PlainZIP

Easton, MD · standard

ZIP Code 21601

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

23,597
83/sq mi
$83,680
Median income
$376,400
Median home value
40.6%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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

Top 34%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 23%
home value, US ZIPs
83
people per sq mi
70%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 21601 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 21601 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 283.3 square miles in Easton, Talbot County, Maryland. The area is home to 23,597 residents, producing a population density of 83 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 21601 against Maryland and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 21601 sits at $83,680 (27% below the Maryland average), while per-capita income is $52,322. The poverty rate stands at 9.3% and the unemployment rate at 3.4%. On housing, the median home value is $376,400 (16% below the state average) with median rent at $1,262 per month, and 70.2% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 21601 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 40.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 48.1, and the average commute is 23 minutes. We also surface 9 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Talbot County, so you can benchmark 21601 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 21601

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21601.

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 21601, Easton, 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

23,597

Population

283.3

Area (sq mi)

83

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 21601?

48.1

Median Age

46.3%

Male

53.7%

Female

8.0%

Foreign-Born

White 72.0%
African American 14.7%
Asian 1.7%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.1%
Two or More Ethnicities 7.0%
Hispanic or Latino 11.1%

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?

$83,680

Median Household Income

-27% vs state

$52,322

Per Capita Income

9.3%

Poverty Rate

3.4%

Unemployment Rate

23.1 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 21601 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$83,680 Top 34% higher than 66% 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 63.2%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 40.6%

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

What does housing look like?

11,710

Total Housing Units

10,525

Occupied Units

1,185

Vacant Units

2.30

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 70.2%
Renter 29.8%

$376,400

Median Home Value

-16% vs state

$1,262

Median Rent

1985

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

+5.0%

YoY Change (2024)

244

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+144%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 21601 have increased 5.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +144% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +3.5% 176
2021 +9.7% 193
2022 +14.8% 222
2023 +4.9% 233
2024 +5.0% 244

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 1,080 business establishments in ZIP 21601, employing approximately 15,010 people with a combined annual payroll of $841,672,000.

1,080

Businesses

15,010

Employees

$841.7M

Annual Payroll

17

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Health care and social assistance 185 17.1%
Retail trade 155 14.3%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 122 11.3%
Other services (except public administration) 114 10.6%
Construction 107 9.9%
Accommodation and food services 75 6.9%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 66 6.1%
Finance and insurance 63 5.8%
Real estate and rental and leasing 51 4.7%
Wholesale trade 44 4.1%
Transportation and warehousing 24 2.2%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 20 1.9%
Manufacturing 17 1.6%
Information 15 1.4%
Educational services 12 1.1%
Management of companies and enterprises 5 0.5%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting 3 0.3%

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 21601 vs 21679 →

ZIP 21601 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 21601 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 21601 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 21601 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
21679 Wye Mills, MD 483 8.6 mi
21653 Newcomb, MD 114 6.0 mi
21654 Oxford, MD 1,236 7.6 mi
21663 Saint Michaels, MD 3,308 8.1 mi
21625 Cordova, MD 2,719 7.2 mi
21673 Trappe, MD 3,136 10.0 mi
21662 Royal Oak, MD 555 8.7 mi
21658 Queenstown, MD 3,862 10.8 mi
21641 Hillsboro, MD 117 11.4 mi

More ZIP Codes in Talbot County

21663 standard
Saint Michaels, MD
Pop: 3,308
21673 standard
Trappe, MD
Pop: 3,136
21625 standard
Cordova, MD
Pop: 2,719
21654 standard
Oxford, MD
Pop: 1,236
21671 standard
Tilghman, MD
Pop: 756
21662 standard
Royal Oak, MD
Pop: 555

Related Areas

Talbot County Easton, MD Maryland

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 21601 in? ▼
ZIP code 21601 (Easton) is located in Talbot County, Maryland. Talbot County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/talbot-md.
What is the population of ZIP code 21601? ▼
ZIP code 21601 in Easton, MD has a population of 23,597 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 21601? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 21601 is $83,680, which is 10% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 21601? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 21601 is $376,400, which is 35% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21601? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 21601 is White at 72.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 11.1% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21601? ▼
ZIP code 21601 has 1,080 business establishments employing approximately 15,010 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21601? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 21601 are: Health care and social assistance (185), Retail trade (155), Professional, scientific, and technical services (122). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21601? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 21601 increased by 5.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 144%. 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 21601? ▼
In ZIP code 21601, 63.2% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 40.6% 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 21601? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 21601 is 23.1 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 21601? ▼
In ZIP code 21601, approximately 70.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 29.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21601? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 21601 is 9.3% 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 Easton, 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.