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Featured local agent — Kensington, MD
Sarah Mitchell
Compass Real Estate · Kensington, MD
“Your trusted relocation specialist since 2009. 350+ homes sold. Zero-pressure, data-first approach.”
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Kensington, MD Housing Market
The typical home in Kensington, MD is worth $793,520, fell 3.7% over the past year (Zillow Home Value Index, August 2026). The last median sale price Redfin published was $1.02M (through May 2026). With 1.6 months of supply and homes going under contract in about 4 days, Kensington is a strong seller's market. At today's 7.03% 30-year fixed rate, 20% down on a $793,520 home is about $4,236/mo in principal and interest.
Key numbers for Kensington, MD
Typical home value
$793,520
-3.7% in 12 months
Zillow, August 2026
Typical asking rent
$3,150/mo
Zillow Observed Rent Index
Zillow, August 2026
Median sale price
$1.02M
Last published period
Redfin, through May 2026
Days on market
4
Fast-moving
Redfin, through May 2026
Active listings
8
1.6 months of supply
Redfin, through May 2026
30-yr fixed rate
7.03%
Freddie Mac weekly average
Freddie Mac via FRED, September 2026
Median household income
$149,698
Home costs 5.3x income
U.S. Census ACS, 2023
Sale-to-list ratio
102.3%
Selling above asking
Redfin, through May 2026
Zillow figures are as of August 2026 and refresh monthly. Redfin figures are through May 2026 — Redfin stopped publishing its public market trackers in June 2026, so those numbers are final, not current. Mortgage rates come from Freddie Mac via FRED and update weekly.
Is Kensington a buyer's or seller's market?
Kensington, MD is a strong seller's market, based on 1.6 months of supply and homes selling in about 4 days. Under 2 months of supply is a severe shortage: expect competition on almost anything priced correctly, and little room to negotiate below asking.
Inputs are Redfin's final published period (May 2026). How we classify markets · Where the data comes from
What does the Kensington housing market data show?
Every row below is Redfin's final published month for Kensington, MD. Redfin, through May 2026
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Median sale price | $1.02M |
| Median list price | $980,500 |
| Median price per sq ft | $500/sq ft |
| Median days on market | 4 days |
| Active inventory | 8 listings |
| Months of supply | 1.6 months |
| Sale-to-list price ratio | 102.3% |
| Homes sold (that month) | 5 |
| New listings (that month) | 6 |
| Market condition | Strong seller's market |
How to read these numbers
- Median sale price
- Half the homes that closed sold for more than this, half for less. It moves with what kind of home sold that month, so a quiet month with two big sales can swing it. Redfin's figure for Kensington is frozen at May 2026.
- Typical home value (ZHVI)
- Zillow's estimate of what a mid-market home in Kensington is worth right now, whether or not it sold. It is smoother than the median sale price and it still refreshes monthly, which is why this page leads with it.
- Months of supply
- How long it would take to sell every active listing at the current pace. Under 3 favors sellers, over 6 favors buyers, and 3 to 6 is the balanced band.
- Days on market
- Median time from listing to accepted offer. Short means you should have financing ready before you tour; long means there is room to negotiate on price and repairs.
- Sale-to-list ratio
- Sale price divided by the last asking price. Above 100% means bidding above asking is normal here; below 100% means the typical buyer got a discount.
- Price per square foot
- The size-adjusted price. Use it to compare a 1,400 sq ft house to a 2,600 sq ft house, not to value your own home — lot, condition and age move it a lot.
- Listings with a price cut
- Share of active listings that dropped their asking price in the month. A high share is the earliest visible sign that sellers are ahead of what buyers will pay.
- Typical asking rent (ZORI)
- Zillow's repeat-rent index for asking rents on new leases. Paired with the home value it gives the price-to-rent ratio in the rent-vs-buy section below.
How have Kensington home prices moved?
Over the last three years the median sale price in Kensington, MD rose 111.6%, from $482,500 to $1.02M. The live Zillow value series has fell 3.7% in the last 12 months, which is the more current read now that Redfin's series has stopped. For prices to fall meaningfully from here, supply would have to keep building past 1.6 months while the sale-to-list ratio slips below its current 102.3%. Watch those two together — they move before the median does.
Redfin, through May 2026 — the chart ends at Redfin's final published month.
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What does it cost to buy a home in Kensington?
