Hurlock, MD · standard
ZIP Code 21643
Dorchester County, Maryland - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 5,979
- 49/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $67,219
- Median income Near-median income area
- $230,000
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 14.0%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Hurlock pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 42nd pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 48%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 49
- people per sq mi
- 81%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 21643 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 21643 (Hurlock, MD) rose +13.2% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 216.2 in 2023 to 244.8 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 21643 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Hurlock, Dorchester County, Maryland, home to 5,979 residents across 123.3 square miles, a density of 49 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 21643 reports a modest median household income of $67,219 (41% below the average Maryland ZIP), while per-capita income is $28,875. The poverty rate is 14.7%, with unemployment at 2.8%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $230,000 (49% below the average Maryland ZIP), and median rent is $909; owner occupancy is 81.4%.
Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 14.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.8, and the average commute is 29 minutes. The page also surfaces 7 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Dorchester County, so 21643 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 21643
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Hurlock, MD
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21643.
- Transportation and warehousing
Transportation and warehousing
14 establishments
- Construction
Construction
12 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
10 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
7 establishments
- Manufacturing 4
Manufacturing
4 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 21643, Hurlock, 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
5,979
Population
123.3
Area (sq mi)
49
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 21643?
39.8
Median Age
38.3%
Male
61.7%
Female
2.3%
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?
$67,219
Median Household Income
-41% vs state ZIP avg
$28,875
Per Capita Income
14.7%
Poverty Rate
2.8%
Unemployment Rate
29.3 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 21643 ranks among Maryland ZIPs
Hurlock, 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)
$67,219 14th percentile higher than 14% 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
2,326housing units
2,326
Total Housing Units
2,067
Occupied Units
259
Vacant Units
2.59
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$230,000
Median Home Value
-49% vs state ZIP avg
$909
Median Rent
1984
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
+13.2%
YoY Change (2024)
245
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+145%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 21643 have increased 13.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +145% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +7.8% | 162 |
| 2021 | +10.2% | 178 |
| 2022 | +18.8% | 211 |
| 2023 | +2.2% | 216 |
| 2024 | +13.2% | 245 |
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 69 business establishments in ZIP 21643, employing approximately 2,372 people with a combined annual payroll of $116,800,000.
69
Businesses
2,372
Employees
$116.8M
Annual Payroll
8
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation and warehousing | 14 | 20.3% |
| Construction | 12 | 17.4% |
| Retail trade | 10 | 14.5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 7 | 10.1% |
| Manufacturing | 4 | 5.8% |
| Wholesale trade | 4 | 5.8% |
| Health care and social assistance | 4 | 5.8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 4 | 5.8% |
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 21643 vs 21664 →
ZIP 21643 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 21632
Federalsburg (21632)
6,353 residents
- 21643
Hurlock (21643)
5,979 residents
- 21655
Preston (21655)
5,009 residents
- 21631
East New Market (21631)
2,731 residents
- 21659 1,551
Rhodesdale (21659)
1,551 residents
- 21861 757
Sharptown (21861)
757 residents
- 21664 539
Secretary (21664)
539 residents
- 21835 507
Linkwood (21835)
507 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 21643 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 21643 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 21655
Preston (21655)
$90,385 median income
- 21861
Sharptown (21861)
$86,027 median income
- 21664
Secretary (21664)
$82,721 median income
- 21631
East New Market (21631)
$73,864 median income
- 21659
Rhodesdale (21659)
$73,750 median income
- 21643
Hurlock (21643)
$67,219 median income
- 21632
Federalsburg (21632)
$61,316 median income
- 21835
Linkwood (21835)
$47,083 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 21643 ranks #6 of 8 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 21643, 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 (5,979 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Dorchester County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 21643 in?
ZIP code 21643 (Hurlock) is located in Dorchester County, Maryland. Dorchester County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/dorchester-md.
What is the population of ZIP code 21643?
ZIP code 21643 in Hurlock, MD has a population of 5,979 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 21643?
The median household income in ZIP 21643 is $67,219, which is 12% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 21643?
The median home value in ZIP 21643 is $230,000, which is 17% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21643?
The largest racial group in ZIP 21643 is White at 58.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21643?
ZIP code 21643 has 69 business establishments employing approximately 2,372 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21643?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 21643 are: Transportation and warehousing (14), Construction (12), Retail trade (10). There are 8 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21643?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 21643 increased by 13.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 145%. 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 21643?
In ZIP code 21643, 48.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 14.0% 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 21643?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 21643 is 29.3 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 21643?
In ZIP code 21643, approximately 81.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 18.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21643?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 21643 is 14.7% 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 21643's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 21643 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Hurlock, MD ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.