PlainZIP

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
$93,808
Median income
$430,100
Median home value
58.8%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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.

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 Maryland average), while per-capita income is $58,071. Poverty here runs at 13.2%, with unemployment measured at 3.3%. The typical home here is valued at $430,100 (4% below the state average); renters pay a median of $1,605 monthly, and 59.9% of units 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. To put 21286 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 21286

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Towson, MD

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21286.

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 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

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 21286?

39.6

Median Age

47.7%

Male

52.3%

Female

11.8%

Foreign-Born

White 67.6%
African American 17.6%
Asian 4.2%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 6.2%
Hispanic or Latino 7.9%

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

$58,071

Per Capita Income

13.2%

Poverty Rate

3.3%

Unemployment Rate

28.5 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 21286 ranks nationally

Towson, MD household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$93,808 Top 23% higher than 77% 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 70.9%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 58.8%

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

What does housing look like?

10,343

Total Housing Units

9,765

Occupied Units

578

Vacant Units

2.21

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 59.9%
Renter 40.1%

$430,100

Median Home Value

-4% vs state

$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.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 21286 ranks #8 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 21286 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 21286 ranks #5 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
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

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
21228 standard
Catonsville, MD
Pop: 47,577
21221 standard
Essex, MD
Pop: 42,154

Related Areas

Baltimore County Towson, MD Maryland

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.

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