Priced off the typical home value of $793,520 at the current 7.03% 30-year fixed rate. These are principal and interest only — property taxes, homeowner's insurance, HOA dues and mortgage insurance are on top, and they vary enough by property that we will not guess them for you.
| Down payment | Cash at close | Loan amount | Monthly P&I |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20% | $158,704 | $634,816 | $4,236/mo |
| 5% | $39,676 | $753,844 | $5,031/mo |
Zillow, August 2026 for the price · Freddie Mac via FRED, September 2026 for the rate
What income do you need?
Lenders generally want housing costs under 28% of gross income. On the 20%-down payment of $4,236, that implies roughly $181,553 a year before you add taxes and insurance. The median household in Kensington earns $149,698, about $31,855 short of that threshold — the typical local household needs a larger down payment, a co-borrower, or a home below the typical home value to fit the 28% rule. That puts the price-to-income ratio at 5.3x — well above the 3x that was historically considered affordable, which is why down payment size drives who can buy here.
Run it with your own numbers: affordability calculator · mortgage calculator
Buying in Kensington in the next 12 months?
Tell us your timeline. We send the Kensington market brief: the price ranges that actually clear, how long homes sit, and what to fix on your credit before you apply.
Is it cheaper to rent or buy in Kensington?
Typical asking rent in Kensington, MD is $3,150/mo, against a typical home value of $793,520. That is a price-to-rent ratio of 21.0x, which means renting tends to be the cheaper monthly option unless you stay long enough for appreciation to close the gap. Compared head to head, 20% down puts principal and interest at $4,236 a month — $1,086 more than renting before taxes and insurance, so the ownership case here rests on equity and appreciation rather than monthly cash flow.
Zillow, August 2026 for both value and rent
Add your own down payment, tax rate and time horizon in the rent vs. buy calculator.
Is inventory rising or falling in Kensington?
Active listings in Kensington, MD went from 2 in December 2024 to 8 in May 2026, a +300.0% change. Rising inventory is the single most useful leading indicator for buyers: more choice, longer marketing times, and more sellers willing to negotiate before price cuts show up in the median.
| Month | Active listings | New listings |
|---|---|---|
| January 2025 | 2 | 1 |
| March 2025 | 3 | 2 |
| April 2025 | 4 | 1 |
| June 2025 | 4 | not published |
| August 2025 | 7 | 4 |
| September 2025 | 8 | 1 |
| November 2025 | 11 | 2 |
| December 2025 | 8 | 1 |
| January 2026 | 6 | 1 |
| February 2026 | 4 | not published |
| April 2026 | 5 | 7 |
| May 2026 | 8 | 6 |
Redfin, through May 2026
How does Kensington compare to Maryland and the U.S.?
Kensington homes sell for $1.02M — 114% above the Maryland median of $477,300. Against the national median of $410,700, Kensington runs 149% higher.
| Market | Median sale price | YoY | Days on market |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kensington, MD | $1.02M | not published | 4 days |
| Maryland statewide | $477,300 | +5.5% | 34 days |
| United States | $410,700 | not published | not published |
City and state rows: Redfin, through May 2026 · U.S. row: Freddie Mac via FRED, April 2026 (MSPUS, quarterly)
What to do next in Kensington
What buyers should watch
- Months of supply, currently 1.6. It turns before price does — when it climbs past 6, sellers start taking offers they would have rejected a quarter earlier.
- The gap between 5% and 20% down here is $794 a month in principal and interest alone, before mortgage insurance. That gap, not the price, is usually what decides your timeline.
- Rate moves. At 7.03%, every full point of rate change moves the payment on a $793,520 home more than a 5% price change does.
- Your credit tier before you shop, not after — it sets the rate you are quoted. Run your numbers first.
What sellers should know
- The median Kensington listing goes under contract in 4 days. If yours passes that mark, the market is telling you the price is wrong — not that you need more showings.
- Homes here close at 102.3% of asking. Price at the number you want and let competition do the rest.
- In the last published month Kensington added 6 new listings against 5 sales — more competition arriving than clearing, so early timing matters.
- Your equity moved -3.7% in the last 12 months on the Zillow value series. That, not the price you paid, is what sets your net proceeds.
- Comparable ZIP-level pricing inside Kensington varies more than the citywide median suggests — check the ZIP pages below before you set a number.
Homes for sale in Kensington
There are currently 8 homes listed for sale in Kensington, Maryland. The median listing price is $981K.
