Residential delivery area · Maryland
ZIP Code 21221: Essex, MD
ZIP code 21221 is in Essex, Maryland, entirely in Baltimore County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 43,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $67,340 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Essex (62%) and Middle River (7%), and 4% in smaller places; 28% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Essex · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Baltimore County
- Census places
- Essex (62%) census-designated place; Middle River (7%) census-designated place
- Metro area
- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
- House district
- MD-2 119th Congress
- State
- Maryland
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 15.0 sq mi · 2,893 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 21221?
21221 centers on 39.292°, -76.437° and covers 15.0 square miles of land plus 6.3 of water. It borders 5 ZIP codes: 21222, 21219, 21220, 21237, 21224.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 21221, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 21221 compare with the rest of Baltimore County?
| Measure | 21221 | In Baltimore County | In MD |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 43,487 | 11th of 57 | 31st of 477 |
| Median household income | $67k | 36th of 42 | 260th of 293 |
| Median home value | $272k | 39th of 45 | 275th of 320 |
Its median household income is higher than in 43% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 88% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 21221?
The 2020 Census counted 43,381 people in 21221; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 43,487. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 2.9% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 43,487
- 2020 Census count
- 43,381+2.9% since 2010 (42,154)
- Households
- 17,286
- Median age
- 42.4
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 21221?
Of the 43,487 people the ACS estimates in 21221, 21.6% are under 18 and 18.6% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (56.2%), then Black (not Hispanic) (27.8%).
- Under 1821.6%
- 18 to 6459.7%
- 65 and older18.6%
- White, not Hispanic56.2%
- Black, not Hispanic27.8%
- Other or two or more8.1%
- Hispanic or Latino5.9%
- Asian, not Hispanic2.0%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 21221 earn?
Median household income is $67,340 (ACS 2020-2024), the 36th highest of the 42 ranked ZIP codes in Baltimore County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($71,375 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $67,340
- Income per person
- $36,926
- Below the poverty line
- 12.8%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 6.2%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 21.0%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $58,40420,920 returns; wages 79% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 21221?
FHFA's house price index for 21221, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 72% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 43% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +8.8% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $271,500
- Median gross rent
- $1,310
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 62.5%
- Housing units
- 18,442
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 21221?
623 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 19 fewer than in 2018; the most are in construction (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Construction97
- Other services (except public administration)90
- Retail trade79
- Accommodation and food services68
- Health care and social assistance62
- Professional, scientific, and technical services45
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 21221?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21222 | Dundalk | 59,407 | $64k | 3.7 mi |
| 21219 | Sparrows Point | 9,565 | $110k | 4.3 mi |
| 21220 | Middle River | 42,824 | $82k | 4.3 mi |
| 21237 | Rosedale | 31,425 | $92k | 4.6 mi |
| 21224 | Baltimore | 47,465 | $89k | 5.7 mi |
| 21052 | Fort Howard | 409 | $77k | 6.0 mi (near) |
| 21206 | Baltimore | 48,902 | $65k | 6.3 mi (near) |
| 21205 | Baltimore | 13,013 | $43k | 6.8 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.