PlainZIP

Catonsville, MD · standard

ZIP Code 21228

Baltimore County, Maryland - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

47,577
1,185/sq mi
$112,656
Median income
$404,700
Median home value
52.5%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Catonsville pairs an upper-quartile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 12%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 20%
home value, US ZIPs
1,185
people per sq mi
71%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 21228 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 21228 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Catonsville, Baltimore County, Maryland, with 47,577 residents across 40.2 square miles, a density of 1,185 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 21228 skews affluent, with a median household income of $112,656 (1% below the Maryland average), while per-capita income is $54,810. Local economic indicators show a 8.1% poverty rate alongside 3.9% unemployment. The typical home here is valued at $404,700 (10% below the state average); renters pay a median of $1,701 monthly, and 71.0% of units are owner-occupied.

This is a highly-educated ZIP: 52.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42.2, and the average commute is 25 minutes. To put 21228 in local context, 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Baltimore County, for a geography-aware comparison.

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 21228

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Catonsville, MD

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21228.

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 21228, Catonsville, 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

47,577

Population

40.2

Area (sq mi)

1,185

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 21228?

42.2

Median Age

47.6%

Male

52.4%

Female

17.0%

Foreign-Born

White 54.4%
African American 18.9%
Asian 13.7%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.2%
Two or More Ethnicities 7.9%
Hispanic or Latino 9.2%

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?

$112,656

Median Household Income

-1% vs state

$54,810

Per Capita Income

8.1%

Poverty Rate

3.9%

Unemployment Rate

25.4 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 21228 ranks nationally

Catonsville, MD household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$112,656 Top 12% higher than 88% 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%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Below this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). This entry sits in this band. $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 69.4%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 52.5%

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

What does housing look like?

20,482

Total Housing Units

19,788

Occupied Units

694

Vacant Units

2.47

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 71.0%
Renter 29.0%

$404,700

Median Home Value

-10% vs state

$1,701

Median Rent

1969

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

+4.7%

YoY Change (2024)

280

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+180%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 21228 have increased 4.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +180% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +2.6% 211
2021 +7.1% 226
2022 +11.2% 251
2023 +6.4% 268
2024 +4.7% 280

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 1,191 business establishments in ZIP 21228, employing approximately 17,358 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,044,513,000.

1,191

Businesses

17,358

Employees

$1.0B

Annual Payroll

16

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Health care and social assistance 243 20.4%
Retail trade 170 14.3%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 164 13.8%
Other services (except public administration) 133 11.2%
Accommodation and food services 125 10.5%
Construction 88 7.4%
Real estate and rental and leasing 63 5.3%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 57 4.8%
Finance and insurance 50 4.2%
Wholesale trade 22 1.9%
Transportation and warehousing 20 1.7%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 15 1.3%
Manufacturing 12 1.0%
Educational services 12 1.0%
Information 11 0.9%
Management of companies and enterprises 5 0.4%

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 21228 vs 21250 →

ZIP 21228 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 21228 ranks #2 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 21228 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 21228 ranks #3 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
21250 Baltimore, MD 3,205 2.3 mi
21043 Ellicott City, MD 42,246 2.9 mi
21229 Baltimore, MD 45,213 3.1 mi
21075 Elkridge, MD 26,344 4.8 mi
21207 Gwynn Oak, MD 48,133 3.8 mi
21244 Windsor Mill, MD 34,611 4.5 mi
21227 Halethorpe, MD 33,534 4.3 mi
21223 Baltimore, MD 26,366 5.1 mi
21216 Baltimore, MD 32,071 4.8 mi
21230 Baltimore, MD 33,568 6.7 mi

More ZIP Codes in Baltimore County

21234 standard
Parkville, MD
Pop: 69,752
21222 standard
Dundalk, MD
Pop: 55,786
21117 standard
Owings Mills, MD
Pop: 53,778
21207 standard
Gwynn Oak, MD
Pop: 48,133
21221 standard
Essex, MD
Pop: 42,154
21220 standard
Middle River, MD
Pop: 39,199

Related Areas

Baltimore County Catonsville, MD Maryland

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 21228 in? ▼
ZIP code 21228 (Catonsville) 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 21228? ▼
ZIP code 21228 in Catonsville, MD has a population of 47,577 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 21228? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 21228 is $112,656, which is 48% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 21228? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 21228 is $404,700, which is 45% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21228? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 21228 is White at 54.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 9.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21228? ▼
ZIP code 21228 has 1,191 business establishments employing approximately 17,358 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21228? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 21228 are: Health care and social assistance (243), Retail trade (170), Professional, scientific, and technical services (164). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21228? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 21228 increased by 4.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 180%. 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 21228? ▼
In ZIP code 21228, 69.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 52.5% 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 21228? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 21228 is 25.4 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 21228? ▼
In ZIP code 21228, approximately 71.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 29.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21228? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 21228 is 8.1% 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.