What your paycheck buys · Updated every Friday

What a paycheck buys in Maryland this week

A stretch · #8 of 50 on affordability · rate for the week of October 22, 2026

A median Maryland household earning $116,300 a year can afford a home of about $367,000 at this week’s 7.32% average 30-year rate. The median Maryland listing is $425,000, which would take 32.4% of that household’s gross income, against the usual 28% ceiling.

$367,000

Affordable home price

+$2,421 vs. last week · −$12,640 vs. a year ago

$425,000

Median list price (September 2026)

−$13,750 vs. a year earlier

Affordability index (100 = within reach)

U.S. 66 · Maryland 87 a year ago

32.4%

Share of income the median listing takes

$3,141/mo incl. taxes & insurance · U.S. 42.5%

$116,000

Median household income (2025)

U.S. $87,000

Rank of 50 (1 = most affordable)

See the full ranking

Compared with a year ago

A year ago, with the 30-year rate at 6.19%, a median list price of $438,750 and median income of $109,300 (2024 figure), the same household could afford about $380,000 and the median listing took 32.3% of income. Affordability in Maryland has worsened since then.

Nearby in the ranking

#6 Missouri: can afford $267,000, median listing $300,000
#7 Pennsylvania: can afford $271,000, median listing $309,000
#9 Michigan: can afford $242,000, median listing $300,000
#10 Indiana: can afford $241,000, median listing $299,000

Maryland housing market report → · Maryland brokerage directory → · Run your own numbers →

How this is calculated: 28% of gross monthly income for housing, 10% down, a 30-year fixed loan at Freddie Mac’s weekly average, and 1.45% of the price a year for taxes and insurance. Full method, caveats, and sources on the main index page. An educational gauge, not a mortgage quote.