ZIP 21220 vs ZIP 21162
Source:
Middle River, MD – White Marsh, MD
This side-by-side compares ZIP 21220 (Middle River, MD) and ZIP 21162 (White Marsh, MD) using the same Census ACS 5-Year table fields for both, no averages swapped in, no national proxies. ZIP 21220 has a population of 39,199 at 702 people per square mile, while ZIP 21162 has 3,655 at 189 per square mile. That difference in population size and density alone reshapes how every other metric should be interpreted, a higher-income ZIP with 1,200 residents behaves very differently from one with 45,000.
On income and education, ZIP 21220 reports a median household income of $81,817 against $157,813 in ZIP 21162, with per-capita income of $41,843 vs $61,136. The share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher is 30.0% in 21220 and 43.9% in 21162. Poverty rate reads 13.6% vs 2.3%, and unemployment 4.2% vs 2.3% - these four fields alone drive most of the difference in the scorecard grades you will see for each ZIP.
Housing separates these two ZIPs further: median home value sits at $300,100 in 21220 versus $451,600 in 21162, with median rent of $1,673 and $1,203 per month respectively. Homeownership rate is 68.8% vs 88.9%. When reading the comparison table below, focus on paired metrics rather than single winners, a ZIP with lower home values and lower income is not strictly "worse" if rent-to-income ratios and commute times land in the same zone. Every value is pulled from the exact same ACS table so the two columns are genuinely comparable.
Compare different ZIP codes:
| Metric | 21220 Middle River, MD | 21162 White Marsh, MD |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 39,199 | 3,655 |
| Median Household Income | $81,817 | $157,813 |
| Per Capita Income | $41,843 | $61,136 |
| Median Age | 37.7 | 37.5 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 30.0% | 43.9% |
| Poverty Rate | 13.6% | 2.3% |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2% | 2.3% |
| Median Home Value | $300,100 | $451,600 |
| Median Rent (monthly) | $1,673 | $1,203 |
| Homeownership Rate | 68.8% | 88.9% |
| Population Density (per sq mi) | 702 | 189 |
Values highlighted in green indicate the better metric where applicable. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023.
What are common questions about this comparison?
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All data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates (2023).
PlainZIP is not affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau or any government agency.