Bowie, MD · standard
ZIP Code 20720
Prince George's County, Maryland - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 21,031
- 727/sq mi High-density area
- $158,997
- Median income Above-median income area
- $564,600
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 58.7%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Bowie pairs a top-decile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 3%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 11%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 727
- people per sq mi
- 91%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 20720 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 20720 (Bowie, MD) rose +5.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 260.1 in 2023 to 273.2 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 20720 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Bowie, Prince George's County, Maryland, with 21,031 residents across 28.9 square miles, a density of 727 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 20720 skews affluent, with a median household income of $158,997 (39% above the average Maryland ZIP), while per-capita income is $65,349. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 3.4% and unemployment is 3.6%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $564,600 (26% above the average Maryland ZIP), while 91.3% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $3,118.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 58.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42.4, and the average commute is 35 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Prince George's County, so 20720 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 20720
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Bowie, MD
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 20720.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
76 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
47 establishments
- Construction
Construction
38 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
34 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 25
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
25 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 20720, Bowie, 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
21,031
Population
28.9
Area (sq mi)
727
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 20720?
42.4
Median Age
45.6%
Male
54.4%
Female
23.6%
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?
$158,997
Median Household Income
+39% vs state ZIP avg
$65,349
Per Capita Income
3.4%
Poverty Rate
3.6%
Unemployment Rate
35.0 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 20720 ranks among Maryland ZIPs
Bowie, 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)
$158,997 Top 17% higher than 83% 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
8,441housing units
8,441
Total Housing Units
8,301
Occupied Units
140
Vacant Units
2.99
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$564,600
Median Home Value
+26% vs state ZIP avg
$3,118
Median Rent
1997
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)
273
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+173%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 20720 have increased 5.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +173% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +5.5% | 201 |
| 2021 | +9.8% | 221 |
| 2022 | +18.2% | 261 |
| 2023 | -0.2% | 260 |
| 2024 | +5.0% | 273 |
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 321 business establishments in ZIP 20720, employing approximately 3,251 people with a combined annual payroll of $150,002,000.
321
Businesses
3,251
Employees
$150.0M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 76 | 23.7% |
| Health care and social assistance | 47 | 14.6% |
| Construction | 38 | 11.8% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 34 | 10.6% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 25 | 7.8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 25 | 7.8% |
| Retail trade | 24 | 7.5% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 12 | 3.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 10 | 3.1% |
| Finance and insurance | 8 | 2.5% |
| Information | 6 | 1.9% |
| Wholesale trade | 5 | 1.6% |
| Educational services | 5 | 1.6% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 3 | 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 20720 vs 20769 →
ZIP 20720 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 20774
Upper Marlboro (20774)
43,013 residents
- 20706
Lanham (20706)
38,692 residents
- 21113
Odenton (21113)
30,469 residents
- 20721
Bowie (20721)
27,016 residents
- 20715
Bowie (20715)
26,382 residents
- 20708
Laurel (20708)
25,546 residents
- 21114
Crofton (21114)
25,225 residents
- 20770
Greenbelt (20770)
25,173 residents
- 20720
Bowie (20720)
21,031 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 20720 ranks #9 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 20720 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 20721
Bowie (20721)
$163,105 median income
- 20720
Bowie (20720)
$158,997 median income
- 20715
Bowie (20715)
$143,732 median income
- 21114
Crofton (21114)
$141,344 median income
- 20769
Glenn Dale (20769)
$139,773 median income
- 20774
Upper Marlboro (20774)
$128,259 median income
- 21113
Odenton (21113)
$125,639 median income
- 20716
Bowie (20716)
$125,034 median income
- 20706
Lanham (20706)
$104,523 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 20720 ranks #2 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20769 | Glenn Dale, MD | 6,604 | 2.1 mi |
| 20715 | Bowie, MD | 26,382 | 2.3 mi |
| 20721 | Bowie, MD | 27,016 | 4.2 mi |
| 20706 | Lanham, MD | 38,692 | 3.8 mi |
| 20708 | Laurel, MD | 25,546 | 5.0 mi |
| 20774 | Upper Marlboro, MD | 43,013 | 7.4 mi |
| 20770 | Greenbelt, MD | 25,173 | 5.4 mi |
| 20716 | Bowie, MD | 20,787 | 5.3 mi |
| 21114 | Crofton, MD | 25,225 | 5.6 mi |
| 21113 | Odenton, MD | 30,469 | 6.1 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 20720, 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 (21,031 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Prince George's County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 20720 in?
ZIP code 20720 (Bowie) is located in Prince George's County, Maryland. Prince George's County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/prince-georges-md.
What is the population of ZIP code 20720?
ZIP code 20720 in Bowie, MD has a population of 21,031 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 20720?
The median household income in ZIP 20720 is $158,997, which is 108% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 20720?
The median home value in ZIP 20720 is $564,600, which is 103% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 20720?
The largest racial group in ZIP 20720 is African American at 66.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 8.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 20720?
ZIP code 20720 has 321 business establishments employing approximately 3,251 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 20720?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 20720 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (76), Health care and social assistance (47), Construction (38). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 20720?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 20720 increased by 5.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 173%. 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 20720?
In ZIP code 20720, 75.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 58.7% 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 20720?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 20720 is 35.0 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 20720?
In ZIP code 20720, approximately 91.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 8.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 20720?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 20720 is 3.4% 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 20720's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 20720 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Bowie, 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.