Frederick County · Washington-Arlington-Alexandria · population 89,537
Where Frederick stands
At or near all-time high. population growing 3.5% per year.
Home value trajectory · last 10 years
Zillow ZHVI · monthlyLifestyle scores
Scores are heuristic estimates from population density, state, and known transit/walkable cities. Not based on a paid Walk Score / Transit Score API — see methodology for the formula.
Rent trajectory · last 5 years
Zillow ZORI · monthlyHome value vs rent · indexed to 100
Both rebased at first month of ZORI data (~2015)Rent vs buy
At a 18.4 price-to-rent ratio, Frederick is in the 'depends on horizon' zone. Buy if you'll be there 5+ years and value flexibility on the home; rent if you might move, want zero maintenance friction, or expect rates to drop.
How the momentum score breaks down
methodology →Frederick has held up across the cycle: home values at $468,098 with +4.6% 5-year CAGR. The bull case is structural — population, location, employer base — and holds even if next year's print is soft.
Frederick's bear case is the boring one: the cycle is real and any market that's run hard can stall. Watch for slowing population growth, rising days-on-market, or builder discounts as the early warning signals.
About Frederick
Frederick is a city in Frederick County, Maryland, with an estimated population of 89,537. It anchors the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro area. The population has grown 3.5% per year on average between 2020 and 2024 — among the faster-growing communities in the state. The median home value in Frederick is $468,098 as of 2026-04, down 0.9% over the last 12 months. Over the last five years, home values have averaged +4.6% annual growth, with prices at or near the 5-year peak. Rents in Frederick average $2,121 per month, roughly flat year-over-year (+1.1%). The composite momentum score is 66 of 100 (Rising). The market is healthy with prices supported by underlying demand.
▲ Bull case
▼ Bear case
About Frederick (Wikipedia)
Frederick is a city in and the county seat of Frederick County, Maryland, United States. Frederick's population was 78,171 people as of the 2020 census, making it the second-largest incorporated city in Maryland behind Baltimore. It is a part of the Washington metropolitan area and the greater Washington–Baltimore combined statistical area.
Source: Wikipedia · this summary is contributed and licensed under CC-BY-SA.
City facts
Extracted from the Wikipedia infobox. Values may be slightly out of date relative to the latest sources.
Playbook
You're not in a frenzy but you're not getting bargains either. Make a competitive offer with normal inspection terms. Don't lowball — the listing will move with or without you.
Price at fair market value; expect movement in 30-45 days. Don't get clever with terms (rent-back, contingencies) — buyers in a Rising market have options.
Appreciation tailwind exists but cash flow requires discipline on price. Run the numbers conservatively and confirm rent comps before committing.
Local safety & alerts
No active National Weather Service alerts for Frederick County right now.
Public-safety links are official .gov sources, not curated by us. Frederick County routes NWS alerts; check the state EM portal for non-weather emergencies.
Cities like Frederick
Run the numbers for Frederick
Sources: Zillow ZHVI (home values), Zillow ZORI (rents), US Census ACS + place population. Updated when source agencies publish revisions.
Climate & natural-disaster risk
State-level averages from NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020) and FEMA National Risk Index. City-level conditions can vary significantly within a state.
Local sports teams
Major professional teams the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria area cheers for. Detailed stats, schedules, and player pages on intherafters.com.
Current weather
Find rentals & listings
Open current Frederick listings on the major real-estate sites.
Links open the live search on the destination site — results are always current.
Local news & community
Latest news
- Temporary Closure Notice for Food Bank and ClinicThe City of Frederick, MD (.gov) · 11h ago
- Power poles collapse along Route 85 in Frederick County, causing closuresFOX 5 DC · 5h ago
- Board of Public Works Approves $9.2 Million for Park Pavilions, Playgrounds, and Land Conservation in Four Maryland CountiesMaryland.gov · 10h ago
- Multiple cars trapped after 12 power poles snap in Frederick CountyWMAR 2 News Baltimore · 4h ago
- Drivers Trapped As Frederick County Storms Tear Down Utility Poles Across Highway ( Photosdailyvoice.com · 5h ago
- Frederick County Council approves $1.4 billion budgetWYPR · 9h ago
Updated 2026-05-21 from Google News + Reddit RSS. Headlines link to original sources.
Local economy & environment
Humidity is annual average relative humidity (NOAA). Income is Census ACS 5-year estimate. Industries are largest employment sectors statewide (BLS); the local mix in a given city may vary.
Cities similar to Frederick
Explore other places with comparable momentum or affordability.