ZIP 21737 vs ZIP 21738
Source:
Glenelg, MD — Glenwood, MD
This side-by-side compares ZIP 21737 (Glenelg, MD) and ZIP 21738 (Glenwood, MD) using the same Census ACS 5-Year table fields for both — no averages swapped in, no national proxies. ZIP 21737 has a population of 1,458 at 111 people per square mile, while ZIP 21738 has 3,268 at 174 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 21737 reports a median household income of $250,001 against $250,001 in ZIP 21738, with per-capita income of $101,402 vs $92,235. The share of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher is 75.8% in 21737 and 76.2% in 21738. Poverty rate reads 0.2% vs 2.4%, and unemployment 0.2% vs 1.9% — 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 $996,400 in 21737 versus $914,300 in 21738, with median rent of — and — per month respectively. Homeownership rate is 93.2% vs 98.2%. 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 | 21737 Glenelg, MD | 21738 Glenwood, MD |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 1,458 | 3,268 |
| Median Household Income | $250,001 | $250,001 |
| Per Capita Income | $101,402 | $92,235 |
| Median Age | 38.8 | 41.2 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 75.8% | 76.2% |
| Poverty Rate | 0.2% | 2.4% |
| Unemployment Rate | 0.2% | 1.9% |
| Median Home Value | $996,400 | $914,300 |
| Median Rent (monthly) | — | — |
| Homeownership Rate | 93.2% | 98.2% |
| Population Density (per sq mi) | 111 | 174 |
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.