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City · 5,594 residents · Kent County, Maryland

Chestertown , Maryland

In Chestertown, a typical home is worth $344,000 and typical rent is $1,206 a month. Compared with all of Kent County, typical household income is 32% lower and the share of households that own their home is 21 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $344,000

    4% above the county

    18% below Maryland

    • Chestertown
    • Kent
    • Maryland

  • Typical rent

    $1,206a month

    About the same as the county

    29% below Maryland

    • Chestertown
    • Kent
    • Maryland

  • Typical household income

    $54,346a year

    32% below the county

    48% below Maryland

    • Chestertown
    • Kent
    • Maryland

  • Households that own their home

    52%

    21 points below the county

    16 points below Maryland

    • Chestertown
    • Kent
    • Maryland

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$386,625
1.9% more than 12 months ago

From Zillow (ZHVI), September 2026. The Census figures above are 5-year averages (2020–2024).

Chestertown is in Kent County. The FHA loan limit ($541,287 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Kent County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Chestertown apart

What this place has that others do not, from public data, most unusual first.

  1. Chestertown has the 5th lowest typical household income of the 202 cities in Maryland with more than 5,000 people ($54,346).

  2. 52% of households in Chestertown own their home, against 73% in Kent County.

  3. Nearby, in Edgewood, the typical home value is $242,200: 30% less than in Chestertown ($344,000).

  4. Chestertown has the 10th lowest typical rent of the 195 cities in Maryland with more than 5,000 people ($1,206).

  5. Chestertown has the 13th largest share of rent-burdened renters of the 170 cities in Maryland with more than 5,000 people (68%).

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Average 2020–2024).

The homes here

Housing in Chestertown

What homes there are in Chestertown, what they cost, how that changed and how people live, from Census figures (2020–2024).

What homes there are

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Kind of home

Detached houses are the majority in Chestertown (56%), but less so than in Kent County (81%).

Year built

The typical home in Chestertown was built in 1982, 4 years after the typical one in Kent County.

All homes, occupied or empty. A figure the Census cannot measure precisely enough here is not shown.

Census tables: B25024, B25034, B25035, B25041

What it costs here

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

Value of owner-occupied homes
Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$2,144 a month

Kent County: $1,892 a month

Without a mortgage

$753 a month

Kent County: $732 a month

Owners with a mortgage

65%

Kent County: 62%

In Chestertown, 65% of owners have a mortgage, and their typical cost is $2,144 a month, against $1,892 in Kent County. Without one it drops to $753.

Value: what owners think their home is worth. Rent: rent plus utilities, for homes of every size. The FHA limit is the most an FHA loan (Federal Housing Administration) lends for a one-unit home; the fair market rent (FMR) is the one HUD uses for housing vouchers.

Census tables: B25075, B25063, B25088, B25081

How it changed

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2015–2019 and 2020–2024

Change since 2015–2019

From 2015–2019 to 2020–2024, the typical home value in Chestertown rose 42%; in Kent County, it rose 32%.

Rents in Chestertown rose faster than in Kent County: 43% since 2015–2019, against 20%.

Change between two 5-year periods that do not overlap, in each period's dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

Census tables: B25077, B25064, B19013

How people live

U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-year, 2020–2024

MeasureChestertownKent CountyMarylandUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate4.7%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2.5%3.4%
People per household 1.912.092.572.53
Drive alone 55%69%65%69%
Carpool Unreliable estimate8%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate4%3%
Walk or bike 25%10%2%3%
Work from home 14%12%19%15%
Other means Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate2%2%
Typical commute Unreliable estimateUnreliable estimate20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Households in Chestertown are smaller: 1.91 people on average; in Kent County, 2.09.

In Chestertown, 25% of workers walk or bike to work; in Kent County, 10%.

Vacancy: empty homes offered for rent or for sale. Rooms: every room in the home, not only bedrooms. Commute: the minute range of the typical worker.

