ZIP Code 21286
standardSource:
Towson · Baltimore County · Maryland
- Population
- 19,206
- Median income
- $93,808
- Median home value
- $430,100
- Bachelor's or higher
- 58.8%
- Land area
- 22.1 sq mi
869/sq mi
▲ 23% vs US
higher than 77% of US ZIPs
▲ 55% vs US
higher than 82% of US ZIPs
Median age 39.6
New York
ZIP code 21286 in Towson, Maryland has a population of 19,206. The median household income is $93,808, which is 23% above the national average. Median home value is $430,100, 55% above the US average. 58.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 21286 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 22.1 square miles in Towson, Baltimore County, Maryland. The area is home to 19,206 residents, producing a population density of 869 people per square mile, and falls within the New York time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 21286 against Maryland and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 21286 sits at $93,808 (18% below the Maryland average), while per-capita income is $58,071. The poverty rate stands at 13.2% and the unemployment rate at 3.3%. On housing, the median home value is $430,100 (4% below the state average) with median rent at $1,605 per month, and 59.9% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 21286 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 58.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.6, and the average commute is 29 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Baltimore County, so you can benchmark 21286 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →
Top industries in ZIP 21286
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, 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; HUD FMR + 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
$58,071
Per Capita Income
13.2%
Poverty Rate
3.3%
Unemployment Rate
28.5 min
Mean Commute Time
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?
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
$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 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
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Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 21286 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 21286? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 21286? ▼
What is the average home value in ZIP 21286? ▼
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21286? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21286? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21286? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21286? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 21286? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 21286? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 21286? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21286? ▼
ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Towson, MD
Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023). Business data: Source: Census ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023. Home value trends: Source: FHFA House Price Index (HPI), Five-Digit ZIP Codes.
PlainZIP is not affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau or any government agency.
Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.