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City Housing Verdict

College Park, MD

High Pressure

Living in College Park, MD costs about 22% more than the national average (Cost Index: 122). Housing is the main driver — the typical home value of $431,271 is well above the $303,400 US median. The local median household income is $74,867, which helps frame the place-side housing burden.

College Park already reads as a high-pressure housing market, with 30% rent burden, 5.8x home-price-to-income, and a housing index of 142. Treat this page as a stress test for rent, mortgage, and tax burden before assuming the move works.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Stretch

Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for College Park.

Monthly Housing
$1,846/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
30%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$3,893/mo
After housing and debt · $1,298/person
Rent vs Buy
Rent first
Main pressure: home prices
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ZILLOWRent source: ACSBEA proxy: msaHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 38%
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Cost Index
122
Expensive
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$431,271
Zillow ZHVI Market Rate • Census ACS: $429,000
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$1,846/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$74,867
National: $78,538
Population
34,397
Purchasing Power
78
100 = national baseline

Cost of Living Breakdown

Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.

Housing Cost Index
142 / 100
42% above average
Rent Index
137 / 100
37% above average
Goods & Groceries
105 / 100
About the same as most US cities
Utilities
107 / 100
Typical utility costs
Healthcare & Services
102 / 100
In line with national average
Overall Index
122
Expensive · 22% above average

College Park Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $431,271 and Maryland's property tax rate of 1.07%.

Household Housing Budget

Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.

Local Household Income
$74,867
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
30%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
5.8x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether College Park looks structurally manageable for a household budget. For a specific job offer, filing status, payroll taxes, or salary equivalence across cities, run the income-side decision in salary.city.

Property Tax in College Park, MD

Est. Annual Property Tax
$4,615
Monthly Impact
$385
Added to your mortgage
Effective Rate
1.07%
National avg: ~1.00%

Maryland Place Tax Context

Tax TypeMarylandNational Avg
Property Tax Rate1.07%1.00%
Top Income Tax Rate5.75%~5.0%
State Sales Tax6%~5.0%

Compare College Park to Another City

Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.

Cost of Living Comparison

Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.

College Park, MD
122
137
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
College Park, MD: 142
Rent Prices
137

FAQ: Living in College Park

Is College Park, MD an expensive place to live?+

Yes — College Park is about 22% more expensive than the national average, with an overall Cost Index of 122. Housing is the biggest factor: the typical home here is valued around $431,271, and monthly rents average roughly $1,846. Day-to-day costs like groceries and utilities tend to run closer to the national norm.

How does College Park fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,846, while local median household income is $74,867. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 30% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

How much are taxes in College Park, MD?+

Maryland has a progressive state income tax with a top rate of 5.75%. The effective property tax rate is 1.07%. On a home worth $431,271, that translates to roughly $4,615 per year in property taxes. Sales tax (state + local) averages around 6% on everyday purchases.

How much does it cost to rent in College Park, MD?+

The typical monthly rent in College Park is around $1,846. That's about 37% higher than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $431,271, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in College Park, MD?+

The median home in College Park is valued at $431,271. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $2,181/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 38% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in College Park?+

Grocery prices in College Park are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 105, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are about typical (index: 107). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is College Park, MD like to live in?+

College Park is a smaller city with a population of about 34,397. The median age of residents is 21.6, skewing younger — often a sign of a college town or fast-growing area. The local poverty rate is 29.32%, above the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in Maryland

If College Park feels tight, start with these same-state cities that look easier on rent burden or buy-side pressure.

Higher-Pressure Comparisons in Maryland

Use these city pages when you want to compare College Park against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.

LC
Reviewed by LivabilityCalc Research Team
Financial Data Analysts · Census & Economic Data Specialists
Data Sources & Methodology
  • Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
  • Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
  • Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
  • Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
  • Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)
Last data update: March 2026 · Mortgage rates updated monthly