PlainZIP

Chestertown, MD · standard

ZIP Code 21620

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

12,853
43/sq mi
$80,530
Median income
$347,500
Median home value
45.8%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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

Top 37%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 27%
home value, US ZIPs
43
people per sq mi
72%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 21620 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 21620 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 302.4 square miles in Chestertown, Kent County, Maryland. The area is home to 12,853 residents, producing a population density of 43 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 21620 against Maryland and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 21620 sits at $80,530 (29% below the Maryland average), while per-capita income is $46,314. The poverty rate stands at 9.9% and the unemployment rate at 3.7%. On housing, the median home value is $347,500 (22% below the state average) with median rent at $1,249 per month, and 72.0% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 21620 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 45.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42.5, and the average commute is 27 minutes. We also surface 5 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Kent County, so you can benchmark 21620 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 21620

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21620.

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 21620, Chestertown, 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

12,853

Population

302.4

Area (sq mi)

43

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 21620?

42.5

Median Age

48.5%

Male

51.5%

Female

4.6%

Foreign-Born

White 78.6%
African American 14.1%
Asian 1.4%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 3.3%
Hispanic or Latino 5.0%

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?

$80,530

Median Household Income

-29% vs state

$46,314

Per Capita Income

9.9%

Poverty Rate

3.7%

Unemployment Rate

27.2 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 21620 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$80,530 Top 37% higher than 63% 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 71.7%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 45.8%

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

What does housing look like?

6,373

Total Housing Units

5,700

Occupied Units

673

Vacant Units

2.16

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 72.0%
Renter 28.0%

$347,500

Median Home Value

-22% vs state

$1,249

Median Rent

1980

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

+4.0%

YoY Change (2024)

256

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+156%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 21620 have increased 4.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +156% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +3.9% 171
2021 +10.6% 190
2022 +13.3% 215
2023 +14.5% 246
2024 +4.0% 256

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 420 business establishments in ZIP 21620, employing approximately 5,298 people with a combined annual payroll of $279,402,000.

420

Businesses

5,298

Employees

$279.4M

Annual Payroll

16

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Health care and social assistance 68 16.2%
Other services (except public administration) 56 13.3%
Retail trade 50 11.9%
Construction 45 10.7%
Accommodation and food services 41 9.8%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 38 9.1%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 27 6.4%
Finance and insurance 16 3.8%
Real estate and rental and leasing 15 3.6%
Manufacturing 14 3.3%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 12 2.9%
Wholesale trade 11 2.6%
Educational services 10 2.4%
Information 7 1.7%
Transportation and warehousing 5 1.2%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting 3 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 21620 vs 21678 →

ZIP 21620 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 21620 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 21620 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 21620 ranks #3 of 6 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
21678 Worton, MD 2,301 6.9 mi
21667 Still Pond, MD 310 9.6 mi
21661 Rock Hall, MD 2,653 8.9 mi
21623 Church Hill, MD 2,111 9.2 mi
21645 Kennedyville, MD 1,039 10.4 mi

More ZIP Codes in Kent County

21651 standard
Millington, MD
Pop: 2,898
21661 standard
Rock Hall, MD
Pop: 2,653
21678 standard
Worton, MD
Pop: 2,301
21635 standard
Galena, MD
Pop: 2,098
21645 standard
Kennedyville, MD
Pop: 1,039
21610 standard
Betterton, MD
Pop: 378

Related Areas

Kent County Chestertown, MD Maryland

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 21620 in? ▼
ZIP code 21620 (Chestertown) is located in Kent County, Maryland. Kent County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/kent-md.
What is the population of ZIP code 21620? ▼
ZIP code 21620 in Chestertown, MD has a population of 12,853 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 21620? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 21620 is $80,530, which is 6% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 21620? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 21620 is $347,500, which is 25% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21620? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 21620 is White at 78.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 5.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21620? ▼
ZIP code 21620 has 420 business establishments employing approximately 5,298 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21620? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 21620 are: Health care and social assistance (68), Other services (except public administration) (56), Retail trade (50). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21620? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 21620 increased by 4.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 156%. 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 21620? ▼
In ZIP code 21620, 71.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 45.8% 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 21620? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 21620 is 27.2 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 21620? ▼
In ZIP code 21620, approximately 72.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 28.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21620? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 21620 is 9.9% 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 Chestertown, 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.