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City · 58,679 residents · Baltimore County, Maryland

Towson , Maryland

In Towson, a typical home is worth $469,000 and typical rent is $1,764 a month. Compared with all of Baltimore County, the typical home value is 34% higher, typical household income is 10% higher, and the share of households that own their home is 11 points lower.

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  • Typical home value

    $469,000

    34% above the county

    12% above Maryland

    • Towson
    • Baltimore
    • Maryland

  • Typical rent

    $1,764a month

    8% above the county

    3% above Maryland

    • Towson
    • Baltimore
    • Maryland

  • Typical household income

    $101,320a year

    10% above the county

    2% below Maryland

    • Towson
    • Baltimore
    • Maryland

  • Households that own their home

    56%

    11 points below the county

    12 points below Maryland

    • Towson
    • Baltimore
    • Maryland

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

Market now, with Zillow data

Zillow data
Typical home value
$471,018
2.6% more than 12 months ago
Typical rent
$1,871 a month
1.8% more than 12 months ago

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

Towson is in Baltimore County. The FHA loan limit ($747,500 for a one-unit home), the fair market rents and the help on this page are those of all of Baltimore County. See the county

Data updated: October 1, 2026 11 official sources

Only here

What sets Towson apart

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

  1. Nearby, in Parkville, the typical home value is $260,400: 44% less than in Towson ($469,000).

  2. The typical home in Towson is worth $469,000, 34% more than in Baltimore County as a whole ($349,300).

  3. Nearby, in Lutherville, the typical rent is $1,423: 19% less than in Towson ($1,764).

  4. 56% of households in Towson own their home, against 66% in Baltimore County.

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

The homes here

Housing in Towson

What homes there are in Towson, 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

There are more apartments in Towson than in Baltimore County: 38% of homes, against 25%.

Year built

In Towson, half of the homes were built before 1966; in Baltimore County, before 1973.

There are fewer big homes in Towson than in Baltimore County: 53% have 3 bedrooms or more, against 63%.

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

$2,520 a month

Baltimore County: $2,049 a month

Without a mortgage

$817 a month

Baltimore County: $703 a month

Owners with a mortgage

64%

Baltimore County: 67%

Owning costs more in Towson: with a mortgage, the typical cost is $2,520 a month; in Baltimore County, $2,049. Without one, $817.

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

The typical home value in Towson rose 29% since 2015–2019, less than in Baltimore County (34%).

Much as in Baltimore County, the typical rent in Towson rose 23% since 2015–2019.

Here income did not keep up with housing: it rose 14%, while home values changed +29% and rent +23%.

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

MeasureTowsonBaltimore CountyMarylandUnited States
Rental vacancy 7.7%4.8%4.7%5.5%
Homeowner vacancy Unreliable estimate0.7%0.8%0.9%
More than one person per room Unreliable estimate2.1%2.5%3.4%
People per household 2.212.502.572.53
Drive alone 62%70%65%69%
Carpool 6%8%8%9%
Public transit 2%3%4%3%
Walk or bike 5%2%2%3%
Work from home 23%17%19%15%
Other means 1%2%2%2%
Typical commute 20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes20 to 29 minutes

The rental vacancy rate in Towson is 7.7%, higher than in Baltimore County (4.8%).

Fewer people live in each home here: 2.21 on average, against 2.50 in Baltimore County.

Many people here do not commute at all: 23% work from home; in Baltimore County, 17%.

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 Towson?

A typical home costs more than the typical income allows

We start with a typical home in Towson, worth $469,000, an FHA loan with 3.5% down and the latest average rate (7.18%). That payment would take 46% of the typical household income in Towson, which is $101,320 a year. For that payment to be 28% of income, a household would need to earn about $168,048 a year.

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

Your numbers

Local data
$

Starts at the typical home value in Towson. 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 $16,415 (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

$3,921

at 7.18% · 30 years

Loan amount
$460,505
Total interest
$662,559
Paid off in
November 2056

Includes $7,920 FHA upfront mortgage insurance premium.

Does it fit the income?

