Towson, MD · standard
ZIP Code 21286
Baltimore County, Maryland - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 19,206
- 869/sq mi High-density area
- $93,808
- Median income Above-median income area
- $430,100
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 58.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Towson pairs an upper-quartile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- Top 23%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 18%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 869
- people per sq mi
- 60%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 21286 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 21286 (Towson, MD) rose +3.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 249.9 in 2023 to 257.5 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 21286 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Towson, Baltimore County, Maryland, home to 19,206 residents across 22.1 square miles, a density of 869 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 21286 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $93,808 (18% below the average Maryland ZIP), while per-capita income is $58,071. The poverty rate is 13.2%, with unemployment at 3.3%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $430,100 (4% below the average Maryland ZIP) and median rent is $1,605; 59.9% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 58.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.6, and the average commute is 29 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Baltimore County, so 21286 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 21286
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Towson, MD
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21286.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
167 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
157 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
86 establishments
- Finance and insurance
Finance and insurance
82 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
75 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 21286, Towson, 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
19,206
Population
22.1
Area (sq mi)
869
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 21286?
39.6
Median Age
47.7%
Male
52.3%
Female
11.8%
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?
$93,808
Median Household Income
-18% vs state ZIP avg
$58,071
Per Capita Income
13.2%
Poverty Rate
3.3%
Unemployment Rate
28.5 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 21286 ranks among Maryland ZIPs
Towson, 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)
$93,808 42nd percentile higher than 42% 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
10,343housing units
10,343
Total Housing Units
9,765
Occupied Units
578
Vacant Units
2.21
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$430,100
Median Home Value
-4% vs state ZIP avg
$1,605
Median Rent
1964
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
+3.0%
YoY Change (2024)
258
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+158%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 21286 have increased 3.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +158% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.9% | 192 |
| 2021 | +7.0% | 206 |
| 2022 | +10.3% | 227 |
| 2023 | +10.0% | 250 |
| 2024 | +3.0% | 258 |
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 845 business establishments in ZIP 21286, employing approximately 15,772 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,003,486,000.
845
Businesses
15,772
Employees
$1.0B
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 167 | 19.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 157 | 18.6% |
| Retail trade | 86 | 10.2% |
| Finance and insurance | 82 | 9.7% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 75 | 8.9% |
| Accommodation and food services | 74 | 8.8% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 53 | 6.3% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 39 | 4.6% |
| Construction | 35 | 4.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 17 | 2.0% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 13 | 1.5% |
| Educational services | 12 | 1.4% |
| Information | 11 | 1.3% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 9 | 1.1% |
| Manufacturing | 8 | 0.9% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 6 | 0.7% |
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 21286 vs 21252 →
ZIP 21286 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 21234
Parkville (21234)
69,752 residents
- 21093
Lutherville Timonium (21093)
36,465 residents
- 21213
Baltimore (21213)
32,733 residents
- 21212
Baltimore (21212)
32,322 residents
- 21239
Baltimore (21239)
28,793 residents
- 21214 20,564
Baltimore (21214)
20,564 residents
- 21204 20,253
Towson (21204)
20,253 residents
- 21286 19,206
Towson (21286)
19,206 residents
- 21131 7,253
Phoenix (21131)
7,253 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 21286 ranks #8 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 21286 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 21131
Phoenix (21131)
$197,619 median income
- 21093
Lutherville Timonium (21093)
$125,528 median income
- 21204
Towson (21204)
$99,606 median income
- 21212
Baltimore (21212)
$96,685 median income
- 21286
Towson (21286)
$93,808 median income
- 21214
Baltimore (21214)
$86,366 median income
- 21234
Parkville (21234)
$83,517 median income
- 21239 $62,650
Baltimore (21239)
$62,650 median income
- 21213 $51,344
Baltimore (21213)
$51,344 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 21286 ranks #5 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21252 | Towson, MD | 2,872 | 2.3 mi |
| 21239 | Baltimore, MD | 28,793 | 3.4 mi |
| 21234 | Parkville, MD | 69,752 | 2.6 mi |
| 21204 | Towson, MD | 20,253 | 3.2 mi |
| 21214 | Baltimore, MD | 20,564 | 4.4 mi |
| 21251 | Baltimore, MD | 934 | 4.7 mi |
| 21212 | Baltimore, MD | 32,322 | 3.9 mi |
| 21131 | Phoenix, MD | 7,253 | 6.2 mi |
| 21093 | Lutherville Timonium, MD | 36,465 | 3.9 mi |
| 21213 | Baltimore, MD | 32,733 | 6.9 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 21286, 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 (19,206 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 21286 in?
ZIP code 21286 (Towson) 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 21286?
ZIP code 21286 in Towson, MD has a population of 19,206 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 21286?
The median household income in ZIP 21286 is $93,808, which is 23% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 21286?
The median home value in ZIP 21286 is $430,100, which is 55% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21286?
The largest racial group in ZIP 21286 is White at 67.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 7.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21286?
ZIP code 21286 has 845 business establishments employing approximately 15,772 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21286?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 21286 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (167), Health care and social assistance (157), Retail trade (86). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21286?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 21286 increased by 3.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 158%. 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 21286?
In ZIP code 21286, 70.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 58.8% 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 21286?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 21286 is 28.5 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 21286?
In ZIP code 21286, approximately 59.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 40.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21286?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 21286 is 13.2% 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 21286's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 21286 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Towson, 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.