Census tables: B25004, B25003, B25014, B25010, B08301, B08303

Do the math

What would you pay each month for a home in Chestertown?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Chestertown, worth $344,000, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 64% of the typical household income in Chestertown, which is $54,346 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $124,856 a year.

The calculator's FHA and conventional loan limits are those of all of Kent County.

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Chestertown. Change it to the price you have in mind.

Loan type
Your credit score

Your score changes which loans apply and FHA's minimum down payment. Your real rate also depends on your credit.

Down payment
%

That is $12,040 (3.5% of the price). The usual minimum for this loan is 3.5%.

This week's average ± a quarter or half point.

Term

National average as of November 5, 2026 (Freddie Mac); your rate may be different.

Adjust advanced details

Estimated monthly payment

Local data

$2,913

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$337,769
Total interest
$485,971
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $5,809 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,268 a month

  • Tight

    $1,268 to $1,630 a month

  • Hard

    more than $1,630 a month

    Your payment · 64%

Compared with the typical household income in Chestertown ($54,346 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,913
Principal & interest$2,288
Property tax$330
Home insurance$143
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$152

You need at least $12,040 for the down payment, plus closing costs.

Next step

This is an estimate to give you an idea, not a loan offer. Your real payment depends on your rate, your credit, and the insurance and taxes on the home you buy.

The city and its county

Chestertown and Kent County

Chestertown is in Kent County, Maryland. The U.S. Census Bureau publishes its own numbers for the city: home values, rent, household income, how many households own their home and the property tax. They are American Community Survey estimates (average 2020–2024).

Chestertown's own numbers

Typical home value
$344,000
Typical monthly rent
$1,206
Typical yearly household income
$54,346
Households that own their home
52%
Effective property tax rate
1.15%

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (average 2020–2024).

Numbers for all of Kent County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,241
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+55%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
5%

HUD, FHFA and FEMA don't publish these numbers by city.

Other numbers are not published by city, only for the whole county: FHA and conventional loan limits, HUD’s fair market rents, FHFA’s price index and FEMA’s flood data. On this page, those numbers always say they are for all of Kent County.

Everything about Kent County

Buying

Buying a home in Chestertown

A typical home in Chestertown is worth $344,000: 4% above the county and 18% below Maryland. With the typical household income in Chestertown ($54,346 a year), a typical home costs 6.3 times what the household earns in a year.

Years of income to pay for a typical home

The typical home value divided by the typical household income for one year. The lower it is, the less buying weighs.

  • Chestertown 6.3 years
  • Kent 4.1 years
  • Maryland 4.1 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Kent County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Kent County rose 87% in the 10 years through 2025.

FHFA does not publish this index by city: these are the numbers for all of Kent County.

Period County Maryland U.S.
Last year (2025) +4.9% +2.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +55% +40% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +87% +60% +85%

The index follows the price of the same homes over time (sales and appraisals with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans). It is not the average price of a home. FHFA considers its annual county indexes experimental. Source: FHFA, 2025 data

Chestertown next to Kent County, Maryland and the U.S.

Three numbers side by side. “Typical” means the median: half are above it and half below.

Typical home value
  • Chestertown $344,000
  • Kent $330,900
  • Maryland $419,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Chestertown $1,206
  • Kent $1,209
  • Maryland $1,705
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Chestertown $54,346
  • Kent $80,147
  • Maryland $103,678
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Chestertown next to Kent County and Maryland
Measure Chestertown Kent County Maryland U.S.
Typical home value $344,000 $330,900 $419,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,206 $1,209 $1,705 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $54,346 $80,147 $103,678 $80,734
Households that own their home 52% 73% 68% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $3,966 $3,025 $4,093 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.15% 0.91% 0.97% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 68% 60% 51% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Kent County. “High rent” is the Census measure: renter households that pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

Four ways to pay for a typical home in Chestertown

For a typical $344,000 home in Chestertown, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Chestertown's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,913a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $12,040
    Cash to close
    $22,360
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $152

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,850a month

    Down payment
    $17,200
    Cash to close
    $27,520
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $163

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $2,337a month

    Down payment
    $68,800
    Cash to close
    $79,120
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $2,655a month

    Down payment
    $51,600
    Cash to close
    $61,920
    Rate
    8.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

The option that asks for the least cash to close is FHA, 3.5% down.