  • Comfortable

    up to $2,364 a month

  • Tight

    $2,364 to $3,040 a month

  • Hard

    more than $3,040 a month

    Your payment · 46%

Compared with the typical household income in Towson ($101,320 a year). Reference: HUD calls paying more than 30% of income for housing a cost burden.

Show the result as
per month$3,921
Principal & interest$3,120
Property tax$399
Home insurance$195
FHA mortgage insurance (MIP)$207

You need at least $16,415 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

Towson and Baltimore County

Towson is in Baltimore 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).

Towson's own numbers

Typical home value
$469,000
Typical monthly rent
$1,764
Typical yearly household income
$101,320
Households that own their home
56%
Effective property tax rate
1.02%

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

Numbers for all of Baltimore County

FHA limit, one-unit home
$747,500
Conventional limit, one unit
$832,750
HUD fair market rent, 2 bedrooms
$2,006
Price change over 5 years (FHFA)
+39%

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 Baltimore County.

Everything about Baltimore County

Buying

Buying a home in Towson

A typical home in Towson is worth $469,000: 34% above the county and 12% above Maryland. With the typical household income in Towson ($101,320 a year), a typical home costs 4.6 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.

  • Towson 4.6 years
  • Baltimore 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 Baltimore County

According to FHFA’s house price index, home prices in Baltimore County rose 58% in the 10 years through 2025.

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

Period County Maryland U.S.
Last year (2025) +2.9% +2.7% +2.9%
5 years (2020–2025) +39% +40% +47%
10 years (2015–2025) +58% +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

Towson next to Baltimore 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
  • Towson $469,000
  • Baltimore $349,300
  • Maryland $419,900
  • United States $332,700
Typical monthly rent
  • Towson $1,764
  • Baltimore $1,627
  • Maryland $1,705
  • United States $1,413
Typical yearly household income
  • Towson $101,320
  • Baltimore $91,768
  • Maryland $103,678
  • United States $80,734
See the full table
Towson next to Baltimore County and Maryland
Measure Towson Baltimore County Maryland U.S.
Typical home value $469,000 $349,300 $419,900 $332,700
Typical monthly rent $1,764 $1,627 $1,705 $1,413
Typical yearly household income $101,320 $91,768 $103,678 $80,734
Households that own their home 56% 66% 68% 65%
Typical yearly property tax $4,796 $3,736 $4,093 $3,119
Effective property tax rate 1.02% 1.07% 0.97% 0.94%
Renters with high rent for their income 57% 54% 51% 51%

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

For a typical $469,000 home in Towson, at Freddie Mac's average rate (7.18% as of November 5, 2026) over 30 years. The monthly payment adds principal and interest, Towson's typical property tax, an example home insurance and mortgage insurance when it applies.

  • FHA, 3.5% down $3,921a month

    Least cash to close
    Down payment
    $16,415
    Cash to close
    $30,485
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    FHA MIP · $207

  • Conventional, 5% down $3,835a month

    Down payment
    $23,450
    Cash to close
    $37,520
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    PMI · $223

  • Conventional, 20% down, no PMI $3,136a month

    Down payment
    $93,800
    Cash to close
    $107,870
    Rate
    7.18%
    Mortgage insurance
    None

  • ITIN, 15% down (example) $3,569a month

    Down payment
    $70,350
    Cash to close
    $84,420
    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 Towson and for Baltimore County.

Property tax

Effective rate in Towson

1.02%of the home’s value each year

$4,796 a year for the typical owner in Towson.

  • Towson 1.02%
  • Baltimore 1.07%
  • 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 Baltimore County

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

FEMA’s maps count no homes in the high-risk zone in Baltimore County. That does not mean it cannot flood: check your address.

Most homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damage.

Look up your address on FEMA’s map

Renting

Renting in Towson

Typical rent in Towson is $1,764 a month: 8% above the county. In Towson, 57% of renter households pay 30% or more of their income in rent.

HUD publishes a fair market rent for all of Baltimore County, by unit size. To pay the 2-bedroom one ($2,006 a month) without spending more than 30% of your income, you would need to earn $38.58 an hour working full time.

