ZIP 21221 vs ZIP 21219
Source:
Essex, MD — Sparrows Point, MD
This side-by-side compares ZIP 21221 (Essex, MD) and ZIP 21219 (Sparrows Point, MD) using the same Census ACS 5-Year table fields for both — no averages swapped in, no national proxies. ZIP 21221 has a population of 42,154 at 1,102 people per square mile, while ZIP 21219 has 9,379 at 441 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 21221 reports a median household income of $67,340 against $110,438 in ZIP 21219, with per-capita income of $36,926 vs $57,686. The share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher is 21.0% in 21221 and 26.0% in 21219. Poverty rate reads 12.8% vs 3.5%, and unemployment 6.2% vs 3.3% — 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 $271,500 in 21221 versus $384,600 in 21219, with median rent of $1,310 and $1,264 per month respectively. Homeownership rate is 62.5% vs 89.2%. 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 | 21221 Essex, MD | 21219 Sparrows Point, MD |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 42,154 | 9,379 |
| Median Household Income | $67,340 | $110,438 |
| Per Capita Income | $36,926 | $57,686 |
| Median Age | 42.4 | 42.7 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 21.0% | 26.0% |
| Poverty Rate | 12.8% | 3.5% |
| Unemployment Rate | 6.2% | 3.3% |
| Median Home Value | $271,500 | $384,600 |
| Median Rent (monthly) | $1,310 | $1,264 |
| Homeownership Rate | 62.5% | 89.2% |
| Population Density (per sq mi) | 1,102 | 441 |
Values highlighted in green indicate the better metric where applicable. Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023.
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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.