Jessup, MD · standard
ZIP Code 20794
Howard County, Maryland - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 14,098
- 533/sq mi High-density area
- $116,406
- Median income Above-median income area
- $426,100
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 29.4%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Jessup pairs an upper-quartile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 11%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 18%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 533
- people per sq mi
- 62%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 20794 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 20794 (Jessup, MD) rose +5.3% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 301.0 in 2023 to 316.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 20794 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Jessup, Howard County, Maryland, home to 14,098 residents across 26.5 square miles, a density of 533 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 20794 skews affluent, with a median household income of $116,406 (2% above the average Maryland ZIP), while per-capita income is $35,400. The poverty rate is 7.9%, with unemployment at 4.1%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $426,100 (5% below the average Maryland ZIP) and median rent is $2,032; 62.1% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 29.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 36.8, and the average commute is 25 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Howard County, so 20794 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 20794
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Jessup, MD
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 20794.
- Wholesale trade
Wholesale trade
118 establishments
- Construction
Construction
87 establishments
- Transportation and warehousing
Transportation and warehousing
60 establishments
- Retail trade 47
Retail trade
47 establishments
- Accommodation and food services 43
Accommodation and food services
43 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 20794, Jessup, 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
14,098
Population
26.5
Area (sq mi)
533
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 20794?
36.8
Median Age
60.7%
Male
39.3%
Female
12.6%
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?
$116,406
Median Household Income
+2% vs state ZIP avg
$35,400
Per Capita Income
7.9%
Poverty Rate
4.1%
Unemployment Rate
25.3 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 20794 ranks among Maryland ZIPs
Jessup, 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)
$116,406 Top 43% higher than 57% 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
4,043housing units
4,043
Total Housing Units
3,928
Occupied Units
115
Vacant Units
2.82
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$426,100
Median Home Value
-5% vs state ZIP avg
$2,032
Median Rent
1991
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
+5.3%
YoY Change (2024)
317
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+217%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 20794 have increased 5.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +217% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3.6% | 216 |
| 2021 | +9.1% | 235 |
| 2022 | +12.1% | 264 |
| 2023 | +14.0% | 301 |
| 2024 | +5.3% | 317 |
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 564 business establishments in ZIP 20794, employing approximately 16,247 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,091,484,000.
564
Businesses
16,247
Employees
$1.1B
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Wholesale trade | 118 | 20.9% |
| Construction | 87 | 15.4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 60 | 10.6% |
| Retail trade | 47 | 8.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 43 | 7.6% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 40 | 7.1% |
| Manufacturing | 33 | 5.8% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 33 | 5.8% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 29 | 5.1% |
| Health care and social assistance | 29 | 5.1% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 26 | 4.6% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 6 | 1.1% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 5 | 0.9% |
| Finance and insurance | 3 | 0.5% |
| Educational services | 3 | 0.5% |
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 20794 vs 20701 →
ZIP 20794 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 21045
Columbia (21045)
38,288 residents
- 20723
Laurel (20723)
28,972 residents
- 21075
Elkridge (21075)
26,344 residents
- 20724
Laurel (20724)
16,093 residents
- 21046 15,080
Columbia (21046)
15,080 residents
- 20794 14,098
Jessup (20794)
14,098 residents
- 21076 12,952
Hanover (21076)
12,952 residents
- 20755 9,302
Fort George G Meade (20755)
9,302 residents
- 20763 2,664
Savage (20763)
2,664 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 20794 ranks #6 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 20794 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 21076
Hanover (21076)
$146,869 median income
- 20723
Laurel (20723)
$138,113 median income
- 21075
Elkridge (21075)
$135,303 median income
- 21046
Columbia (21046)
$127,813 median income
- 21045
Columbia (21045)
$118,563 median income
- 20724
Laurel (20724)
$118,115 median income
- 20794
Jessup (20794)
$116,406 median income
- 20755
Fort George G Meade (20755)
$103,261 median income
- 20701
Annapolis Junction (20701)
$85,594 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 20794 ranks #7 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20701 | Annapolis Junction, MD | 2 | 1.7 mi |
| 20763 | Savage, MD | 2,664 | 1.8 mi |
| 20724 | Laurel, MD | 16,093 | 3.5 mi |
| 21046 | Columbia, MD | 15,080 | 3.3 mi |
| 21076 | Hanover, MD | 12,952 | 3.8 mi |
| 20755 | Fort George G Meade, MD | 9,302 | 3.8 mi |
| 21075 | Elkridge, MD | 26,344 | 4.2 mi |
| 20723 | Laurel, MD | 28,972 | 4.3 mi |
| 21045 | Columbia, MD | 38,288 | 4.4 mi |
| 21077 | Harmans, MD | 224 | 4.9 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 20794, 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 (14,098 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Howard County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 20794 in?
ZIP code 20794 (Jessup) is located in Howard County, Maryland. Howard County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/howard-md.
What is the population of ZIP code 20794?
ZIP code 20794 in Jessup, MD has a population of 14,098 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 20794?
The median household income in ZIP 20794 is $116,406, which is 53% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 20794?
The median home value in ZIP 20794 is $426,100, which is 53% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 20794?
The largest racial group in ZIP 20794 is African American at 47.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 11.1% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 20794?
ZIP code 20794 has 564 business establishments employing approximately 16,247 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 20794?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 20794 are: Wholesale trade (118), Construction (87), Transportation and warehousing (60). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 20794?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 20794 increased by 5.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 217%. 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 20794?
In ZIP code 20794, 62.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 29.4% 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 20794?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 20794 is 25.3 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 20794?
In ZIP code 20794, approximately 62.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 37.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 20794?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 20794 is 7.9% 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 20794's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 20794 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Jessup, 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.