PlainZIP

Baltimore, MD · standard

ZIP Code 21205

Baltimore County, Maryland - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

16,146
3,041/sq mi
$43,176
Median income
$96,100
Median home value
16.6%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Baltimore pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a suburban-density, renter-heavy area.

8th pct
household income, US ZIPs
9th pct
home value, US ZIPs
3,041
people per sq mi
36%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 21205 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 21205 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland, home to 16,146 residents across 5.3 square miles, a density of 3,041 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 21205 reports a modest median household income of $43,176 (62% below the Maryland average), while per-capita income is $24,453. 33.0% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 8.1%. The typical home here is valued at $96,100 (79% below the state average); renters pay a median of $1,128 monthly, and 36.4% of units are owner-occupied.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 16.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 35.9, and the average commute is 28 minutes. Beyond these figures, 10 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Baltimore County, letting you compare 21205 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline alone.

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 21205

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Baltimore, MD

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21205.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

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 21205, Baltimore, 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

16,146

Population

5.3

Area (sq mi)

3,041

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 21205?

35.9

Median Age

46.0%

Male

54.0%

Female

17.8%

Foreign-Born

White 14.5%
African American 56.4%
Asian 3.1%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.4%
Two or More Ethnicities 12.2%
Hispanic or Latino 19.3%

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?

$43,176

Median Household Income

-62% vs state

$24,453

Per Capita Income

33.0%

Poverty Rate

8.1%

Unemployment Rate

28.2 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 21205 ranks nationally

Baltimore, MD household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$43,176 8th percentile higher than 8% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US 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?

High School Graduate or Higher 54.8%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 16.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

6,291

Total Housing Units

5,111

Occupied Units

1,180

Vacant Units

2.52

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 36.4%
Renter 63.6%

$96,100

Median Home Value

-79% vs state

$1,128

Median Rent

1938

Median Year Built

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 265 business establishments in ZIP 21205, employing approximately 7,359 people with a combined annual payroll of $482,575,000.

265

Businesses

7,359

Employees

$482.6M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 51 19.3%
Accommodation and food services 47 17.7%
Other services (except public administration) 29 10.9%
Construction 21 7.9%
Health care and social assistance 20 7.5%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 18 6.8%
Manufacturing 17 6.4%
Real estate and rental and leasing 16 6.0%
Wholesale trade 13 4.9%
Finance and insurance 9 3.4%
Transportation and warehousing 7 2.6%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 7 2.6%
Information 4 1.5%
Educational services 4 1.5%

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 21205 vs 21213 →

ZIP 21205 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 21205 ranks #9 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 21205 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 21205 ranks #9 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
21213 Baltimore, MD 32,733 1.1 mi
21231 Baltimore, MD 15,748 1.8 mi
21224 Baltimore, MD 49,134 1.9 mi
21202 Baltimore, MD 22,832 2.3 mi
21214 Baltimore, MD 20,564 3.4 mi
21251 Baltimore, MD 934 3.2 mi
21206 Baltimore, MD 50,846 3.0 mi
21201 Baltimore, MD 16,972 3.1 mi
21218 Baltimore, MD 49,796 2.8 mi
21217 Baltimore, MD 37,111 4.0 mi

More ZIP Codes in Baltimore County

21215 standard
Baltimore, MD
Pop: 60,161
21206 standard
Baltimore, MD
Pop: 50,846
21218 standard
Baltimore, MD
Pop: 49,796
21224 standard
Baltimore, MD
Pop: 49,134
21229 standard
Baltimore, MD
Pop: 45,213
21217 standard
Baltimore, MD
Pop: 37,111

Related Areas

Baltimore County Baltimore, MD Maryland

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 21205 in? ▼
ZIP code 21205 (Baltimore) is located in Baltimore County, Maryland. Baltimore County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/baltimore-md-24510.
What is the population of ZIP code 21205? ▼
ZIP code 21205 in Baltimore, MD has a population of 16,146 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 21205? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 21205 is $43,176, which is 43% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 21205? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 21205 is $96,100, which is 65% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21205? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 21205 is African American at 56.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 19.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21205? ▼
ZIP code 21205 has 265 business establishments employing approximately 7,359 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21205? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 21205 are: Retail trade (51), Accommodation and food services (47), Other services (except public administration) (29). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
What is the education level in ZIP code 21205? ▼
In ZIP code 21205, 54.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 16.6% 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 21205? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 21205 is 28.2 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 21205? ▼
In ZIP code 21205, approximately 36.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 63.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21205? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 21205 is 33.0% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.