Glenwood, MD · standard
ZIP Code 21738
Howard County, Maryland - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 3,268
- 174/sq mi High-density area
- $250,000+
- Median income Above-median income area
- $914,300
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 76.2%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Glenwood pairs a top-decile household income with top-decile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 1%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 3%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 174
- people per sq mi
- 98%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 21738 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 21738 (Glenwood, MD) rose +9.7% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 219.1 in 2023 to 240.4 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 21738 covers 18.8 square miles in Glenwood, Howard County, Maryland (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 3,268 residents on file, a density of 174 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 21738 skews affluent, with a median household income of $250,000+ (119% above the average Maryland ZIP), while per-capita income is $92,235. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 2.4% and unemployment is 1.9%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $914,300 (104% above the average Maryland ZIP), while 98.2% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 76.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41.2, and the average commute is 34 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Howard County, so 21738 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 21738
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Glenwood, MD
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21738.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
27 establishments
- Construction
Construction
16 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
11 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 7
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
7 establishments
- Wholesale trade 6
Wholesale trade
6 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 21738, Glenwood, 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
3,268
Population
18.8
Area (sq mi)
174
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 21738?
41.2
Median Age
48.3%
Male
51.7%
Female
8.2%
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?
$250,000+
Median Household Income
+119% vs state ZIP avg
$92,235
Per Capita Income
2.4%
Poverty Rate
1.9%
Unemployment Rate
33.9 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 21738 ranks among Maryland ZIPs
Glenwood, 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)
$250,000 Top 2% higher than 98% 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
1,121housing units
1,121
Total Housing Units
1,121
Occupied Units
0
Vacant Units
3.30
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$914,300
Median Home Value
+104% vs state ZIP avg
1992
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
+9.7%
YoY Change (2024)
240
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+140%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 21738 have increased 9.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +140% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +1.8% | 169 |
| 2021 | +8.8% | 184 |
| 2022 | +11.7% | 206 |
| 2023 | +6.6% | 219 |
| 2024 | +9.7% | 240 |
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 21738, employing approximately 729 people with a combined annual payroll of $55,281,000.
91
Businesses
729
Employees
$55.3M
Annual Payroll
9
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 27 | 29.7% |
| Construction | 16 | 17.6% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 11 | 12.1% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 7 | 7.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 6 | 6.6% |
| Health care and social assistance | 6 | 6.6% |
| Retail trade | 5 | 5.5% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 5 | 5.5% |
| Accommodation and food services | 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 21738 vs 21737 →
ZIP 21738 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 21042
Ellicott City (21042)
38,076 residents
- 21029 11,333
Clarksville (21029)
11,333 residents
- 21797 8,839
Woodbine (21797)
8,839 residents
- 20833 7,735
Brookeville (20833)
7,735 residents
- 21738 3,268
Glenwood (21738)
3,268 residents
- 21794 2,434
West Friendship (21794)
2,434 residents
- 20860 2,396
Sandy Spring (20860)
2,396 residents
- 21036 2,114
Dayton (21036)
2,114 residents
- 21737 1,458
Glenelg (21737)
1,458 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 21738 ranks #5 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 21738 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 21738
Glenwood (21738)
$250,000 median income
- 21737
Glenelg (21737)
$250,000 median income
- 21029
Clarksville (21029)
$243,542 median income
- 21723
Cooksville (21723)
$241,250 median income
- 21794
West Friendship (21794)
$231,466 median income
- 21036
Dayton (21036)
$218,036 median income
- 20833
Brookeville (20833)
$204,375 median income
- 21042
Ellicott City (21042)
$190,061 median income
- 20862
Brinklow (20862)
$189,667 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 21738 ranks the highest of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21737 | Glenelg, MD | 1,458 | 1.8 mi |
| 21723 | Cooksville, MD | 803 | 3.2 mi |
| 21794 | West Friendship, MD | 2,434 | 3.0 mi |
| 21036 | Dayton, MD | 2,114 | 3.5 mi |
| 21797 | Woodbine, MD | 8,839 | 4.3 mi |
| 20862 | Brinklow, MD | 343 | 6.7 mi |
| 20833 | Brookeville, MD | 7,735 | 5.5 mi |
| 20860 | Sandy Spring, MD | 2,396 | 9.2 mi |
| 21042 | Ellicott City, MD | 38,076 | 7.2 mi |
| 21029 | Clarksville, MD | 11,333 | 6.5 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 21738, 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 (3,268 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Howard County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 21738 in?
ZIP code 21738 (Glenwood) is located in Howard County, Maryland. Howard County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/howard-md.
What is the population of ZIP code 21738?
ZIP code 21738 in Glenwood, MD has a population of 3,268 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 21738?
The median household income in ZIP 21738 is $250,000+, which is 228% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 21738?
The median home value in ZIP 21738 is $914,300, which is 229% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21738?
The largest racial group in ZIP 21738 is White at 81.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21738?
ZIP code 21738 has 91 business establishments employing approximately 729 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21738?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 21738 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (27), Construction (16), Other services (except public administration) (11). There are 9 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21738?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 21738 increased by 9.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 140%. 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 21738?
In ZIP code 21738, 83.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 76.2% 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 21738?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 21738 is 33.9 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 21738?
In ZIP code 21738, approximately 98.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 1.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21738?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 21738 is 2.4% 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 21738's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 21738 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Glenwood, 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.