Baltimore, MD · standard
ZIP Code 21216
Baltimore County, Maryland - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 32,071
- 3,714/sq mi High-density area
- $42,031
- Median income Below-median income area
- $147,800
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 17.2%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Baltimore pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a suburban-density, mixed-tenure area.
- 7th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 25th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 3,714
- people per sq mi
- 50%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 21216 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 21216 (Baltimore, MD) rose +17.4% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 276.4 in 2023 to 324.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 21216 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland, with 32,071 residents across 8.6 square miles, a density of 3,714 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 21216 reports a modest median household income of $42,031 (63% below the average Maryland ZIP), while per-capita income is $25,472. Economic pressure is pronounced: 27.0% of residents are below the poverty line and unemployment is 14.1%. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $147,800 (67% below the average Maryland ZIP), and median rent is $1,176; owner occupancy is 50.2%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 17.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 34.7, and the average commute is 33 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Baltimore County, so 21216 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 21216
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Baltimore, MD
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21216.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
62 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
48 establishments
- Other services (except public administration) 24
Other services (except public administration)
24 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing 15
Real estate and rental and leasing
15 establishments
- Accommodation and food services 14
Accommodation and food services
14 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 21216, 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
32,071
Population
8.6
Area (sq mi)
3,714
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 21216?
34.7
Median Age
42.5%
Male
57.5%
Female
3.0%
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?
$42,031
Median Household Income
-63% vs state ZIP avg
$25,472
Per Capita Income
27.0%
Poverty Rate
14.1%
Unemployment Rate
33.2 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 21216 ranks nationally
Baltimore, MD household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$42,031 7th percentile higher than 7% of 30,318 US ZIPs
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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
15,580housing units
15,580
Total Housing Units
12,307
Occupied Units
3,273
Vacant Units
2.34
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$147,800
Median Home Value
-67% vs state ZIP avg
$1,176
Median Rent
1938
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
+17.4%
YoY Change (2024)
324
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+224%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 21216 have increased 17.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +224% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +6.3% | 204 |
| 2021 | +9.2% | 223 |
| 2022 | +30.9% | 292 |
| 2023 | -5.4% | 276 |
| 2024 | +17.4% | 324 |
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 202 business establishments in ZIP 21216, employing approximately 1,172 people with a combined annual payroll of $44,602,000.
202
Businesses
1,172
Employees
$44.6M
Annual Payroll
10
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 62 | 30.7% |
| Health care and social assistance | 48 | 23.8% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 24 | 11.9% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 15 | 7.4% |
| Accommodation and food services | 14 | 6.9% |
| Construction | 8 | 4.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 8 | 4.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 6 | 3.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 5 | 2.5% |
| Finance and insurance | 3 | 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 21216 vs 21217 →
ZIP 21216 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 21215
Baltimore (21215)
60,161 residents
- 21207
Gwynn Oak (21207)
48,133 residents
- 21229
Baltimore (21229)
45,213 residents
- 21217
Baltimore (21217)
37,111 residents
- 21227
Halethorpe (21227)
33,534 residents
- 21216
Baltimore (21216)
32,071 residents
- 21209
Baltimore (21209)
26,465 residents
- 21223
Baltimore (21223)
26,366 residents
- 21202 22,832
Baltimore (21202)
22,832 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 21216 ranks #6 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 21216 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 21209
Baltimore (21209)
$91,437 median income
- 21227
Halethorpe (21227)
$85,986 median income
- 21211
Baltimore (21211)
$82,828 median income
- 21207
Gwynn Oak (21207)
$67,060 median income
- 21229
Baltimore (21229)
$60,047 median income
- 21202
Baltimore (21202)
$59,377 median income
- 21215
Baltimore (21215)
$51,587 median income
- 21223
Baltimore (21223)
$45,840 median income
- 21201
Baltimore (21201)
$45,640 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 21216 ranks #null of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21217 | Baltimore, MD | 37,111 | 1.8 mi |
| 21229 | Baltimore, MD | 45,213 | 2.1 mi |
| 21223 | Baltimore, MD | 26,366 | 2.1 mi |
| 21215 | Baltimore, MD | 60,161 | 2.5 mi |
| 21211 | Baltimore, MD | 17,351 | 2.2 mi |
| 21207 | Gwynn Oak, MD | 48,133 | 2.7 mi |
| 21209 | Baltimore, MD | 26,465 | 4.3 mi |
| 21201 | Baltimore, MD | 16,972 | 2.9 mi |
| 21227 | Halethorpe, MD | 33,534 | 4.9 mi |
| 21202 | Baltimore, MD | 22,832 | 3.6 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 21216, 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 (32,071 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 21216 in?
ZIP code 21216 (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 21216?
ZIP code 21216 in Baltimore, MD has a population of 32,071 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 21216?
The median household income in ZIP 21216 is $42,031, which is 45% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 21216?
The median home value in ZIP 21216 is $147,800, which is 47% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21216?
The largest racial group in ZIP 21216 is African American at 90.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21216?
ZIP code 21216 has 202 business establishments employing approximately 1,172 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21216?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 21216 are: Retail trade (62), Health care and social assistance (48), Other services (except public administration) (24). There are 10 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21216?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 21216 increased by 17.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 224%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 21216?
In ZIP code 21216, 56.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 17.2% 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 21216?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 21216 is 33.2 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 21216?
In ZIP code 21216, approximately 50.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 49.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21216?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 21216 is 27.0% 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 21216's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 21216 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
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.