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City · 10,849 residents · Washington County, Maryland

Halfway , Maryland

In Halfway, a typical home is worth $253,300 and typical rent is $1,269 a month. Compared with all of Washington County, the typical home value is 14% lower and typical rent is 11% higher.

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  • Typical home value

    $253,300

    14% below the county

    40% below Maryland

    • Halfway
    • Washington
    • Maryland

  • Typical rent

    $1,269a month

    11% above the county

    26% below Maryland

    • Halfway
    • Washington
    • Maryland

  • Typical household income

    $71,036a year

    9% below the county

    31% below Maryland

    • Halfway
    • Washington
    • Maryland

  • Households that own their home

    72%

    5 points above the county

    4 points above Maryland

    • Halfway
    • Washington
    • Maryland

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$285,978
0.5% less than 12 months ago

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

Halfway is in Washington 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 Washington County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Halfway apart

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

  1. Nearby, in Thurmont, the typical rent is $927: 27% less than in Halfway ($1,269).

  2. Halfway has the 11th lowest typical home value of the 202 cities in Maryland with more than 5,000 people ($253,300).

  3. Halfway has the 12th lowest typical rent of the 195 cities in Maryland with more than 5,000 people ($1,269).

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

The homes here

Housing in Halfway

What homes there are in Halfway, 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

The detached house is the most common home in Halfway: 66% of homes, near the figure in Washington County (63%).

There are more mobile homes here than in Washington County: 6% of homes, against 2%.

Year built

In Halfway, half of the homes were built before 1970; in Washington County, before 1974.

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

At least 97% of owner-occupied homes in Halfway are worth less than $500,000, below the FHA loan limit for Washington County ($541,287).

Monthly rent with utilities

With a mortgage

$1,526 a month

Washington County: $1,715 a month

Without a mortgage

$528 a month

Washington County: $536 a month

Owners with a mortgage

61%

Washington County: 64%

The typical cost for an owner with a mortgage in Halfway is $1,526 a month, less than in Washington County ($1,715); without one, $528.

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

Much as in Washington County, the typical home value in Halfway rose 42% since 2015–2019.

Rents in Halfway rose faster than in Washington County: 43% since 2015–2019, against 25%.

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

MeasureHalfwayWashington CountyMarylandUnited States
Rental vacancy Unreliable estimate4.9%4.7%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate1.1%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate2.0%2.5%3.4%
People per household 2.352.482.572.53
Drive alone 78%74%65%69%
Carpool 14%9%8%9%
Public transit Unreliable estimate1%4%3%
Walk or bike Unreliable estimate2%2%3%
Work from home 7%12%19%15%
Other means Unreliable estimate1%2%2%
Typical commute 10 to 19 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

Fewer people live in each home here: 2.35 on average, against 2.48 in Washington County.

More people carpool to work in Halfway than in Washington County: 14% against 9%.

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 Halfway?

A typical home is tight for the typical income

We start with a typical home in Halfway, worth $253,300, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 35% of the typical household income in Halfway, which is $71,036 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $88,227 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Halfway. 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 $8,866 (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

$2,059

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$248,712
Total interest
$357,838
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $4,278 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $1,658 a month

  • Tight

    $1,658 to $2,131 a month

    Your payment · 35%

  • Hard

    more than $2,131 a month

Compared with the typical household income in Halfway ($71,036 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$2,059
Principal & interest$1,685
Property tax$156
Home insurance$106
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$112

You need at least $8,866 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

Halfway and Washington County

Halfway is in Washington 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).

Halfway's own numbers

Typical home value
$253,300
Typical monthly rent
$1,269
Typical yearly household income
$71,036
Households that own their home
72%
Effective property tax rate
0.74%

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

Numbers for all of Washington County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$541,287
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$1,284
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+51%
Homes in a high flood-risk zone
0.9%

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 Washington County.

Everything about Washington County

Buying

Buying a home in Halfway

A typical home in Halfway is worth $253,300: 14% below the county and 40% below Maryland. With the typical household income in Halfway ($71,036 a year), a typical home costs 3.6 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.

