PlainZIP

Baltimore, MD · standard

ZIP Code 21231

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

15,748
6,980/sq mi
$85,254
Median income
$350,100
Median home value
64.3%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Baltimore pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a suburban-density, renter-heavy area.

Top 32%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 26%
home value, US ZIPs
6,980
people per sq mi
34%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 21231 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 21231 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Baltimore, Baltimore County, Maryland, home to 15,748 residents across 2.3 square miles, a density of 6,980 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 21231 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $85,254 (25% below the Maryland average), while per-capita income is $64,422. Local economic indicators show a 20.6% poverty rate alongside 4.2% unemployment. On housing, the median home value is $350,100 (22% below the state average) with median rent at $1,796 per month, and 34.2% of occupied units are owner-occupied.

This is a highly-educated ZIP: 64.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 32.7, and the average commute is 24 minutes. To put 21231 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 21231

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Baltimore, MD

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21231.

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 21231, 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

15,748

Population

2.3

Area (sq mi)

6,980

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 21231?

32.7

Median Age

48.5%

Male

51.5%

Female

9.5%

Foreign-Born

White 57.0%
African American 26.6%
Asian 5.9%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 7.3%
Hispanic or Latino 7.3%

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?

$85,254

Median Household Income

-25% vs state

$64,422

Per Capita Income

20.6%

Poverty Rate

4.2%

Unemployment Rate

24.1 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 21231 ranks nationally

Baltimore, MD household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$85,254 Top 32% higher than 68% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $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 79.3%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 64.3%

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

What does housing look like?

9,514

Total Housing Units

8,136

Occupied Units

1,378

Vacant Units

1.83

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 34.2%
Renter 65.8%

$350,100

Median Home Value

-22% vs state

$1,796

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

-0.7%

YoY Change (2024)

267

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+167%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 21231 have decreased 0.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +167% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +3.9% 231
2021 +5.7% 244
2022 +5.0% 256
2023 +4.8% 269
2024 -0.7% 267

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 509 business establishments in ZIP 21231, employing approximately 9,784 people with a combined annual payroll of $981,825,000.

509

Businesses

9,784

Employees

$981.8M

Annual Payroll

17

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Accommodation and food services 112 22.0%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 75 14.7%
Retail trade 65 12.8%
Other services (except public administration) 56 11.0%
Real estate and rental and leasing 38 7.5%
Health care and social assistance 37 7.3%
Finance and insurance 26 5.1%
Construction 17 3.3%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 17 3.3%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 11 2.2%
Manufacturing 10 2.0%
Wholesale trade 10 2.0%
Information 9 1.8%
Utilities 8 1.6%
Educational services 8 1.6%
Transportation and warehousing 6 1.2%
Management of companies and enterprises 3 0.6%

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 21231 vs 21202 →

ZIP 21231 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 21231 ranks #0 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 21231 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 21231 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
21202 Baltimore, MD 22,832 1.0 mi
21201 Baltimore, MD 16,972 1.7 mi
21205 Baltimore, MD 16,146 1.8 mi
21213 Baltimore, MD 32,733 2.1 mi
21230 Baltimore, MD 33,568 2.2 mi
21218 Baltimore, MD 49,796 3.0 mi
21224 Baltimore, MD 49,134 2.8 mi
21223 Baltimore, MD 26,366 3.3 mi
21217 Baltimore, MD 37,111 2.9 mi
21251 Baltimore, MD 934 4.2 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 21231 in? ▼
ZIP code 21231 (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 21231? ▼
ZIP code 21231 in Baltimore, MD has a population of 15,748 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 21231? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 21231 is $85,254, which is 12% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 21231? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 21231 is $350,100, which is 26% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21231? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 21231 is White at 57.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 7.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21231? ▼
ZIP code 21231 has 509 business establishments employing approximately 9,784 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21231? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 21231 are: Accommodation and food services (112), Professional, scientific, and technical services (75), Retail trade (65). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21231? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 21231 decreased by 0.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 167%. 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 21231? ▼
In ZIP code 21231, 79.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 64.3% 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 21231? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 21231 is 24.1 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 21231? ▼
In ZIP code 21231, approximately 34.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 65.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21231? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 21231 is 20.6% 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.