PlainZIP

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
$45,840
Median income
$110,600
Median home value
15.6%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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.

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 Maryland average), while per-capita income is $29,114. 24.8% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 10.8%. On housing, the median home value is $110,600 (75% below the state average) with median rent at $1,208 per month, and 32.0% of occupied units are owner-occupied.

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. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Baltimore County, so you can benchmark 21223 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone.

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.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

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

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 21223?

38.6

Median Age

44.4%

Male

55.6%

Female

6.2%

Foreign-Born

White 13.9%
African American 74.6%
Asian 1.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 8.1%
Hispanic or Latino 5.4%

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

$29,114

Per Capita Income

24.8%

Poverty Rate

10.8%

Unemployment Rate

30.4 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 21223 ranks nationally

Baltimore, MD household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$45,840 10th percentile higher than 10% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). This entry sits in this band. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Above this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

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?

High School Graduate or Higher 53.4%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 15.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

12,929

Total Housing Units

8,587

Occupied Units

4,342

Vacant Units

2.26

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 32.0%
Renter 68.0%

$110,600

Median Home Value

-75% vs state

$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.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 21223 ranks #6 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 21223 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

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.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
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

More ZIP Codes in Baltimore County

21215 standard
Baltimore, MD
Pop: 60,161
21206 standard
Baltimore, MD
Pop: 50,846
21218 standard
Baltimore, MD
Pop: 49,796
21224 standard
Baltimore, MD
Pop: 49,134
21229 standard
Baltimore, MD
Pop: 45,213
21217 standard
Baltimore, MD
Pop: 37,111

Related Areas

Baltimore County Baltimore, MD Maryland

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.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.