Towson, Baltimore County

Towson is the county seat of Baltimore County, about 8 miles north of downtown Baltimore. The listings below update live from Bright MLS. Under them I've put what you need before you make an offer here: what the neighborhoods are like, what you'll pay in taxes and closing costs, and what to check in an older house.

...Towson homes for sale right now, all types
...of them condos (building guide)
$1.212property tax per $100 of assessed value, 2026-27 (county + state)
21204 / 21286Towson's two main ZIP codes
NeighborhoodsTaxes and closing costsOlder homesMaking an offerFAQ

Homes for Sale in Towson, MD

All listings comply with the Fair Housing Act and Bright MLS rules.

 

More Listings
More Listings

Towson neighborhoods at a glance

"Towson" on a listing covers a lot of different houses. Here's how the main neighborhoods differ, with a guide or a live search for each.

Neighborhood The homes Look closer
Rodgers Forge About 1,800 brick rowhomes built by the Keelty company from the 1930s to the 1950s, a National Register historic district south of Towson University. Homes for sale (...)
Stoneleigh Detached Colonials, Tudors and Capes east of York Road, mostly from the 1920s to the 1950s. Homes for sale (...)
Anneslie A grid of five streets off York Road platted in 1922: bungalows, foursquares and cottages on the north end, Capes, Tudors and Colonials to the south. Also a historic district. Homes for sale
West Towson Colonials, Cape Cods and cottages, mostly 1920s to 1950s, between downtown Towson and Ruxton. West Towson guide
Ruxton Older estates and newer custom homes on wooded lots north of Lake Roland. One of the priciest parts of the Towson area. Ruxton guide
Riderwood Detached homes on larger lots just north of Ruxton, up to the Beltway. Few sales a year. Riderwood guide
Downtown condos Two 1970s high-rises (The Ridgely and The Penthouse) plus smaller condo communities, the lowest-priced way into Towson. Condo building guide

Homeland, Cedarcroft and Lake Evesham sit just south of here across the city line. They're in Baltimore City, with city property taxes (about twice the county rate). I live in Lake Evesham and sell there too.

Deciding whether Towson fits? My guide to living in Towson covers commutes, parks, dining and everyday errands, and moving to Towson walks through a relocation step by step. Shopping the top of the market? See luxury homes in the Towson area, or browse Towson luxury homes for sale ($800K and up).

What it costs to buy and own in Towson

Property taxes

Baltimore County charges $1.10 per $100 of assessed value and the state adds $0.112, so $1.212 in all for 2026-27. A home assessed at $500,000 runs about $6,060 a year before credits. Look up any house's assessment on the state's SDAT site before you offer, because the seller's tax bill may include credits you won't get.

If the home will be your main residence, apply for the Homestead Tax Credit. It caps how much your taxable assessment can rise each year (4% in Baltimore County).

Closing taxes

  • Baltimore County transfer tax: 1.5% of the price, not counting the first $22,000 on a home.
  • Recordation tax: $2.50 per $500 of price (0.5%).
  • State transfer tax: 0.5%, or 0.25% for a first-time Maryland buyer, and then the seller pays it.

On a $500,000 house that's about $12,170 in transfer and recordation taxes. Who pays what is negotiable, and splitting them is common.

Buying an older Towson house: what I check

Most of Towson's houses were built before 1960. I've managed rentals since 2014, so these are the items I've actually paid to fix:

  • Oil tanks. Plenty of homes switched from oil to gas years ago and left a tank behind, sometimes buried. Get a tank sweep. Removing or abandoning a tank can run a few thousand dollars.
  • The sewer line. Clay and cast-iron pipes from this era crack and fill with tree roots. A camera scope costs a few hundred dollars and can save you a five-figure dig.
  • Electrical. Look for knob-and-tube wiring, ungrounded outlets and small 60- or 100-amp panels. Insurers ask, and upgrades add up.
  • Water in the basement. Check the grading, the gutters and any old sump work. Stains tell you more than fresh paint does.
  • Radon. Test it. It's cheap, and a mitigation system is a routine fix.

Making an offer in Towson

Well-priced homes in the popular neighborhoods often get several offers in the first weekend. Others sit for a month and take a price cut. The difference is usually price and condition, not luck. Before we write anything I pull the last few months of sales on that street and nearby, so we know which kind of house it is.

  • Get fully pre-approved, not just pre-qualified, before you tour.
  • If you're going over asking, decide ahead of time how much of an appraisal gap you can cover in cash.
  • Keep the home inspection. If you need a stronger offer, shorten the time frame or limit it to major items instead of waiving it.

For the whole process, from pre-approval to settlement, see my guide to buying a home in Towson.

Questions buyers ask me

Is Towson its own city?

No. Towson is an unincorporated community and the county seat of Baltimore County. There's no separate town government or town tax; Baltimore County handles schools, police, trash and permits.

What is the property tax rate in Towson?

For July 2026 to June 2027 it's $1.10 per $100 of assessed value for Baltimore County plus $0.112 for the state, $1.212 in all. A home assessed at $500,000 pays about $6,060 a year before credits. If you live in the home, apply for the Homestead Tax Credit, which caps how fast your taxable assessment can rise (4% a year in Baltimore County).

What ZIP codes are in Towson?

Mostly 21204 (west and central Towson, including Ruxton, Riderwood and West Towson) and 21286 (east Towson). 21252 is Towson University. Some neighborhoods next to Towson, like Rodgers Forge, use Baltimore 21212 addresses but are still in Baltimore County.

Are there first-time buyer programs in Towson?

The Maryland Mortgage Program is the big one, through approved lenders. First-time Maryland buyers also pay a reduced state transfer tax (0.25% instead of 0.5%), and the seller pays it. Baltimore County runs a Settlement Expense Loan Program for buyers under income limits in certain areas. Ask your lender which of these you qualify for before you start touring.

How far is Towson from downtown Baltimore and BWI?

Downtown Baltimore is about 8 miles south, usually 20 to 25 minutes by Charles Street, York Road or I-83. BWI Airport is roughly 25 miles, most of it on the Beltway.

Do you only work in Towson?

No. Towson and North Baltimore are my home base, but I help buyers and sellers across Maryland and in parts of Pennsylvania, where I'm also licensed.

About me

I'm Mike Fielder, a Baltimore Realtor and Sales Director of The Key Home Team at Cummings & Co. Realtors, licensed since June 2016. I've sold 190 homes worth more than $56 million, and I've run Property Management of Baltimore since 2014, so I know what repairs really cost. I live in Lake Evesham and work across Maryland and parts of Pennsylvania.

Selling a Towson home? Since 2023, my listings have sold for a median 103.6% of the original asking price, in a median of 6 days on the market. See how I'd sell yours, read my guide to selling a home in Towson, or estimate what you'd walk away with.

Looking at a house in Towson?

Send me the address. I'll tell you what similar homes nearby sold for and what I'd check before you offer.

Call or text (410) 905-6678Send me a question