Preston, MD · standard
ZIP Code 21655
Caroline County, Maryland - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 5,009
- 37/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $90,385
- Median income Above-median income area
- $289,200
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 24.0%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Preston pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 27%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 35%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 37
- people per sq mi
- 84%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 21655 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 21655 (Preston, MD) rose +8.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 231.4 in 2023 to 249.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 21655 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Preston, Caroline County, Maryland, home to 5,009 residents across 137.2 square miles, a density of 37 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 21655 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $90,385 (21% below the average Maryland ZIP), while per-capita income is $42,506. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 4.3% and unemployment is 3.1%. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $289,200 (35% below the average Maryland ZIP), and median rent is $1,380; owner occupancy is 84.0%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 24.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42.2, and the average commute is 29 minutes. The page also surfaces 6 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Caroline County, so 21655 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 21655
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Preston, MD
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21655.
- Construction
Construction
21 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
12 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
12 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
12 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
10 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 21655, Preston, 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
5,009
Population
137.2
Area (sq mi)
37
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 21655?
42.2
Median Age
50.1%
Male
49.9%
Female
1.7%
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?
$90,385
Median Household Income
-21% vs state ZIP avg
$42,506
Per Capita Income
4.3%
Poverty Rate
3.1%
Unemployment Rate
29.2 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 21655 ranks among Maryland ZIPs
Preston, 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)
$90,385 38th percentile higher than 38% 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
1,989housing units
1,989
Total Housing Units
1,862
Occupied Units
127
Vacant Units
2.71
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$289,200
Median Home Value
-35% vs state ZIP avg
$1,380
Median Rent
1979
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
+8.0%
YoY Change (2024)
250
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+150%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 21655 have increased 8.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +150% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +10.7% | 169 |
| 2021 | +8.8% | 184 |
| 2022 | +11.2% | 205 |
| 2023 | +13.1% | 231 |
| 2024 | +8.0% | 250 |
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 91 business establishments in ZIP 21655, employing approximately 614 people with a combined annual payroll of $45,260,000.
91
Businesses
614
Employees
$45.3M
Annual Payroll
8
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 21 | 23.1% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 12 | 13.2% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 12 | 13.2% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 12 | 13.2% |
| Retail trade | 10 | 11.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 6 | 6.6% |
| Health care and social assistance | 4 | 4.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 3 | 3.3% |
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 21655 vs 21643 →
ZIP 21655 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 21629
Denton (21629)
9,555 residents
- 21632
Federalsburg (21632)
6,353 residents
- 21643
Hurlock (21643)
5,979 residents
- 21655
Preston (21655)
5,009 residents
- 21673 3,136
Trappe (21673)
3,136 residents
- 21625 2,719
Cordova (21625)
2,719 residents
- 21664 539
Secretary (21664)
539 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 21655 ranks #4 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 21655 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
- 21625
Cordova (21625)
$83,250 median income
- 21664
Secretary (21664)
$82,721 median income
- 21629
Denton (21629)
$73,956 median income
- 21673
Trappe (21673)
$68,194 median income
- 21643
Hurlock (21643)
$67,219 median income
- 21632
Federalsburg (21632)
$61,316 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 21655 ranks the highest of 7 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 21655, 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 (5,009 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Caroline County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 21655 in?
ZIP code 21655 (Preston) is located in Caroline County, Maryland. Caroline County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/caroline-md.
What is the population of ZIP code 21655?
ZIP code 21655 in Preston, MD has a population of 5,009 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 21655?
The median household income in ZIP 21655 is $90,385, which is 18% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 21655?
The median home value in ZIP 21655 is $289,200, which is 4% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21655?
The largest racial group in ZIP 21655 is White at 80.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21655?
ZIP code 21655 has 91 business establishments employing approximately 614 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21655?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 21655 are: Construction (21), Professional, scientific, and technical services (12), Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services (12). There are 8 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21655?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 21655 increased by 8.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 150%. 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 21655?
In ZIP code 21655, 59.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 24.0% 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 21655?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 21655 is 29.2 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 21655?
In ZIP code 21655, approximately 84.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 16.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21655?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 21655 is 4.3% 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 21655's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 21655 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Preston, 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.