Residential delivery area · Maryland
ZIP Code 21043: Ellicott City, MD
ZIP code 21043 is in Ellicott City, Maryland, mostly in Howard County (97% of its land) with the rest in Baltimore County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 49,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024), the more populous of Ellicott City's 2 residential ZIP codes. Median household income is $148,125 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Ellicott City (72%) and Ilchester (25%), and 4% in smaller places.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Ellicott City · 2 residential ZIPs
- County
- Howard County (97%); Baltimore County (3%)
- Census places
- Ellicott City (72%) census-designated place; Ilchester (25%) census-designated place
- Metro area
- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
- House districts
- MD-3 (97%), MD-2 (3%) 119th Congress, by share of land
- State
- Maryland
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 17.1 sq mi · 2,838 people per sq mi
- PO Box ZIPs
- 21041 also use the name Ellicott City
Where is ZIP code 21043?
21043 centers on 39.256°, -76.801° and covers 17.1 square miles of land plus 0.1 of water. It borders 5 ZIP codes: 21228, 21045, 21075, 21042, 21244.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 21043, 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 21043 compare with the rest of Ellicott City?
| Measure | 21043 | In Ellicott City | In Howard County | In MD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 48,525 | 1st of 2 | 1st of 25 | 22nd of 477 |
| Median household income | $148k | 2nd of 2 | 12th of 21 | 58th of 293 |
| Median home value | $621k | 2nd of 2 | 12th of 23 | 45th of 320 |
Its median household income is higher than in 96% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 88% 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 21043?
The 2020 Census counted 48,775 people in 21043; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 48,525. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 15.5% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 48,525
- 2020 Census count
- 48,775+15.5% since 2010 (42,246)
- Households
- 17,568
- Median age
- 40.3
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 21043?
Of the 48,525 people the ACS estimates in 21043, 24.8% are under 18 and 15.1% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (48.0%), then Asian (not Hispanic) (25.8%).
- Under 1824.8%
- 18 to 6460.2%
- 65 and older15.1%
- White, not Hispanic48.0%
- Asian, not Hispanic25.8%
- Black, not Hispanic12.8%
- Other or two or more7.3%
- Hispanic or Latino6.1%
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 21043 earn?
Median household income is $148,125 (ACS 2020-2024), the 12th highest of the 21 ranked ZIP codes in Howard County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($150,965 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $148,125
- Income per person
- $65,206
- Below the poverty line
- 3.9%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 3.7%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 64.2%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $126,67623,150 returns; wages 76% 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 21043?
FHFA's house price index for 21043, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 54% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 41% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +1.9% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $620,900
- Median gross rent
- $2,094
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 66.9%
- Housing units
- 18,133
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 21043?
1,131 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 73 more than in 2018; the most are in professional, scientific, and technical services (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Professional, scientific, and technical services395
- Health care and social assistance131
- Retail trade95
- Other services (except public administration)81
- Accommodation and food services78
- Finance and insurance61
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 21043?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21228 | Catonsville | 50,492 | $113k | 3.1 mi |
| 21045 | Columbia | 40,034 | $119k | 3.7 mi |
| 21075 | Elkridge | 37,363 | $135k | 4.5 mi |
| 21042 | Ellicott City | 43,327 | $190k | 5.2 mi |
| 21244 | Windsor Mill | 38,208 | $85k | 5.6 mi |
| 21250 | Baltimore | 2,834 | – | 4.8 mi (near) |
| 21044 | Columbia | 44,114 | $135k | 5.4 mi (near) |
| 21046 | Columbia | 15,608 | $128k | 5.9 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.