  • Halfway 3.6 years
  • Washington 3.8 years
  • Maryland 4.1 years
  • United States 4.1 years
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Average 2020–2024

How prices have changed in Washington County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Washington County rose 78% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County Maryland U.S.
Last year (2025) +3.3% +2.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +51% +40% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +78% +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

Halfway next to Washington 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
  • Halfway $253,300
  • Washington $296,100
  • Maryland $419,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Halfway $1,269
  • Washington $1,147
  • Maryland $1,705
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Halfway $71,036
  • Washington $77,747
  • Maryland $103,678
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Halfway next to Washington County and Maryland
Measure Halfway Washington County Maryland U.S.
Typical home value $253,300 $296,100 $419,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,269 $1,147 $1,705 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $71,036 $77,747 $103,678 $80,734
Households that own their home 72% 67% 68% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $1,868 $2,481 $4,093 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 0.74% 0.84% 0.97% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 62% 47% 51% 51%

“Typical” means the median: half are above and half are below. ▲ and ▼ say whether the city is above or below Washington 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 Halfway

For a typical $253,300 home in Halfway, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Halfway's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $2,059a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $8,866
    Cash to close
    $16,465
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $112

  • Conventional, 5% down $2,012a month

    Down payment
    $12,665
    Cash to close
    $20,264
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $120

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $1,634a month

    Down payment
    $50,660
    Cash to close
    $58,259
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $1,869a month

    Down payment
    $37,995
    Cash to close
    $45,594
    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 Halfway and for Washington County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Halfway

0.74%of the home’s value each year

$1,868 a year for the typical owner in Halfway.

  • Halfway 0.74%
  • Washington 0.84%
  • 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 Washington County

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

Homes in the high-risk zone
0.9%
465
Of those, with NFIP insurance
44%
County Maryland U.S.
Homes in the high-risk zone 0.9% 1.2% 3.5%
Of those, with NFIP insurance 44% 74% 48%

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Halfway

Typical rent in Halfway is $1,269 a month: 11% above the county. In Halfway, 62% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Washington County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($1,284 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $24.69 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Washington 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 $894 $17.19 $35,760
1 bedroom $982 $18.88 $39,280
2 bedrooms $1,284 $24.69 $51,360
3 bedrooms $1,714 $32.96 $68,560
4 bedrooms $1,923 $36.98 $76,920

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 Halfway

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Halfway has 2 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $1,260 in 21740 to $1,320 in 21795.

1 of the 2 is above the fair market rent for Washington County ($1,284).

  • 21740 $1,260$1,680
  • 21795 $1,320$1,760

2 of these ZIP codes cross the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Halfway 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?

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Halfway

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 Washington County; 1 says it serves in Spanish.

A man leans over the armchair where a girl is reading a book.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Halfway

No down payment, repair or rent-help program on our list is for Halfway or Washington County. The ones below are statewide in Maryland: they work in Halfway 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 Halfway

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

  • HAGERSTOWN NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP, INC.(HNDP)/ aka Hagerstown Home Store

    21 E Franklin St, Hagerstown · 3 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 3 more
    (301) 797-0900

  • The City of Frederick

    100 S Market St, Frederick · 24 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Budget and financial counseling
    • and 5 more
    (301) 600-1506

  • Housing Initiative Partnership, Inc.(hip)

    12900 Middlebrook Road, Germantown · 40 miles away · Spanish

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Workshops for new owners
    • and 3 more
    (301) 916-5946

Every agency in Washington County All counseling agencies in Maryland

Help in Spanish near Halfway

2 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 Halfway

HUD’s record names them for Halfway or Washington County. They run public housing or Section 8 vouchers. Ask whether their waiting list is open.

  • Housing Authority of Washington County Section 8 vouchers (301) 791-3168

One other authority has an office in Washington County: see the list Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Washington County

These cities are also in Washington County. They share its loan limits and fair market rents, but home values and rent change from one to the next.

Everything about Washington County Housing in Maryland

Nearby cities

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

Neighboring counties

If Washington 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 Halfway.

All guides
Three generations of a family gather on the porch of their home.

Questions

Housing questions about Halfway

Short answers with the numbers for Halfway and all of Washington 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 Halfway?

The typical home value in Halfway is $253,300, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Washington County it is $296,100.

How much does it cost to rent in Halfway?

Typical rent in Halfway is $1,269 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Washington County is $1,284.

What is the FHA loan limit in Halfway?

Halfway uses the FHA limit for all of Washington 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 Halfway?

The typical homeowner in Halfway pays $1,868 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 0.74% of the home’s value; in Washington County, the rate is 0.84%.

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

There is 1 HUD-approved counseling agency with an office in Washington County. 1 says it serves in Spanish. 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).