Residential delivery area · Maryland
ZIP Code 20861: Ashton-Sandy Spring (Ashton), MD
ZIP code 20861 is in Ashton-Sandy Spring (postal name Ashton), Maryland, entirely in Montgomery County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 2,900 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $163,438 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Ashton-Sandy Spring (81%) and Cloverly (19%).
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Ashton · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Montgomery County
- Census places
- Ashton-Sandy Spring (81%) census-designated place; Cloverly (19%) census-designated place
- Metro area
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
- House district
- MD-8 119th Congress
- State
- Maryland
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 5.2 sq mi · 558 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 20861?
20861 centers on 39.149°, -76.999° and covers 5.2 square miles of land plus 0.0 of water. It borders 6 ZIP codes: 20860, 20777, 20862, 20868, 20905, 20833.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 20861, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 20861 compare with the rest of Montgomery County?
| Measure | 20861 | In Montgomery County | In MD |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 2,890 | 39th of 53 | 280th of 477 |
| Median household income | $163k | 16th of 41 | 36th of 293 |
| Median home value | $853k | 8th of 41 | 14th of 320 |
Its median household income is higher than in 97% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 73% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 20861?
The 2020 Census counted 3,067 people in 20861; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 2,890. Its boundary changed between the 2010 and 2020 censuses, so the two counts are not compared.
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 2,890±769 (90% margin)
- 2020 Census count
- 3,067
- Households
- 917
- Median age
- 51.0
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 20861?
Of the 2,890 people the ACS estimates in 20861, 20.3% are under 18 and 30.5% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (51.6%), then Black (not Hispanic) (21.4%).
- Under 1820.3%
- 18 to 6449.2%
- 65 and older30.5%
- White, not Hispanic51.6%
- Black, not Hispanic21.4%
- Asian, not Hispanic11.2%
- Hispanic or Latino10.2%
- Other or two or more5.6%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 20861 earn?
Median household income is $163,438 (ACS 2020-2024), the 16th highest of the 41 ranked ZIP codes in Montgomery County.
- Median household income
- $163,438±$35,439
- Income per person
- $70,654
- Below the poverty line
- 6.5%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 0.0%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 77.4%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $173,8991,520 returns; wages 61% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 20861?
FHFA's house price index for 20861, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 55% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 43% from 2020 to 2025, and moved −0.3% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $852,700
- Median gross rent
- –
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 98.5%
- Housing units
- 971
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 20861?
70 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 7 more than in 2018; the most are in professional, scientific, and technical services (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Professional, scientific, and technical services13
- Construction10
- Other services (except public administration)9
- Accommodation and food services8
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services7
- Retail trade6
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 20861?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20860 | Sandy Spring | 2,035 | – | 1.9 mi |
| 20777 | Highland | 3,221 | $226k | 2.4 mi |
| 20862 | Brinklow | 430 | $190k | 2.4 mi |
| 20868 | Spencerville | 198 | $143k | 2.6 mi |
| 20905 | Silver Spring | 19,004 | $160k | 2.7 mi |
| 20833 | Brookeville | 7,860 | $204k | 5.4 mi |
| 20759 | Fulton | 6,624 | $250k+ | 3.7 mi (near) |
| 20832 | Olney | 25,553 | $169k | 4.2 mi (near) |
| 20866 | Burtonsville | 15,986 | $140k | 4.4 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.