The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 21661 sells for about $371,000, or $260 per square foot.
Prices are up +9.4% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 57 days to sell. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,000 a month.
ZIP 21661 — Rock Hall
The Rock Hall housing market is experiencing steady appreciation with a 9.4% year-over-year increase in median home values. While it remains a buyer's market due to inventory levels, the shortened days on market suggest consistent demand for waterfront properties. The market is driven by its appeal as a lifestyle destination rather than proximity to major employment centers.
This ZIP is best suited for retirees, second-home buyers, and those seeking a quiet, waterfront lifestyle, as it offers limited immediate access to major urban employment centers.
Median prices moved up 9.4% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 57 days on market with 1.0 months of supply — a fast-moving market.
13% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 100% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 1.2% · poverty 11.8% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 4.7%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 3.5%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
in-migration and out-migration balanced
ZCTA 21661, Kent County MD
ACS 2024 5-year estimates. Aggregate published statistics for this ZIP — never individual records, and never an attribute of any individual property or resident.
Schools serving the Rock Hall area are part of the Kent County Public Schools system, which generally maintains a rural, community-focused educational environment.
The area is located on the Chesapeake Bay, making flood and storm surge risk a primary consideration for property insurance and long-term climate resilience.
Economic momentum is driven by tourism, maritime industries, and its status as a historic waterfront destination, with limited large-scale industrial development.
Property taxes are levied by Kent County and the Town of Rock Hall, with rates determined by local assessments and municipal budget requirements.
Commuting from Rock Hall typically involves long drives to regional employment hubs like Chestertown or across the Bay Bridge toward Annapolis and Baltimore.
The area is defined by its waterfront access, including marinas, fishing, and proximity to Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge for outdoor activities.
The rental market is characterized by limited inventory and seasonal demand, with a notable presence of short-term vacation rentals due to the waterfront location.
The local economy is anchored by the maritime industry, tourism, and small-scale retail services catering to residents and seasonal visitors.
Public transit is minimal; residents rely almost exclusively on personal vehicles for transportation.
Development is largely focused on small-scale residential improvements and maintaining the historic character of the waterfront.
Kent County utilizes a triennial assessment cycle to determine property values for tax purposes.
Parcels are subject to Kent County property taxes and specific municipal levies for the Town of Rock Hall.
Property insurance premiums are influenced by the area's coastal location and associated flood risk profiles.
Data retrieved from census.gov ZCTA profiles.
- Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park3.819.7 mi
- Play Street Museum - Severna Park4.918 mi
- Pirate Adventures on the Chesapeake4.917.2 mi
- EscapeTime Escape Rooms4.919.5 mi
- Mission Escape Rooms4.817.6 mi
- Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium4.717.9 mi
- Quiet Waters Park4.818.7 mi
- Chesapeake Bay Beach Club4.711 mi
- Chart House Prime4.417.1 mi
- Kent Island Resort4.411.3 mi
- William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bay Bridge4.411.7 mi
- Terrapin Nature Park4.610 mi
- Downs Park4.712.2 mi
- Matapeake Park4.412.9 mi
- Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center4.711.1 mi
- Quiet Waters Park4.818.7 mi
- Maryland State House4.717.4 mi
- Maryland Hall4.618.2 mi
- U.S. Naval Academy Museum4.817 mi
- Annapolis Maritime Museum & Park4.617.1 mi
- Sandy Point State Park4.411.9 mi
- Terrapin Nature Park4.610 mi
- Downs Park4.712.2 mi
- Downs Park Dog Beach4.611.8 mi
- Matapeake Park4.412.9 mi
- Donnelly's Dockside4.313.9 mi
- Annapolis Yacht Club4.717.3 mi
- Sparrows Point Country Club4.517.4 mi
- Safe Harbor Port Annapolis4.817.4 mi
- Bert Jabin Yacht Yard4.617.6 mi
- Queenstown Harbor Golf4.68.5 mi
- Safe Harbor Great Oak Landing4.210.8 mi
- Queenstown Premium Outlets4.39.1 mi
- Safeway49.8 mi
- Stevensville Crab Shack4.510.8 mi
- ACME Markets4.19.6 mi
- ACME Markets411.2 mi
- Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport4.324.9 mi
- The Club BWI3.924.7 mi
Theme parks, venues, golf, airports, museums, water and shopping across the area from Google Maps, ranked by popularity within the radius shown.
A major wildlife sanctuary offering trails and birdwatching.
The central hub for local boating, fishing, and maritime dining.
Deterministic aggregate of 1 researched property in this ZIP (latest reading each) — each property weighs one; per point, properties lacking the value are excluded. Property-level records (taxes, scores, permits) never roll individually.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.