  • Cash to close = down payment plus 3% of the price in closing costs (example).
  • Minimum score: FHA requires 580 or higher for the minimum down payment (HUD Handbook 4000.1). * Fannie Mae requires 620 when a loan is underwritten by hand; its automated system has no fixed minimum.
  • The ITIN row is an example with a rate 1 percentage point higher: ITIN loans follow no federal rule and each lender sets its own down payment and rate. Nothing in this table promises an approval.

How much house can I afford? Estimate closing costs

Taxes and floods

Two costs that change from place to place

Property tax and flood insurance raise or lower what you pay each month. Here are the numbers for Chestertown and for Kent County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Chestertown

1.15%of the home’s value each year

$3,966 a year for the typical owner in Chestertown.

  • Chestertown 1.15%
  • Kent 0.91%
  • Maryland 0.97%

What Maryland publishes Homestead tax credit (cap on yearly assessment increases) (Maryland General Assembly (Annotated Code of Maryland, Tax-Property Article))

Exemptions and deadlines in Maryland

Flood risk in Kent County

FEMA does not publish these numbers by city: they are for all of Kent County.

Homes in the high-risk zone
5%
505
Of those, with NFIP insurance
61%
County Maryland U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 5% 1.2% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 61% 74% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Chestertown

Typical rent in Chestertown is $1,206 a month: about the same as the county. In Chestertown, 68% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Kent County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,241 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $23.87 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Kent County

What you need to earn to pay it without spending more than 30% of income, working full time.

Size Fair rent a month Hourly wage Yearly income
Studio $956 $18.38 $38,240
1 bedroom $1,140 $21.92 $45,600
2 bedrooms $1,241 $23.87 $49,640
3 bedrooms $1,603 $30.83 $64,120
4 bedrooms $2,050 $39.42 $82,000

Includes basic utilities. It isn't the lowest or highest rent: it's a reference point. Source: HUD, Fiscal year 2027

By ZIP code

Fair market rent by ZIP code in Chestertown

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Chestertown is in ZIP code 21620.

For 2 bedrooms it is $1,680: $439 more than the fair market rent for Kent County ($1,241).

  • 21620 $1,680$2,130

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Chestertown when at least 50% of its land is inside the city or it covers at least 15% of the city (Census 2020 boundaries). Source: Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Fiscal year 2027 Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) Source: Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file Data from 2020 data Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file

Is your rent high for your ZIP?

Low-income apartments

Low-income apartments in Chestertown

HUD lists 11 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Chestertown. These are the largest.

  • Baywoods Village/Woods Edge 23172 Baywood Ct, Chestertown 21620 104 low-income homes · In service since 2011
  • Chestertown Landing Phase I 503 Morgnec Rd, Chestertown 21620 72 homes, 71 low-income · 1 bd: 14 · 2 bd: 38 · 3 bd: 20 · In service since 1999
  • Chestertown Landing Phase II 503 Morgnec Rd, Chestertown 21620 60 low-income homes · 1 bd: 48 · 2 bd: 12 · In service since 1999
  • Woodsedge II 23165 Baywood Ct, Chestertown 21620 84 homes, 48 low-income · For families (410) 778-4182
  • Calvert Heights 716 High St, Chestertown 21620 41 homes, 40 low-income · 2 bd: 20 · 3 bd: 20 · In service since 2010 · For people with disabilities, families

See all 12 buildings in Kent County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Chestertown

You do not have to do this alone. A HUD-approved housing counseling agency helps for free or at low cost: getting ready to buy, understanding your credit, or solving a problem with your rent.

There is 1 HUD-approved agency with an office in Kent County; none says it serves in Spanish.

