PlainZIP

Swanton, MD · standard

ZIP Code 21561

Garrett County, Maryland — Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

2,627
11/sq mi
$73,858
Median income
$328,700
Median home value
38.0%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Swanton pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 47%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 29%
home value, US ZIPs
11
people per sq mi
88%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 21561 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 21561 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 241.0 square miles in Swanton, Garrett County, Maryland. The area is home to 2,627 residents, producing a population density of 11 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 21561 against Maryland and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 21561 sits at $73,858 (35% below the Maryland average), while per-capita income is $52,272. The poverty rate stands at 10.6% and the unemployment rate at 0.3%. On housing, the median home value is $328,700 (27% below the state average) with median rent at — per month, and 87.8% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 21561 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 38.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 57, and the average commute is 31 minutes. We also surface 5 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Garrett County, so you can benchmark 21561 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 21561

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21561.

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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 21561, Swanton, 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

2,627

Population

241.0

Area (sq mi)

11

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 21561?

57.0

Median Age

48.3%

Male

51.7%

Female

2.4%

Foreign-Born

White 93.6%
African American 0.8%
Asian 0.2%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 3.7%
Hispanic or Latino 0.1%

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?

$73,858

Median Household Income

-35% vs state

$52,272

Per Capita Income

10.6%

Poverty Rate

0.3%

Unemployment Rate

31.1 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 21561 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$73,858 Top 47% higher than 53% 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 64.1%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 38.0%

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

What does housing look like?

2,560

Total Housing Units

1,107

Occupied Units

1,453

Vacant Units

2.16

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 87.8%
Renter 12.2%

$328,700

Median Home Value

-27% vs state

1983

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

+23.5%

YoY Change (2024)

341

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+241%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 21561 have increased 23.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +241% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +4.8% 196
2021 +14.2% 224
2022 +32.7% 297
2023 -7.0% 276
2024 +23.5% 341

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 36 business establishments in ZIP 21561, employing approximately 100 people with a combined annual payroll of $5,230,000.

36

Businesses

100

Employees

$5.2M

Annual Payroll

5

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 12 33.3%
Real estate and rental and leasing 4 11.1%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 3 8.3%
Educational services 3 8.3%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 3 8.3%

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 21561 vs 21538 →

ZIP 21561 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 21561 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 21561 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 21561 ranks #2 of 5 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
21538 Kitzmiller, MD 716 6.5 mi
21523 Bloomington, MD 286 6.6 mi
21522 Bittinger, MD 141 8.1 mi
21540 Luke, MD 65 7.6 mi
21520 Accident, MD 2,074 10.5 mi

More ZIP Codes in Garrett County

21550 standard
Oakland, MD
Pop: 14,194
21536 standard
Grantsville, MD
Pop: 4,121
21531 standard
Friendsville, MD
Pop: 2,227
21520 standard
Accident, MD
Pop: 2,074
21541 standard
Mc Henry, MD
Pop: 1,546
21538 standard
Kitzmiller, MD
Pop: 716

Related Areas

Garrett County Swanton, MD Maryland

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 21561 in? ▼
ZIP code 21561 (Swanton) is located in Garrett County, Maryland. Garrett County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/garrett-md.
What is the population of ZIP code 21561? ▼
ZIP code 21561 in Swanton, MD has a population of 2,627 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 21561? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 21561 is $73,858, which is 3% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 21561? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 21561 is $328,700, which is 18% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21561? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 21561 is White at 93.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 0.1% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21561? ▼
ZIP code 21561 has 36 business establishments employing approximately 100 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21561? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 21561 are: Construction (12), Real estate and rental and leasing (4), Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services (3). There are 5 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21561? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 21561 increased by 23.5% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 241%. 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 21561? ▼
In ZIP code 21561, 64.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 38.0% 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 21561? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 21561 is 31.1 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 21561? ▼
In ZIP code 21561, approximately 87.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 12.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21561? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 21561 is 10.6% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Reading Census Demographics
How to interpret population, income, and education data from the Census Bureau.
Understanding ZIP Code Data
What ZIP codes are, how ZCTAs differ, and what the data reveals.
Best ZIP Codes for Families
Key factors to evaluate when choosing a family-friendly neighborhood.
ZIP Codes for Relocation
Data-driven tips for evaluating ZIP codes before a move.

Official Data Resources for Swanton, MD

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

U.S. Census Bureau
Official demographic, economic, and housing data from the American Community Survey.
HUD Fair Market Rents
Department of Housing and Urban Development rental cost estimates by metropolitan area.
FBI Uniform Crime Reports
Official crime statistics compiled from law enforcement agencies nationwide.
FHFA House Price Index
Federal Housing Finance Agency home value trends based on repeat sales and appraisals.

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