PlainZIP

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
$63,690
Median income
$182,400
Median home value
30.5%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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.

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 Maryland average), while per-capita income is $32,801. Local economic indicators show a 17.0% poverty rate alongside 5.6% unemployment. Housing costs here run $182,400 for a typical home value (59% below the state average), with rent averaging $916 a month; 63.7% of homes are owner-occupied.

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. To put 21532 in local context, 9 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Allegany 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 21532

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Frostburg, MD

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21532.

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 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

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 21532?

34.8

Median Age

46.8%

Male

53.2%

Female

2.7%

Foreign-Born

White 89.2%
African American 5.9%
Asian 1.8%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 2.9%
Hispanic or Latino 1.5%

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

$32,801

Per Capita Income

17.0%

Poverty Rate

5.6%

Unemployment Rate

25.6 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 21532 ranks nationally

Frostburg, MD household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$63,690 36th percentile higher than 36% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $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 66.4%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 30.5%

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

What does housing look like?

6,316

Total Housing Units

5,511

Occupied Units

805

Vacant Units

2.23

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 63.7%
Renter 36.3%

$182,400

Median Home Value

-59% vs state

$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.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 21532 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 21532 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 21532 ranks #3 of 7 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
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

More ZIP Codes in Allegany County

21502 standard
Cumberland, MD
Pop: 44,400
21562 standard
Westernport, MD
Pop: 3,141
21539 standard
Lonaconing, MD
Pop: 2,819
21545 standard
Mount Savage, MD
Pop: 1,940
21555 standard
Oldtown, MD
Pop: 1,936
21557 standard
Rawlings, MD
Pop: 1,895

Related Areas

Allegany County Frostburg, MD Maryland

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.

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