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 High-density area
- $43,176
- Median income Below-median income area
- $96,100
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 16.6%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
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.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 21205 (Baltimore, MD) rose +10.9% from 2023 to 2024.
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 average Maryland ZIP), while per-capita income is $24,453. The poverty rate is 33.0%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $96,100 (79% below the average Maryland ZIP), and median rent is $1,128; owner occupancy is 36.4%.
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. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Baltimore County, so 21205 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
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.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
51 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
47 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
29 establishments
- Construction
Construction
21 establishments
- Health care and social assistance 20
Health care and social assistance
20 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 + 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
Who lives in ZIP 21205?
35.9
Median Age
46.0%
Male
54.0%
Female
17.8%
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?
$43,176
Median Household Income
-62% vs state ZIP avg
$24,453
Per Capita Income
33.0%
Poverty Rate
8.1%
Unemployment Rate
28.2 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 21205 ranks among Maryland ZIPs
Baltimore, MD household income vs. every Maryland ZIP code
Median household income among 419 reporting Maryland ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$43,176 2nd percentile higher than 2% of 419 Maryland ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Maryland 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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
6,291housing units
6,291
Total Housing Units
5,111
Occupied Units
1,180
Vacant Units
2.52
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$96,100
Median Home Value
-79% vs state ZIP avg
$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.
- 21206
Baltimore (21206)
50,846 residents
- 21218
Baltimore (21218)
49,796 residents
- 21224
Baltimore (21224)
49,134 residents
- 21217
Baltimore (21217)
37,111 residents
- 21213
Baltimore (21213)
32,733 residents
- 21202
Baltimore (21202)
22,832 residents
- 21214
Baltimore (21214)
20,564 residents
- 21201 16,972
Baltimore (21201)
16,972 residents
- 21205 16,146
Baltimore (21205)
16,146 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 21205 ranks #9 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 21205 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 21224
Baltimore (21224)
$89,017 median income
- 21214
Baltimore (21214)
$86,366 median income
- 21231
Baltimore (21231)
$85,254 median income
- 21206
Baltimore (21206)
$64,531 median income
- 21218
Baltimore (21218)
$62,488 median income
- 21202
Baltimore (21202)
$59,377 median income
- 21213
Baltimore (21213)
$51,344 median income
- 21201
Baltimore (21201)
$45,640 median income
- 21205
Baltimore (21205)
$43,176 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.
| 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 |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 21205, both outside MD so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (16,146 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Baltimore County
Related Areas
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.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 21205's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 21205 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Baltimore, MD ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.