Frostburg, MD · standard
ZIP Code 21532
Allegany County, Maryland - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 15,620
- 78/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $63,690
- Median income Near-median income area
- $182,400
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 30.5%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Frostburg pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 36th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 39th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 78
- people per sq mi
- 64%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 21532 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 21532 (Frostburg, MD) rose +19.2% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 198.1 in 2023 to 236.2 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 21532 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Frostburg, Allegany County, Maryland, home to 15,620 residents across 201.5 square miles, a density of 78 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 21532 reports a modest median household income of $63,690 (44% below the average Maryland ZIP), while per-capita income is $32,801. The poverty rate is 17.0%, with unemployment at 5.6%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $182,400 (59% below the average Maryland ZIP), and median rent is $916; owner occupancy is 63.7%.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 30.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 34.8, and the average commute is 26 minutes. The page also surfaces 9 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Allegany County, so 21532 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 21532
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Frostburg, MD
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21532.
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
46 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
37 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
36 establishments
- Construction
Construction
22 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
19 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 21532, Frostburg, 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
15,620
Population
201.5
Area (sq mi)
78
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 21532?
34.8
Median Age
46.8%
Male
53.2%
Female
2.7%
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?
$63,690
Median Household Income
-44% vs state ZIP avg
$32,801
Per Capita Income
17.0%
Poverty Rate
5.6%
Unemployment Rate
25.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 21532 ranks among Maryland ZIPs
Frostburg, 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)
$63,690 11th percentile higher than 11% 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
6,316housing units
6,316
Total Housing Units
5,511
Occupied Units
805
Vacant Units
2.23
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$182,400
Median Home Value
-59% vs state ZIP avg
$916
Median Rent
1963
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
+19.2%
YoY Change (2024)
236
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+136%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 21532 have increased 19.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +136% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +1.4% | 153 |
| 2021 | +9.7% | 168 |
| 2022 | +6.7% | 179 |
| 2023 | +10.5% | 198 |
| 2024 | +19.2% | 236 |
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 240 business establishments in ZIP 21532, employing approximately 2,116 people with a combined annual payroll of $72,509,000.
240
Businesses
2,116
Employees
$72.5M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 46 | 19.2% |
| Retail trade | 37 | 15.4% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 36 | 15.0% |
| Construction | 22 | 9.2% |
| Health care and social assistance | 19 | 7.9% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 14 | 5.8% |
| Finance and insurance | 13 | 5.4% |
| Manufacturing | 12 | 5.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 9 | 3.8% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 8 | 3.3% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 8 | 3.3% |
| Information | 5 | 2.1% |
| Educational services | 3 | 1.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 3 | 1.3% |
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 21532 vs 21543 →
ZIP 21532 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 21532
Frostburg (21532)
15,620 residents
- 15552 6,115
Meyersdale (15552)
6,115 residents
- 21539 2,819
Lonaconing (21539)
2,819 residents
- 21545 1,940
Mount Savage (21545)
1,940 residents
- 21557 1,895
Rawlings (21557)
1,895 residents
- 21521 1,265
Barton (21521)
1,265 residents
- 21542 483
Midland (21542)
483 residents
- 15532 142
Boynton (15532)
142 residents
- 21543 140
Midlothian (21543)
140 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 21532 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 21532 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 15552
Meyersdale (15552)
$65,551 median income
- 21521
Barton (21521)
$64,194 median income
- 21532
Frostburg (21532)
$63,690 median income
- 21545
Mount Savage (21545)
$60,264 median income
- 21539
Lonaconing (21539)
$57,708 median income
- 15564
Wellersburg (15564)
$56,250 median income
- 21557
Rawlings (21557)
$34,936 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 21532 ranks #3 of 7 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21543 | Midlothian, MD | 140 | 0.5 mi |
| 21542 | Midland, MD | 483 | 4.2 mi |
| 21539 | Lonaconing, MD | 2,819 | 4.9 mi |
| 21545 | Mount Savage, MD | 1,940 | 6.0 mi |
| 15552 | Meyersdale, PA | 6,115 | 9.7 mi |
| 21557 | Rawlings, MD | 1,895 | 9.6 mi |
| 21521 | Barton, MD | 1,265 | 8.7 mi |
| 15564 | Wellersburg, PA | 50 | 8.2 mi |
| 15532 | Boynton, PA | 142 | 9.1 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 21532, 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 (15,620 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Allegany County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 21532 in?
ZIP code 21532 (Frostburg) is located in Allegany County, Maryland. Allegany County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/allegany-md.
What is the population of ZIP code 21532?
ZIP code 21532 in Frostburg, MD has a population of 15,620 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 21532?
The median household income in ZIP 21532 is $63,690, which is 17% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 21532?
The median home value in ZIP 21532 is $182,400, which is 34% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21532?
The largest racial group in ZIP 21532 is White at 89.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 1.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21532?
ZIP code 21532 has 240 business establishments employing approximately 2,116 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21532?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 21532 are: Accommodation and food services (46), Retail trade (37), Other services (except public administration) (36). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21532?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 21532 increased by 19.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 136%. 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 21532?
In ZIP code 21532, 66.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 30.5% 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 21532?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 21532 is 25.6 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 21532?
In ZIP code 21532, approximately 63.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 36.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21532?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 21532 is 17.0% 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 21532's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 21532 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Frostburg, MD ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.