Baltimore, MD · standard
ZIP Code 21223
Baltimore County, Maryland - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 26,366
- 3,868/sq mi High-density area
- $45,840
- Median income Below-median income area
- $110,600
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 15.6%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Baltimore pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with among the most affordable home values nationally, in a suburban-density, renter-heavy area.
- 10th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 13th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 3,868
- people per sq mi
- 32%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 21223 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 21223 (Baltimore, MD) fell -1.7% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 282.4 in 2023 to 277.6 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 21223 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland, with 26,366 residents across 6.8 square miles, a density of 3,868 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 21223 reports a modest median household income of $45,840 (60% below the average Maryland ZIP), while per-capita income is $29,114. Economic pressure is pronounced: 24.8% of residents are below the poverty line and unemployment is 10.8%. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $110,600 (75% below the average Maryland ZIP), and median rent is $1,208; owner occupancy is 32.0%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 15.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38.6, 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 21223 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 21223
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Baltimore, MD
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21223.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
84 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
48 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
47 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
38 establishments
- Wholesale trade 32
Wholesale trade
32 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 21223, 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
26,366
Population
6.8
Area (sq mi)
3,868
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 21223?
38.6
Median Age
44.4%
Male
55.6%
Female
6.2%
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?
$45,840
Median Household Income
-60% vs state ZIP avg
$29,114
Per Capita Income
24.8%
Poverty Rate
10.8%
Unemployment Rate
30.4 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 21223 ranks among Maryland ZIPs
Baltimore, MD household income vs. every Maryland ZIP code
Median household income among 419 reporting Maryland ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$45,840 2nd percentile higher than 2% of 419 Maryland ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Maryland 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
12,929housing units
12,929
Total Housing Units
8,587
Occupied Units
4,342
Vacant Units
2.26
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$110,600
Median Home Value
-75% vs state ZIP avg
$1,208
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
-1.7%
YoY Change (2024)
278
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+178%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 21223 have decreased 1.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +178% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +8.9% | 209 |
| 2021 | +11.6% | 233 |
| 2022 | +15.6% | 270 |
| 2023 | +4.7% | 282 |
| 2024 | -1.7% | 278 |
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 373 business establishments in ZIP 21223, employing approximately 4,507 people with a combined annual payroll of $221,162,000.
373
Businesses
4,507
Employees
$221.2M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 84 | 22.5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 48 | 12.9% |
| Accommodation and food services | 47 | 12.6% |
| Health care and social assistance | 38 | 10.2% |
| Wholesale trade | 32 | 8.6% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 28 | 7.5% |
| Manufacturing | 24 | 6.4% |
| Construction | 20 | 5.4% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 13 | 3.5% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 10 | 2.7% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 8 | 2.1% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 6 | 1.6% |
| Finance and insurance | 5 | 1.3% |
| Educational services | 5 | 1.3% |
| Information | 4 | 1.1% |
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 21223 vs 21229 →
ZIP 21223 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 21229
Baltimore (21229)
45,213 residents
- 21217
Baltimore (21217)
37,111 residents
- 21230
Baltimore (21230)
33,568 residents
- 21227
Halethorpe (21227)
33,534 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 21223 ranks #6 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 21223 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 21230
Baltimore (21230)
$91,842 median income
- 21227
Halethorpe (21227)
$85,986 median income
- 21231
Baltimore (21231)
$85,254 median income
- 21211
Baltimore (21211)
$82,828 median income
- 21229
Baltimore (21229)
$60,047 median income
- 21202
Baltimore (21202)
$59,377 median income
- 21223
Baltimore (21223)
$45,840 median income
- 21201
Baltimore (21201)
$45,640 median income
- 21216
Baltimore (21216)
$42,031 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 21223 ranks #7 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21229 | Baltimore, MD | 45,213 | 2.0 mi |
| 21217 | Baltimore, MD | 37,111 | 1.8 mi |
| 21201 | Baltimore, MD | 16,972 | 1.8 mi |
| 21216 | Baltimore, MD | 32,071 | 2.1 mi |
| 21230 | Baltimore, MD | 33,568 | 2.1 mi |
| 21202 | Baltimore, MD | 22,832 | 2.6 mi |
| 21211 | Baltimore, MD | 17,351 | 3.2 mi |
| 21231 | Baltimore, MD | 15,748 | 3.3 mi |
| 21227 | Halethorpe, MD | 33,534 | 3.3 mi |
| 21250 | Baltimore, MD | 3,205 | 3.7 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 21223, 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 (26,366 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 21223 in?
ZIP code 21223 (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 21223?
ZIP code 21223 in Baltimore, MD has a population of 26,366 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 21223?
The median household income in ZIP 21223 is $45,840, which is 40% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 21223?
The median home value in ZIP 21223 is $110,600, which is 60% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21223?
The largest racial group in ZIP 21223 is African American at 74.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21223?
ZIP code 21223 has 373 business establishments employing approximately 4,507 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21223?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 21223 are: Retail trade (84), Other services (except public administration) (48), Accommodation and food services (47). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21223?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 21223 decreased by 1.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 178%. 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 21223?
In ZIP code 21223, 53.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 15.6% 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 21223?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 21223 is 30.4 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 21223?
In ZIP code 21223, approximately 32.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 68.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21223?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 21223 is 24.8% 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 21223's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 21223 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.