Mount Rainier, MD

This city of 8,281 residents needs 358 more housing units over the next five years. Mount Rainier is part of the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board.

Housing snapshot

Population
8,281 (2026)
Households
3,974
Median household income
$76,134 (2026)
Typical home value
$449,640
Owner-occupied
23%
Five-year housing need
358 units

Comparison to other Maryland municipalities

Mount Rainier: $76,134 Median income (2026 estimate)
<$33K >$230K
Mount Rainier: 0.16 jobs to household ratio
<0.07 >2.94
Mount Rainier: No permit data
<0.1% >13.7%
On this page

How affordable is this community?

A typical home in Mount Rainier, MD costs $449,640, somewhat above the Maryland average of $394,079. At a median household income of $76,134 in Mount Rainier, MD, affordability is stretched, with households needing roughly $39,071 more to comfortably afford the typical home.

This chart tracks whether housing prices are keeping pace with local incomes. The gap between what homes cost and what households can afford reveals affordability trends over time.

How is the population changing?

Mount Rainier, MD has a population of roughly 8,245 that has been largely stable in recent years.

Population growth patterns reveal how communities are evolving. This chart shows historical population changes by age group and projects future trends based on demographic patterns.

How has employment changed over time?

Jobs by industry sector since 2012. Switch between local jobs — counted where the jobs are located — and resident jobs, counted where the workers live. On the local view the most recent year is a nowcast: it grows the latest local LODES job mix forward using recent county employment growth from QCEW and the BLS local employment series, so the newest point tracks today's economy instead of data that is roughly two years old.

How are households changing by income?

Mount Rainier, MD has roughly 3,974 households and a population that has been largely stable in recent years.

Understanding how households at different income levels are growing or declining helps identify which groups face the greatest housing pressure and where new housing is most needed.

Who lives here today?

The housing stock in Mount Rainier, MD is relatively mixed, with 5-49 unit multifamily as the most common type at 45%. Mount Rainier, MD is a heavily renter-occupied market, with just 23% of households owning their home.

Households may have different structure type preferences depending on characteristics such as household size, income, employment, presence of children, age of individuals, and lifestyle choices. Understanding the housing stock in corresponding terms helps assess how well existing units align with existing households' ideals.

What does the housing stock look like?

The mix of housing types and ownership patterns shapes a community's character. This chart breaks down housing units by structure type and whether they're owner-occupied or rented.

How much new housing supply is needed?

To keep up with growth and fill current housing shortages, Mount Rainier, MD needs 358 new units over the next 5 years.

358
Units to address shortages in existing housing stock
Production needs to address vacancy rates and other factors.
50
Replacement housing
Effective annual loss rate is 2.5 per 1,000 units.
208
Rental vacancy adjustment
Rental vacancy is 1.1%. This is below the minimum stable target of 7.4%.
100
Overcrowding adjustment
Overcrowding rate is 5.9%. This is above National avg. of 3.4%.
358
Total 5-year housing production need (2026-2031)
72
Annual production pace
Average units needed per year to meet 5-year need
8.9%
Total housing unit growth
Percent increase in housing stock over 5 years
1.8%
Annual housing unit growth
Average percent increase in housing stock per year

How does this place compare to similar communities?