Essex, MD · standard
ZIP Code 21221
Baltimore County, Maryland - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 42,154
- 1,102/sq mi High-density area
- $67,340
- Median income Near-median income area
- $271,500
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 21.0%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Essex pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- 42nd pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 38%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,102
- people per sq mi
- 63%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 21221 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 21221 (Essex, MD) rose +2.8% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 241.2 in 2023 to 248.0 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 21221 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Essex, Baltimore County, Maryland, with 42,154 residents across 38.2 square miles, a density of 1,102 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 21221 reports a modest median household income of $67,340 (41% below the average Maryland ZIP), while per-capita income is $36,926. The poverty rate is 12.8%, with unemployment at 6.2%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $271,500 (39% below the average Maryland ZIP), and median rent is $1,310; owner occupancy is 62.5%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 21.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42.4, and the average commute is 30 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Baltimore County, so 21221 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 21221
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Essex, MD
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21221.
- Construction
Construction
97 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
90 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
79 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
68 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
62 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 21221, Essex, 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
42,154
Population
38.2
Area (sq mi)
1,102
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 21221?
42.4
Median Age
47.0%
Male
53.0%
Female
8.2%
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?
$67,340
Median Household Income
-41% vs state ZIP avg
$36,926
Per Capita Income
12.8%
Poverty Rate
6.2%
Unemployment Rate
29.5 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 21221 ranks nationally
Essex, MD household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$67,340 42nd percentile higher than 42% 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
18,442housing units
18,442
Total Housing Units
17,286
Occupied Units
1,156
Vacant Units
2.50
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$271,500
Median Home Value
-39% vs state ZIP avg
$1,310
Median Rent
1966
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
+2.8%
YoY Change (2024)
248
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+148%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 21221 have increased 2.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +148% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +6.8% | 188 |
| 2021 | +10.0% | 207 |
| 2022 | +8.9% | 225 |
| 2023 | +7.2% | 241 |
| 2024 | +2.8% | 248 |
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 623 business establishments in ZIP 21221, employing approximately 6,064 people with a combined annual payroll of $284,596,000.
623
Businesses
6,064
Employees
$284.6M
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 97 | 15.6% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 90 | 14.4% |
| Retail trade | 79 | 12.7% |
| Accommodation and food services | 68 | 10.9% |
| Health care and social assistance | 62 | 9.9% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 45 | 7.2% |
| Wholesale trade | 35 | 5.6% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 34 | 5.5% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 28 | 4.5% |
| Finance and insurance | 21 | 3.4% |
| Manufacturing | 19 | 3.0% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 14 | 2.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 13 | 2.1% |
| Educational services | 8 | 1.3% |
| Information | 6 | 1.0% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 3 | 0.5% |
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 21221 vs 21219 →
ZIP 21221 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 21222
Dundalk (21222)
55,786 residents
- 21224
Baltimore (21224)
49,134 residents
- 21221
Essex (21221)
42,154 residents
- 21220
Middle River (21220)
39,199 residents
- 21236
Nottingham (21236)
38,474 residents
- 21237
Rosedale (21237)
30,059 residents
- 21205 16,146
Baltimore (21205)
16,146 residents
- 21128 12,802
Perry Hall (21128)
12,802 residents
- 21219 9,379
Sparrows Point (21219)
9,379 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 21221 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 21221 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 21162
White Marsh (21162)
$157,813 median income
- 21128
Perry Hall (21128)
$128,069 median income
- 21219
Sparrows Point (21219)
$110,438 median income
- 21236
Nottingham (21236)
$95,149 median income
- 21237
Rosedale (21237)
$91,693 median income
- 21224
Baltimore (21224)
$89,017 median income
- 21220
Middle River (21220)
$81,817 median income
- 21052
Fort Howard (21052)
$77,300 median income
- 21221
Essex (21221)
$67,340 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 21221 ranks #9 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21219 | Sparrows Point, MD | 9,379 | 4.5 mi |
| 21222 | Dundalk, MD | 55,786 | 3.5 mi |
| 21220 | Middle River, MD | 39,199 | 4.2 mi |
| 21052 | Fort Howard, MD | 303 | 6.1 mi |
| 21237 | Rosedale, MD | 30,059 | 4.3 mi |
| 21224 | Baltimore, MD | 49,134 | 5.5 mi |
| 21128 | Perry Hall, MD | 12,802 | 7.9 mi |
| 21162 | White Marsh, MD | 3,655 | 6.9 mi |
| 21205 | Baltimore, MD | 16,146 | 6.7 mi |
| 21236 | Nottingham, MD | 38,474 | 7.0 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 21221, 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 (42,154 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 21221 in?
ZIP code 21221 (Essex) is located in Baltimore County, Maryland. Baltimore County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/baltimore-md-24005.
What is the population of ZIP code 21221?
ZIP code 21221 in Essex, MD has a population of 42,154 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 21221?
The median household income in ZIP 21221 is $67,340, which is 12% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 21221?
The median home value in ZIP 21221 is $271,500, which is 2% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21221?
The largest racial group in ZIP 21221 is White at 57.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21221?
ZIP code 21221 has 623 business establishments employing approximately 6,064 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21221?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 21221 are: Construction (97), Other services (except public administration) (90), Retail trade (79). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21221?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 21221 increased by 2.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 148%. 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 21221?
In ZIP code 21221, 60.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 21.0% 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 21221?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 21221 is 29.5 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 21221?
In ZIP code 21221, approximately 62.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 37.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21221?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 21221 is 12.8% 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 21221's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 21221 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Essex, 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.