A man listens closely, seated at a meeting table.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Chestertown

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Chestertown or Kent County. The ones below are statewide in Maryland: they work in Chestertown the same as in the rest of the state.

Which programs do I qualify for? All programs in Maryland

  • MMP 1st Time Advantage

    Statewide in Maryland

    Maryland Mortgage Program mortgages for first-time buyers, with a deferred 0% second mortgage for the down payment: $6,000, or 3%, 4% or 5% of the loan. Offered by Maryland Mortgage Program (Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • MMP Flex Loans

    Statewide in Maryland

    Maryland Mortgage Program mortgages for first-time buyers and for people who have owned a home before; Flex 6000 brings $6,000 and Flex 3% brings 3% of the loan for the down payment, as a deferred 0% second loan. Offered by Maryland Mortgage Program (Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development).

    Deferred

    See the program Official page

  • Maryland SmartBuy

    Statewide in Maryland

    Maryland Mortgage Program loan of up to 15% of the price (maximum $25,000) to pay off your student debt when you buy a home; no interest or monthly payments, and forgiven after five years if you stay in the home. Offered by Maryland Mortgage Program (Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development).

    Forgivable

    See the program Official page

Housing counselors near Chestertown

The HUD-approved agencies closest to the center of Chestertown, in a straight line, nearest first. If one says it serves in Spanish, its card says so.

  • Maryland Rural Development Corporation (MRDC) (kent Co)

    118 S Lynchburg St Ste B, Chestertown · 0 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and credit workshops
    • and 5 more
    (667) 254-8051

  • Maryland Rural Development Corporation (MRDC)

    101 Cedar Lane, Greensboro · 22 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (410) 482-4800

  • Harford County, Maryland

    15 S Main St, Bel Air · 26 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (410) 638-3045

Every agency in Kent County All counseling agencies in Maryland

Help in Spanish near Chestertown

None of the 3 agencies on this list say they serve in Spanish.

Ask for service in Spanish

When you call, say “Spanish, please” or ask if someone speaks Spanish. If not, ask whether they offer an interpreter.

Housing authorities of Chestertown

HUD lists no housing authority with an office in Kent County. One in a neighboring county or the state’s may serve the area.

All housing agencies in Maryland Source: HUD

Cities

Nearby cities

The cities closest to Chestertown, with the typical home value.

Everything about Kent County Housing in Maryland

Neighboring counties

If Kent County is out of reach, look next door. Each number is that county's own.

Keep going

Guides for your next step

Short explanations, in plain language and with official sources, for buying or renting in Chestertown.

All guides
A man and two girls read a book together on the sofa.

Questions

Housing questions about Chestertown

Short answers with the numbers for Chestertown and all of Kent County. If your case is different, a HUD-approved counseling agency can guide you for free or at low cost.

How much does a typical home cost in Chestertown?

The typical home value in Chestertown is $344,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Kent County it is $330,900.

How much does it cost to rent in Chestertown?

Typical rent in Chestertown is $1,206 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Kent County is $1,241.

What is the FHA loan limit in Chestertown?

Chestertown uses the FHA limit for all of Kent County (2026): $541,287 for a one-unit home and $1,041,125 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Chestertown?

The typical homeowner in Chestertown pays $3,966 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.15% of the home’s value; in Kent County, the rate is 0.91%.

Where can I find free help to buy or rent in Chestertown?

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Kent County. They can help you get ready to buy, with your credit, or with rent.

Sources: American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates (Average 2020–2024); FHA mortgage limits (HUD) (2026 data); Conforming loan limits (FHFA) (2026 data); Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Small Area Fair Market Rents (HUD) (Fiscal year 2027); Census Bureau ZCTA-to-place relationship file (2020 data); HUD-approved housing counseling agencies (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Public Housing Agencies (HUD) (Retrieved November 6, 2026); Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) (As of November 5, 2026); FHFA House Price Index (HPI) (2025 data); Homes with flood insurance (NFIP, FEMA) (As of August 3, 2026).