ZIP Code 21204
standardSource:
Towson · Baltimore County · Maryland
- Population
- 20,253
- Median income
- $99,606
- Median home value
- $594,800
- Bachelor's or higher
- 73.1%
- Land area
- 15.6 sq mi
1,297/sq mi
▲ 31% vs US
higher than 81% of US ZIPs
▲ 114% vs US
higher than 91% of US ZIPs
Median age 34.8
New York
ZIP code 21204 in Towson, Maryland has a population of 20,253. The median household income is $99,606, which is 31% above the national average. Median home value is $594,800, 114% above the US average. 73.1% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 21204 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 15.6 square miles in Towson, Baltimore County, Maryland. The area is home to 20,253 residents, producing a population density of 1,297 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 21204 against Maryland and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 21204 sits at $99,606 (13% below the Maryland average), while per-capita income is $67,450. The poverty rate stands at 14.9% and the unemployment rate at 3.7%. On housing, the median home value is $594,800 (33% above the state average) with median rent at $1,875 per month, and 45.7% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 21204 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 73.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 34.8, and the average commute is 24 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Baltimore County, so you can benchmark 21204 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 21204
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21204.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
333 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
306 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
179 establishments
- Finance and insurance 131
Finance and insurance
131 establishments
- Accommodation and food services 119
Accommodation and food services
119 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 21204, Towson, 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
20,253
Population
15.6
Area (sq mi)
1,297
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 21204?
34.8
Median Age
43.7%
Male
56.3%
Female
7.8%
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?
$99,606
Median Household Income
-13% vs state
$67,450
Per Capita Income
14.9%
Poverty Rate
3.7%
Unemployment Rate
23.8 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?
9,588
Total Housing Units
8,747
Occupied Units
841
Vacant Units
2.05
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$594,800
Median Home Value
+33% vs state
$1,875
Median Rent
1975
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
+2.8%
YoY Change (2024)
232
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+132%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 21204 have increased 2.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +132% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +1.8% | 182 |
| 2021 | +6.0% | 193 |
| 2022 | +11.8% | 215 |
| 2023 | +4.7% | 226 |
| 2024 | +2.8% | 232 |
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 1,419 business establishments in ZIP 21204, employing approximately 25,411 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,747,044,000.
1,419
Businesses
25,411
Employees
$1.7B
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 333 | 23.5% |
| Health care and social assistance | 306 | 21.6% |
| Retail trade | 179 | 12.6% |
| Finance and insurance | 131 | 9.2% |
| Accommodation and food services | 119 | 8.4% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 94 | 6.6% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 90 | 6.3% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 49 | 3.5% |
| Construction | 22 | 1.6% |
| Information | 20 | 1.4% |
| Educational services | 20 | 1.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 18 | 1.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 14 | 1.0% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 9 | 0.6% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 8 | 0.6% |
| Manufacturing | 4 | 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 21204 vs 21252 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21252 | Towson, MD | 2,872 | 1.5 mi |
| 21093 | Lutherville Timonium, MD | 36,465 | 2.6 mi |
| 21210 | Baltimore, MD | 14,292 | 3.1 mi |
| 21212 | Baltimore, MD | 32,322 | 2.5 mi |
| 21209 | Baltimore, MD | 26,465 | 2.8 mi |
| 21286 | Towson, MD | 19,206 | 3.2 mi |
| 21211 | Baltimore, MD | 17,351 | 5.0 mi |
| 21239 | Baltimore, MD | 28,793 | 3.5 mi |
| 21153 | Stevenson, MD | 323 | 4.1 mi |
| 21217 | Baltimore, MD | 37,111 | 6.5 mi |
More ZIP Codes in Baltimore County
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Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 21204 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 21204? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 21204? ▼
What is the average home value in ZIP 21204? ▼
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21204? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21204? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21204? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21204? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 21204? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 21204? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 21204? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21204? ▼
ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Towson, 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.