ZIP Code 21042
standardSource:
Ellicott City · Howard County · Maryland
- Population
- 38,076
- Median income
- $190,061
- Median home value
- $706,400
- Bachelor's or higher
- 72.9%
- Land area
- 97.1 sq mi
392/sq mi
▲ 149% vs US
higher than 99% of US ZIPs
▲ 154% vs US
higher than 94% of US ZIPs
Median age 45.1
New York
ZIP code 21042 in Ellicott City, Maryland has a population of 38,076. The median household income is $190,061, which is 149% above the national average. Median home value is $706,400, 154% above the US average. 72.9% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 21042 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 97.1 square miles in Ellicott City, Howard County, Maryland. The area is home to 38,076 residents, producing a population density of 392 people per square mile, and falls within the New York time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 21042 against Maryland and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 21042 sits at $190,061 (67% above the Maryland average), while per-capita income is $77,643. The poverty rate stands at 3.3% and the unemployment rate at 1.9%. On housing, the median home value is $706,400 (58% above the state average) with median rent at $2,183 per month, and 84.7% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 21042 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 72.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 45.1, and the average commute is 29 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Howard County, so you can benchmark 21042 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →
Top industries in ZIP 21042
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21042.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
303 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
206 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
129 establishments
- Retail trade 109
Retail trade
109 establishments
- Accommodation and food services 105
Accommodation and food services
105 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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 21042, Ellicott City, MD · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
38,076
Population
97.1
Area (sq mi)
392
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 21042?
45.1
Median Age
49.3%
Male
50.7%
Female
24.9%
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?
$190,061
Median Household Income
+67% vs state
$77,643
Per Capita Income
3.3%
Poverty Rate
1.9%
Unemployment Rate
28.6 min
Mean Commute Time
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?
15,368
Total Housing Units
15,099
Occupied Units
269
Vacant Units
2.86
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$706,400
Median Home Value
+58% vs state
$2,183
Median Rent
1987
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
+4.6%
YoY Change (2024)
263
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+163%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 21042 have increased 4.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +163% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +1.4% | 197 |
| 2021 | +6.4% | 209 |
| 2022 | +11.4% | 233 |
| 2023 | +7.9% | 252 |
| 2024 | +4.6% | 263 |
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 1,194 business establishments in ZIP 21042, employing approximately 9,947 people with a combined annual payroll of $511,873,000.
1,194
Businesses
9,947
Employees
$511.9M
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 303 | 25.4% |
| Health care and social assistance | 206 | 17.3% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 129 | 10.8% |
| Retail trade | 109 | 9.1% |
| Accommodation and food services | 105 | 8.8% |
| Construction | 69 | 5.8% |
| Finance and insurance | 59 | 4.9% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 59 | 4.9% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 48 | 4.0% |
| Educational services | 26 | 2.2% |
| Wholesale trade | 22 | 1.8% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 22 | 1.8% |
| Information | 15 | 1.3% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 11 | 0.9% |
| Manufacturing | 5 | 0.4% |
| Industries not classified | 3 | 0.3% |
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 21042 vs 21044 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21044 | Columbia, MD | 41,704 | 4.2 mi |
| 21104 | Marriottsville, MD | 4,601 | 5.5 mi |
| 21163 | Woodstock, MD | 7,026 | 5.2 mi |
| 21794 | West Friendship, MD | 2,434 | 4.6 mi |
| 21043 | Ellicott City, MD | 42,246 | 5.2 mi |
| 21029 | Clarksville, MD | 11,333 | 5.5 mi |
| 21045 | Columbia, MD | 38,288 | 5.6 mi |
| 21737 | Glenelg, MD | 1,458 | 6.9 mi |
| 21738 | Glenwood, MD | 3,268 | 7.2 mi |
| 21036 | Dayton, MD | 2,114 | 6.4 mi |
More ZIP Codes in Howard County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 21042 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 21042? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 21042? ▼
What is the average home value in ZIP 21042? ▼
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21042? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21042? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21042? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21042? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 21042? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 21042? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 21042? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21042? ▼
ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Ellicott City, MD
Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023). Business data: Source: Census ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023. Home value trends: Source: FHFA House Price Index (HPI), Five-Digit ZIP Codes.
PlainZIP is not affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau or any government agency.
Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.