PlainZIP

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
$67,219
Median income
$230,000
Median home value
14.0%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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

42th 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.

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 Maryland average), while per-capita income is $28,875. The poverty rate stands at 14.7% and the unemployment rate at 2.8%. Median home value sits at $230,000 (49% below the state average), median rent at $909 a month, and owner-occupancy at 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. A geography-based comparison follows: 7 ZIP codes within about 10 miles of 21643, plus 6 more within Dorchester County, give a clearer read than the national average alone.

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.

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 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

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 21643?

39.8

Median Age

38.3%

Male

61.7%

Female

2.3%

Foreign-Born

White 58.1%
African American 29.3%
Asian 0.1%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 6.0%
Hispanic or Latino 4.2%

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

$28,875

Per Capita Income

14.7%

Poverty Rate

2.8%

Unemployment Rate

29.3 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 21643 ranks nationally

Hurlock, MD household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$67,219 42nd percentile higher than 42% 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 48.9%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 14.0%

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

What does housing look like?

2,326

Total Housing Units

2,067

Occupied Units

259

Vacant Units

2.59

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 81.4%
Renter 18.6%

$230,000

Median Home Value

-49% vs state

$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.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 21643 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

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

ZIP 21643 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 21643 ranks #6 of 8 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
21664 Secretary, MD 539 4.9 mi
21631 East New Market, MD 2,731 5.9 mi
21655 Preston, MD 5,009 7.3 mi
21659 Rhodesdale, MD 1,551 6.5 mi
21632 Federalsburg, MD 6,353 7.6 mi
21835 Linkwood, MD 507 8.9 mi
21861 Sharptown, MD 757 10.9 mi

More ZIP Codes in Dorchester County

21613 standard
Cambridge, MD
Pop: 17,330
21631 standard
East New Market, MD
Pop: 2,731
21659 standard
Rhodesdale, MD
Pop: 1,551
21869 standard
Vienna, MD
Pop: 1,006
21622 standard
Church Creek, MD
Pop: 558
21664 standard
Secretary, MD
Pop: 539

Related Areas

Dorchester County Hurlock, MD Maryland

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.

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