ZIP Code 21221
standardSource:
Essex · Baltimore County · Maryland
- Population
- 42,154
- Median income
- $67,340
- Median home value
- $271,500
- Bachelor's or higher
- 21.0%
- Land area
- 38.2 sq mi
1,102/sq mi
▼ 12% vs US
higher than 42% of US ZIPs
▼ 2% vs US
higher than 62% of US ZIPs
Median age 42.4
New York
ZIP code 21221 in Essex, Maryland has a population of 42,154. The median household income is $67,340, which is 12% below the national average. Median home value is $271,500, 2% below the US average. 21.0% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 21221 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 38.2 square miles in Essex, Baltimore County, Maryland. The area is home to 42,154 residents, producing a population density of 1,102 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 21221 against Maryland and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 21221 sits at $67,340 (41% below the Maryland average), while per-capita income is $36,926. The poverty rate stands at 12.8% and the unemployment rate at 6.2%. On housing, the median home value is $271,500 (39% below the state average) with median rent at $1,310 per month, and 62.5% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 21221 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 21.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42.4, and the average commute is 30 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Baltimore County, so you can benchmark 21221 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 21221
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, 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; HUD FMR + 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
$36,926
Per Capita Income
12.8%
Poverty Rate
6.2%
Unemployment Rate
29.5 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?
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
$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 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 |
More ZIP Codes in Baltimore County
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Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 21221 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 21221? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 21221? ▼
What is the average home value in ZIP 21221? ▼
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21221? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21221? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21221? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21221? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 21221? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 21221? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 21221? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21221? ▼
ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Essex, 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.
PlainZIP is not affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau or any government agency.
Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.