La Plata, MD · standard
ZIP Code 20646
Charles County, Maryland - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 18,890
- 88/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $131,974
- Median income Above-median income area
- $450,200
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 34.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
La Plata pairs a top-decile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 7%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 16%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 88
- people per sq mi
- 87%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 20646 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 20646 (La Plata, MD) rose +5.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 220.2 in 2023 to 231.2 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 20646 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in La Plata, Charles County, Maryland, home to 18,890 residents across 213.7 square miles, a density of 88 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 20646 skews affluent, with a median household income of $131,974 (16% above the average Maryland ZIP), while per-capita income is $55,317. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 5.6% and unemployment is 3.3%. Median home value is $450,200 (1% above the average Maryland ZIP) and median rent is $1,541; 86.5% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 34.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42.9, and the average commute is 39 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Charles County, so 20646 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 20646
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in La Plata, MD
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 20646.
- Construction
Construction
78 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
72 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
69 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
66 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
59 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 20646, La Plata, MD · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
18,890
Population
213.7
Area (sq mi)
88
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 20646?
42.9
Median Age
49.6%
Male
50.4%
Female
5.6%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$131,974
Median Household Income
+16% vs state ZIP avg
$55,317
Per Capita Income
5.6%
Poverty Rate
3.3%
Unemployment Rate
38.8 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 20646 ranks among Maryland ZIPs
La Plata, MD household income vs. every Maryland ZIP code
Median household income among 419 reporting Maryland ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$131,974 Top 30% higher than 70% of 419 Maryland ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Maryland ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
8,332housing units
8,332
Total Housing Units
7,756
Occupied Units
576
Vacant Units
2.68
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$450,200
Median Home Value
+1% vs state ZIP avg
$1,541
Median Rent
1988
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+5.0%
YoY Change (2024)
231
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+131%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 20646 have increased 5.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +131% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +5.8% | 174 |
| 2021 | +10.4% | 192 |
| 2022 | +10.2% | 212 |
| 2023 | +4.0% | 220 |
| 2024 | +5.0% | 231 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 528 business establishments in ZIP 20646, employing approximately 7,759 people with a combined annual payroll of $389,596,000.
528
Businesses
7,759
Employees
$389.6M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 78 | 14.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 72 | 13.6% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 69 | 13.1% |
| Accommodation and food services | 66 | 12.5% |
| Retail trade | 59 | 11.2% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 57 | 10.8% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 25 | 4.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 24 | 4.5% |
| Finance and insurance | 23 | 4.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 11 | 2.1% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 10 | 1.9% |
| Wholesale trade | 9 | 1.7% |
| Information | 8 | 1.5% |
| Educational services | 7 | 1.3% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 5 | 0.9% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 20646 vs 20677 →
ZIP 20646 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 20603
Waldorf (20603)
28,967 residents
- 20602
Waldorf (20602)
24,955 residents
- 20646
La Plata (20646)
18,890 residents
- 20607 9,802
Accokeek (20607)
9,802 residents
- 20695 6,794
White Plains (20695)
6,794 residents
- 20677 2,322
Port Tobacco (20677)
2,322 residents
- 20675 1,671
Pomfret (20675)
1,671 residents
- 20693 1,088
Welcome (20693)
1,088 residents
- 20611 1,078
Bel Alton (20611)
1,078 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 20646 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 20646 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 20677
Port Tobacco (20677)
$165,764 median income
- 20611
Bel Alton (20611)
$151,607 median income
- 20607
Accokeek (20607)
$151,427 median income
- 20695
White Plains (20695)
$141,959 median income
- 20603
Waldorf (20603)
$137,946 median income
- 20646
La Plata (20646)
$131,974 median income
- 20675
Pomfret (20675)
$127,269 median income
- 20693
Welcome (20693)
$126,033 median income
- 20602
Waldorf (20602)
$107,360 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 20646 ranks #6 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20677 | Port Tobacco, MD | 2,322 | 2.7 mi |
| 20611 | Bel Alton, MD | 1,078 | 4.4 mi |
| 20675 | Pomfret, MD | 1,671 | 4.2 mi |
| 20695 | White Plains, MD | 6,794 | 5.0 mi |
| 20603 | Waldorf, MD | 28,967 | 7.5 mi |
| 20632 | Faulkner, MD | 347 | 6.8 mi |
| 20693 | Welcome, MD | 1,088 | 6.5 mi |
| 20617 | Bryantown, MD | 781 | 8.1 mi |
| 20602 | Waldorf, MD | 24,955 | 7.1 mi |
| 20607 | Accokeek, MD | 9,802 | 10.4 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 20646, both outside MD so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (18,890 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Charles County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 20646 in?
ZIP code 20646 (La Plata) is located in Charles County, Maryland. Charles County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/charles-md.
What is the population of ZIP code 20646?
ZIP code 20646 in La Plata, MD has a population of 18,890 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 20646?
The median household income in ZIP 20646 is $131,974, which is 73% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 20646?
The median home value in ZIP 20646 is $450,200, which is 62% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 20646?
The largest racial group in ZIP 20646 is White at 61.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.1% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 20646?
ZIP code 20646 has 528 business establishments employing approximately 7,759 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 20646?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 20646 are: Construction (78), Health care and social assistance (72), Professional, scientific, and technical services (69). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 20646?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 20646 increased by 5.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 131%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 20646?
In ZIP code 20646, 63.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 34.9% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 20646?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 20646 is 38.8 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 20646?
In ZIP code 20646, approximately 86.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 13.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 20646?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 20646 is 5.6% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 20646's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 20646 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where La Plata, MD ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.