Active listings
8
Homes on market
Median list price
$981K
Avg. days on market
4
Days until sale
New this week
6
Newly listed
How much do homes cost in Kensington by property type?
How the Kensington, MD market breaks down across single-family homes, condos and townhouses. Redfin, through May 2026
| Property type | Median price | Price / sq ft | Homes sold | Days on market |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single-family | $1.02M | $500/sq ft | 5 | 4 days |
| Condo / co-op | $205,000 | $262/sq ft | 1 | 193 days |
| Townhouse | $226,600 | $210/sq ft | 1 | 34 days |
Who lives in Kensington?
American Community Survey estimates for Kensington. U.S. Census ACS, 2023
Population
2,248
Households
828
Median income
$149,698/yr
Median age
41.1 years
Owner-occupied
52.4%
Median home value
$919,400
Median gross rent
$2,105/mo
Mean commute
30 min
52.4% of occupied homes in Kensington are owner-occupied, and the rest are rented — which is the share that decides how much of the local housing stock ever reaches the for-sale market. The Census self-reported median home value is $919,400 against Zillow's $793,520 typical value; the gap is normal — ACS asks owners what they think their home is worth, Zillow models transactions. Census median gross rent (all leases, including long-held ones) is $2,105/mo, below Zillow's $3,150/mo asking rent on new leases — the difference is roughly what a mover pays over a stayer.
Which public schools serve Kensington?
7 schools tracked · 5,266 students
The largest public schools serving Kensington, MD by enrollment, drawn from the National Center for Education Statistics. School quality is a commonly cited factor in home-buying decisions — these are the campuses families in this area are most likely to encounter.
Albert Einstein High
Grades 9-12 · 2,024 students
Silver Creek Middle
Grades 6-8 · 766 students
Garrett Park Elementary
Grades PK-5 · 685 students
Newport Mill Middle
Grades 6-8 · 607 students
Rock View Elementary
Grades PK-5 · 570 students
Kensington Parkwood Elementary
Grades K-5 · 560 students
Stephen Knolls School
Grades PK-12 · 54 students
Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data directory. Updated annually. Ratings and test scores are not currently displayed.
Which cities are near Kensington, MD?
Ordered by distance from Kensington, not by size. Compare Kensington side by side with any of them.
Kensington housing market FAQ
Is Kensington a buyer's or seller's market?
Kensington, MD is currently a strong seller's market. That read comes from 1.6 months of supply, homes going under contract in about 4 days, and sellers getting 102.3% of their asking price in the last month Redfin published (May 2026).
How much do homes cost in Kensington?
The typical home in Kensington, MD is worth $793,520 (Zillow Home Value Index, August 2026). The median sale price in the last month Redfin published was $1.02M, about $500 per square foot.
Is Kensington cheaper than the rest of Maryland?
Kensington's median sale price of $1.02M is 114% higher than the Maryland statewide median of $477,300, and 149% above the U.S. median of $410,700. Both figures are for the same period.
How long do homes take to sell in Kensington?
Homes in Kensington, MD spent a median of 4 days on market before going under contract, versus 34 days statewide. Under three weeks means well-priced listings move before most buyers can schedule a second showing. (Redfin, through May 2026.)
What income do you need to buy a home in Kensington?
At the current 30-year fixed rate of 7.03%, 20% down on a $793,520 home is about $4,236 a month in principal and interest. Lenders typically want that under 28% of gross income, which works out to roughly $181,553 a year before taxes, insurance, HOA dues or mortgage insurance. The local median household income is $149,698.
Are home prices rising in Kensington?
The typical home value in Kensington, MD fell 3.7% over the last 12 months, from $823,622 to $793,520 (Zillow, August 2026). This is the live series — it refreshes monthly.
What are the cheapest ZIP codes in Kensington?
Kensington ZIP-level sale prices are not all published for the same period, so ranking them would compare different months. The ZIP pages listed on this page show what we hold for each one individually.
Is now a good time to buy in Kensington?
That depends on your timeline, not on a headline. What the data says today: Kensington, MD is a strong seller's market with 1.6 months of supply, the 30-year fixed rate is 7.03%, and the price-to-rent ratio of 21.0x means renting tends to be the cheaper monthly option unless you stay long enough for appreciation to close the gap. Properties Incorporated publishes the data; it does not give financial advice.
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