Towson Apartments and Rentals

Although you may not have heard of Towson, Maryland, it would be hard not to recognize the name of its most famous resident - Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, was born in the area and graduated from Towson High School. The town is home to more than 55,000 people. While it's best known for Towson University (TU), one of the largest public educational institutions in the state, those looking for Towson apartments for rent will quickly find that the unincorporated community has plenty to offer.

Towson's tree-lined streets and live music venues give it a college-town feel, but although the town itself was founded in 1750, TU was not established until 1915. Before then, the town was most widely known as a stop on the Maryland and Pennsylvania Railroad - fondly referred to by locals as the Ma and Pa Railroad. Rail service between Towson and nearby Baltimore was inaugurated in 1882 and ran through 1958. By the time the portion of the railroad line that ran through Towson was abandoned, the university was well incorporated into the area (it moved from downtown Baltimore in 1915).

TU, which occupies 328 acres, has more than 21,000 students and employs 3,344 staff members. In fact, the university is the third largest employer in Baltimore County, behind Franklin Square Hospital and the Social Security Administration / Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Although the top two employers are located in Baltimore rather than Towson, this shouldn't present a problem for Towsonians given the capital's close proximity. That said, for healthcare professionals who prefer to work close to home, St. Joseph Medical Center is based in Towson proper.

The area is also home to a much smaller liberal arts school, Goucher College, as well as several elementary and high schools in the Baltimore County Public Schools district and the Ridge Ruxton School, a special education institution for students with developmental challenges.

Data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that the median gross rent for Towson apartments is $1,176 - a little higher than Baltimore County's median of $1,071, but still reasonable considering the town's large college population. Towson scored a 108 on City-Data.com's March 2012 cost of living index, and its median household income was $53,775 at the time of the last survey.

The Towson Town Center mall is not just the largest shopping complex in the town, but also one of the biggest in the state. Opened in 1959, the four-level indoor mall boasts nearly 200 retail stores - Macy's, Louis Vuitton and Apple all have a presence there - and 4,300 parking spaces.

In keeping with its college town identity, Towson hosts frequent live music events, many of which take place at the Recher Theatre. Originally a movie theatre, the Recher was reopened in 1996 as a concert venue that has since hosted a range of local and national talent.

For history buffs, the Hampton National Historic Site will be right up their alley. The Georgian mansion and surrounding grounds, once the residence of the well-to-do Ridgely family, are now open to the public. Tourists, locals and students of all ages can get a taste of what life was like for landowners, paid workers and slaves during the Revolutionary War by taking in the numerous exhibits and touring the premises.

To find your next rental apartment or house in Towson, take a look at our listings on Rent.com®.