Baltimore, MD · standard
ZIP Code 21217
Baltimore County, Maryland - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 37,111
- 6,189/sq mi High-density area
- $38,409
- Median income Below-median income area
- $180,100
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 23.4%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-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, renter-heavy area.
- 5th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 38th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 6,189
- people per sq mi
- 30%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 21217 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 21217 (Baltimore, MD) fell -8.5% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 322.8 in 2023 to 295.5 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 21217 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland, with 37,111 residents across 6.0 square miles, a density of 6,189 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 21217 sits on the lower end of the income spectrum: median household income is $38,409 (66% below the average Maryland ZIP), while per-capita income is $32,026. Economic pressure is pronounced: 31.6% of residents are below the poverty line and unemployment is 12.3%. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $180,100 (60% below the average Maryland ZIP), and median rent is $1,119; owner occupancy is 30.0%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 23.4% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38.8, 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 21217 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 21217
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Baltimore, MD
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 + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, 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; 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 ZIP avg
$32,026
Per Capita Income
31.6%
Poverty Rate
12.3%
Unemployment Rate
32.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 21217 ranks nationally
Baltimore, MD household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$38,409 5th percentile higher than 5% 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
19,995housing units
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 ZIP avg
$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 21217 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 21218
Baltimore (21218)
49,796 residents
- 21217
Baltimore (21217)
37,111 residents
- 21230
Baltimore (21230)
33,568 residents
- 21213
Baltimore (21213)
32,733 residents
- 21216
Baltimore (21216)
32,071 residents
- 21223
Baltimore (21223)
26,366 residents
- 21202
Baltimore (21202)
22,832 residents
- 21211 17,351
Baltimore (21211)
17,351 residents
- 21201 16,972
Baltimore (21201)
16,972 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 21217 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 21217 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 21210
Baltimore (21210)
$112,428 median income
- 21230
Baltimore (21230)
$91,842 median income
- 21231
Baltimore (21231)
$85,254 median income
- 21211
Baltimore (21211)
$82,828 median income
- 21218
Baltimore (21218)
$62,488 median income
- 21202
Baltimore (21202)
$59,377 median income
- 21213
Baltimore (21213)
$51,344 median income
- 21223
Baltimore (21223)
$45,840 median income
- 21201
Baltimore (21201)
$45,640 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 21217 ranks #null of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| 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 |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 21217, 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 (37,111 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 21217 in?
ZIP code 21217 (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 21217?
ZIP code 21217 in Baltimore, MD has a population of 37,111 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 21217?
The median household income in ZIP 21217 is $38,409, which is 50% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 21217?
The median home value in ZIP 21217 is $180,100, which is 35% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21217?
The largest racial group in ZIP 21217 is African American at 80.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21217?
ZIP code 21217 has 333 business establishments employing approximately 3,648 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21217?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 21217 are: Retail trade (73), Other services (except public administration) (65), Health care and social assistance (51). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21217?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 21217 decreased by 8.5% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 195%. 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 21217?
In ZIP code 21217, 56.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 23.4% 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 21217?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 21217 is 32.6 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 21217?
In ZIP code 21217, approximately 30.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 70.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21217?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 21217 is 31.6% 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 21217's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 21217 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.