ZIP Code 21217
standardSource:
Baltimore · Baltimore County · Maryland
- Population
- 37,111
- Median income
- $38,409
- Median home value
- $180,100
- Bachelor's or higher
- 23.4%
- Land area
- 6.0 sq mi
6,189/sq mi
▼ 50% vs US
higher than 5% of US ZIPs
▼ 35% vs US
higher than 38% of US ZIPs
Median age 38.8
New York
ZIP code 21217 in Baltimore, Maryland has a population of 37,111. The median household income is $38,409, which is 50% below the national average. Median home value is $180,100, 35% below the US average. 23.4% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 21217 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 6.0 square miles in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland. The area is home to 37,111 residents, producing a population density of 6,189 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 21217 against Maryland and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 21217 sits at $38,409 (66% below the Maryland average), while per-capita income is $32,026. The poverty rate stands at 31.6% and the unemployment rate at 12.3%. On housing, the median home value is $180,100 (60% below the state average) with median rent at $1,119 per month, and 30.0% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 21217 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 23.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38.8, and the average commute is 33 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Baltimore County, so you can benchmark 21217 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 21217
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21217.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
73 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
65 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
51 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
36 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing
Real estate and rental and leasing
34 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 21217, Baltimore, 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
37,111
Population
6.0
Area (sq mi)
6,189
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 21217?
38.8
Median Age
49.6%
Male
50.4%
Female
4.4%
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?
$38,409
Median Household Income
-66% vs state
$32,026
Per Capita Income
31.6%
Poverty Rate
12.3%
Unemployment Rate
32.6 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?
19,995
Total Housing Units
15,332
Occupied Units
4,663
Vacant Units
1.94
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$180,100
Median Home Value
-60% vs state
$1,119
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
-8.5%
YoY Change (2024)
295
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+195%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 21217 have decreased 8.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +195% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.0% | 245 |
| 2021 | +9.5% | 268 |
| 2022 | +4.9% | 282 |
| 2023 | +14.7% | 323 |
| 2024 | -8.5% | 295 |
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 333 business establishments in ZIP 21217, employing approximately 3,648 people with a combined annual payroll of $155,024,000.
333
Businesses
3,648
Employees
$155.0M
Annual Payroll
13
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 73 | 21.9% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 65 | 19.5% |
| Health care and social assistance | 51 | 15.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 36 | 10.8% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 34 | 10.2% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 17 | 5.1% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 11 | 3.3% |
| Educational services | 9 | 2.7% |
| Construction | 8 | 2.4% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 7 | 2.1% |
| Finance and insurance | 6 | 1.8% |
| Wholesale trade | 5 | 1.5% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 5 | 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 21217 vs 21211 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21211 | Baltimore, MD | 17,351 | 1.5 mi |
| 21201 | Baltimore, MD | 16,972 | 1.3 mi |
| 21216 | Baltimore, MD | 32,071 | 1.8 mi |
| 21223 | Baltimore, MD | 26,366 | 1.8 mi |
| 21202 | Baltimore, MD | 22,832 | 1.9 mi |
| 21210 | Baltimore, MD | 14,292 | 3.5 mi |
| 21218 | Baltimore, MD | 49,796 | 2.4 mi |
| 21230 | Baltimore, MD | 33,568 | 3.0 mi |
| 21231 | Baltimore, MD | 15,748 | 2.9 mi |
| 21213 | Baltimore, MD | 32,733 | 3.3 mi |
More ZIP Codes in Baltimore County
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Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the population of ZIP code 21217? ▼
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How many businesses are in ZIP code 21217? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21217? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21217? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 21217? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 21217? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 21217? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21217? ▼
ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Baltimore, 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.
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Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.