HUD fair market rent for all of Baltimore 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 $1,523 $29.29 $60,920
1 bedroom $1,625 $31.25 $65,000
2 bedrooms $2,006 $38.58 $80,240
3 bedrooms $2,509 $48.25 $100,360
4 bedrooms $2,789 $53.63 $111,560

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 Towson

HUD also publishes a fair market rent for each ZIP code (Small Area FMR, fiscal year 2027). Towson has 4 ZIP codes with their own.

For 2 bedrooms it runs from $2,060 in 21286 to $2,340 in 21204.

4 of the 4 are above the fair market rent for Baltimore County ($2,006).

  • 21204 $2,340$2,930
  • 21252 $2,320$2,910
  • 21285 $2,150$2,690
  • 21286 $2,060$2,580

1 of these ZIP codes crosses the city line: HUD sets the rent by ZIP code, not by city. A ZIP code counts for Towson 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 Towson

HUD lists 6 buildings with rents for lower incomes in Towson. These are the largest.

  • Tabco Towers Apartments 305 E Joppa Rd, Towson 21286 200 low-income homes · 1 bd: 80 · In service since 2016 · For older adults (410) 821-9220
  • Virginia Towers 500 Virginia Ave, Towson 21286 150 low-income homes · For older adults (410) 321-9661
  • Timothy House 20 Dunvale Rd, Towson 21204 112 low-income homes · In service since 2008 · For older adults
  • Trinity House 409 Virginia Ave, Towson 21286 82 low-income homes · For older adults (410) 825-5288
  • Aigburth Vale 212 Aigburth Rd, Towson 21286 71 homes, 70 low-income · In service since 2000

See all 88 buildings in Baltimore County Source: HUD, Retrieved November 6, 2026

Free help

Help to buy or rent in Towson

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 are 2 HUD-approved agencies with an office in Baltimore County; none says it serves in Spanish.

A man shakes hands with the specialist who helped him with his loan, in the kitchen of his new home.

HUD counseling is free or low-cost

Assistance programs in Towson

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

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

  • Harbel Housing Partnership ( A Division of Harbel Community Organization, Inc.)

    5807 Harford Rd, Baltimore · 4 miles away

    • Budget and financial counseling
    • Pre-purchase counseling
    • and 1 more
    (410) 444-9152

  • Comprehensive Housing Assistance, Inc

    5809 Park Heights Ave, Baltimore · 5 miles away · Spanish

    Also serves in American Sign Language (ASL) and Russian.

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 6 more
    (410) 500-5300

  • ST. Ambrose Housing Aid Center, Inc.

    321 E 25th St, Baltimore · 5 miles away

    • Mortgage delinquency and default
    • Mortgage delinquency workshops
    • and 3 more
    (410) 366-8550

Every agency in Baltimore County All counseling agencies in Maryland

Help in Spanish near Towson

1 of the 3 agencies on this list says it serves 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 Towson

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

All housing agencies in Maryland Source: HUD

Cities

Other cities in Baltimore County

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

Everything about Baltimore County Housing in Maryland
See 18 more cities in Baltimore County, with prices and rents

Every city has its own page with prices, rents and help.

Nearby cities

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

Neighboring counties

If Baltimore 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 Towson.

All guides
A couple spread mulch under the avocado trees of their family orchard, he on the tractor and she with a shovel.

Questions

Housing questions about Towson

Short answers with the numbers for Towson and all of Baltimore 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 Towson?

The typical home value in Towson is $469,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau (average 2020–2024). For comparison, in Baltimore County it is $349,300.

How much does it cost to rent in Towson?

Typical rent in Towson is $1,764 a month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. HUD’s fair market rent for 2 bedrooms in Baltimore County is $2,006.

What is the FHA loan limit in Towson?

Towson uses the FHA limit for all of Baltimore County (2026): $747,500 for a one-unit home and $1,437,500 for a four-unit home.

How much property tax do owners pay in Towson?

The typical homeowner in Towson pays $4,796 a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That is 1.02% of the home’s value; in Baltimore County, the rate is 1.07%.

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

There are 2 HUD-approved counseling agencies with an office in Baltimore 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).