Housing Costs After Divorce in Maryland
Last reviewed: March 2026
The median home in Maryland is valued at $400,000. Keeping that home on a single income costs approximately $2,837/month (mortgage + taxes + insurance + maintenance). Renting a comparable home actually costs more in Maryland — about $571,876/month more.
Monthly carrying costs in Maryland
Here is what it costs to keep the median-priced home in Maryland ($400,000) on a single income. These figures assume a 20% down payment and a 30-year fixed mortgage at 6.09%.
| Expense | Monthly | Annual |
|---|---|---|
| Mortgage (80% LTV, 30yr fixed) | $1,937 | $23,245 |
| Property taxes (1.04%) | $347 | $4,160 |
| Homeowners insurance | $219 | $2,633 |
| Maintenance (1% rule) | $333 | $4,000 |
| Total carrying cost | $2,837 | $34,038 |
Can you afford to keep it?
Financial advisors generally recommend keeping housing costs below 28–35% of gross income. Here is what you would need to earn to keep the median Maryland home:
| Threshold | Monthly income needed | Annual income needed |
|---|---|---|
| Conservative (28%) | $10,130 | $121,566 |
| Moderate (35%) | $8,104 | $97,253 |
Maryland insurance costs
Homeowners insurance in Maryland averages $2,633/year ($219/month). This is below the national average of $3,548/year.
Keep vs. sell: the numbers
Renting a comparable home in Maryland costs approximately $574,713/month (based on a price-to-rent ratio of 0.1). Owning is actually cheaper than renting by about $571,876/month in Maryland.
If you sell, closing costs in Maryland average 4.00% of the sale price ($16,000 on a $400,000 home). This includes transfer taxes, title insurance, recording fees, and agent commissions. Maryland has some of the highest closing costs in the country.
Property division in Maryland
Maryland is an equitable distribution state. This means the court divides marital property based on what it considers fair, which may not be 50/50. The house is typically the largest marital asset, so how it is handled significantly affects the overall settlement.
Can you actually afford to keep your Maryland home?
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Not financial or legal advice. DivorceSmart is an educational planning tool. Always consult a qualified attorney and financial advisor before making settlement decisions.
From uncertainty to clarity in 3 steps
No account required. No credit card. Just your numbers.
Enter your numbers
Settlement amount, income, expenses, alimony, house — takes about 2 minutes. Everything runs privately in your browser.
See the projection
Get a year-by-year chart showing your net worth from now through age 100. Green, yellow, or red — you'll know where you stand instantly.
Model & export
Test different settlement terms to find which saves you the most money, compare offers side-by-side, and export a report for your attorney.
Every projection is deterministic — same inputs always produce the same outputs. Results are estimates based on the assumptions you provide.
See what a Pro analysis looks like
We built a complete Pro analysis for a fictional person named Sarah. Explore every section — charts, what-if scenarios, risk timeline, negotiation leverage — so you can see what’s included before running your own numbers.
You don’t need a $5,000 CDFA retainer to understand your own numbers
Start with the free projection. If the numbers raise questions you can’t answer, upgrade to Pro for $19 — one-time, no subscription — and discover which settlement terms could save you thousands.
Not financial or legal advice. DivorceSmart is an educational planning tool. Always consult a qualified attorney and financial advisor before making settlement decisions.