
Home insurance: Census ACS 2020-2024, Frederick figures: $89 each month
Maintenance: Fannie Mae: low end of 1% to 4%: Yearly rate on value: 1%.
Buying costs: Freddie Mac: middle of 2% to 5%: Share of price: 3.5%.
Selling costsAgent commission and closing costs: 6% of the price

What would change the result in Frederick?

Each line marks where Frederick's 7-year verdict changes, while everything else stays as it is.

Renting comes out ahead when

Prices rise by less than 5.4% a year; our figures use 4.1%, Maryland's long-run pace.
The rate on a mortgage holds above 5.29%.
A similar home rents for under $2,690 a month, compared with the typical $2,155 here.
Your move happens before year 18.

Buying comes out ahead when

Home prices rise by more than 5.4% a year.
You secure a mortgage rate under 5.29%, compared with today's rate of 7.24%.
Renting this same home would cost over $2,690 each month.
You remain there for 18 years or more.

Frederick compared with the other 812 cities

Measure	Frederick	Median city
Typical home value	$456,642	$422,451
Typical rent	$2,155 /mo	$1,837 /mo
Price-to-rent ratio	17.7 (#451 of 813)	18.5
Home prices, last 10 years	4.6% a year	6.2% a year
Rents, last 5 years	4.3% a year	4% a year
Property tax	1.25%	0.87%
Households that rent	41%	42%

The data sources are Zillow ZHVI and ZORI, Census ACS 2020-2024.

Other Maryland cities

Buy in Baltimore, MD; buying wins by $54k.
Rent in Gaithersburg, MD; renting wins by $65k.
Rent in Rockville, MD; renting wins by $91k.
Rent in Bowie, MD; renting wins by $50k.

Maryland rent vs buy numbers