Residential delivery area · Maryland
ZIP Code 21286: Hampton (Towson), MD
ZIP code 21286 is in Hampton (postal name Towson), Maryland, entirely in Baltimore County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 22,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024), the most populous of Towson's 4 residential ZIP codes. Median household income is $93,808 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Hampton (62%) and Towson (35%), and 3% in smaller places.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Towson · 4 residential ZIPs
- County
- Baltimore County
- Census places
- Hampton (62%) census-designated place; Towson (35%) census-designated place
- Metro area
- Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD
- House districts
- MD-2 (97%), MD-1 (3%) 119th Congress, by share of land
- State
- Maryland
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 8.6 sq mi · 2,543 people per sq mi
- PO Box ZIPs
- 21284 also use the name Towson
Where is ZIP code 21286?
21286 centers on 39.412°, -76.573° and covers 8.6 square miles of land plus 0.4 of water. It borders 7 ZIP codes: 21252, 21234, 21204, 21239, 21212, 21057, 21093.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 21286, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 21286 compare with the rest of Towson?
| Measure | 21286 | In Towson | In Baltimore County | In MD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 21,853 | 1st of 4 | 25th of 57 | 118th of 477 |
| Median household income | $94k | 2nd of 2 | 24th of 42 | 184th of 293 |
| Median home value | $430k | 2nd of 2 | 20th of 45 | 156th of 320 |
Its median household income is higher than in 77% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 87% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 21286?
The 2020 Census counted 21,470 people in 21286; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 21,853. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 11.8% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 21,853
- 2020 Census count
- 21,470+11.8% since 2010 (19,206)
- Households
- 9,765
- Median age
- 39.6
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 21286?
Of the 21,853 people the ACS estimates in 21286, 18.3% are under 18 and 22.2% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (66.3%), then Black (not Hispanic) (17.5%).
- Under 1818.3%
- 18 to 6459.4%
- 65 and older22.2%
- White, not Hispanic66.3%
- Black, not Hispanic17.5%
- Hispanic or Latino7.9%
- Asian, not Hispanic4.2%
- Other or two or more4.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 21286 earn?
Median household income is $93,808 (ACS 2020-2024), the 24th highest of the 42 ranked ZIP codes in Baltimore County. It fell from $107,362 in 2015-2019 (in 2024 dollars), a change larger than the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $93,808
- Income per person
- $58,071
- Below the poverty line
- 13.2%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 3.3%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 58.8%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $110,29610,870 returns; wages 65% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 21286?
FHFA's house price index for 21286, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 46% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 32% from 2020 to 2025, and moved −0.7% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $430,100
- Median gross rent
- $1,605
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 59.9%
- Housing units
- 10,343
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 21286?
845 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 9 more than in 2018; the most are in professional, scientific, and technical services (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Professional, scientific, and technical services167
- Health care and social assistance157
- Retail trade86
- Finance and insurance82
- Other services (except public administration)75
- Accommodation and food services74
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 21286?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21252 | Towson | 4,865 | – | 2.4 mi |
| 21234 | Parkville | 66,334 | $84k | 2.6 mi |
| 21204 | Towson | 19,845 | $100k | 2.8 mi |
| 21239 | Baltimore | 27,346 | $63k | 3.3 mi |
| 21212 | Baltimore | 33,974 | $97k | 3.8 mi |
| 21057 | Glen Arm | 4,386 | $146k | 4.1 mi |
| 21093 | Lutherville Timonium | 39,100 | $126k | 4.1 mi |
| 21285 | Towson | 3 | – | 2.9 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.