PlainZIP

Sykesville, MD · standard

ZIP Code 21784

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

37,941
255/sq mi
$139,395
Median income
$491,800
Median home value
53.0%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Sykesville pairs a top-decile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 5%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 13%
home value, US ZIPs
255
people per sq mi
87%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 21784 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 21784 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Sykesville, Carroll County, Maryland, with 37,941 residents across 149.0 square miles, a density of 255 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 21784 skews affluent, with a median household income of $139,395 (22% above the Maryland average), while per-capita income is $56,974. 4.4% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 3.6%. Median home value sits at $491,800 (10% above the state average), median rent at $1,739 a month, and owner-occupancy at 87.3%.

This is a highly-educated ZIP: 53.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38.9, and the average commute is 33 minutes. To put 21784 in local context, 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Carroll County, for a geography-aware comparison.

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 21784

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Sykesville, MD

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21784.

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 21784, Sykesville, 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

37,941

Population

149.0

Area (sq mi)

255

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 21784?

38.9

Median Age

50.0%

Male

50.0%

Female

6.9%

Foreign-Born

White 78.8%
African American 6.9%
Asian 4.2%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.5%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 7.0%
Hispanic or Latino 6.8%

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?

$139,395

Median Household Income

+22% vs state

$56,974

Per Capita Income

4.4%

Poverty Rate

3.6%

Unemployment Rate

33.3 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 21784 ranks nationally

Sykesville, MD household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$139,395 Top 5% higher than 95% 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%). Below this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Below this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). This entry sits in this band. $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 72.4%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 53.0%

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

What does housing look like?

13,797

Total Housing Units

13,416

Occupied Units

381

Vacant Units

2.84

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 87.3%
Renter 12.7%

$491,800

Median Home Value

+10% vs state

$1,739

Median Rent

1986

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

+8.3%

YoY Change (2024)

273

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+173%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 21784 have increased 8.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +173% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +1.9% 197
2021 +9.4% 215
2022 +12.3% 242
2023 +4.3% 252
2024 +8.3% 273

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 975 business establishments in ZIP 21784, employing approximately 12,994 people with a combined annual payroll of $662,024,000.

975

Businesses

12,994

Employees

$662.0M

Annual Payroll

17

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Construction 153 15.7%
Health care and social assistance 131 13.4%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 130 13.3%
Other services (except public administration) 105 10.8%
Retail trade 101 10.4%
Accommodation and food services 76 7.8%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 66 6.8%
Real estate and rental and leasing 54 5.5%
Finance and insurance 35 3.6%
Wholesale trade 24 2.5%
Transportation and warehousing 22 2.3%
Educational services 19 1.9%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 17 1.7%
Manufacturing 16 1.6%
Information 14 1.4%
Management of companies and enterprises 8 0.8%
Industries not classified 3 0.3%

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 21784 vs 21794 →

ZIP 21784 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 21784 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 21784 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 21784 ranks #8 of 9 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
21794 West Friendship, MD 2,434 7.2 mi
21723 Cooksville, MD 803 5.6 mi
21104 Marriottsville, MD 4,601 5.0 mi
21157 Westminster, MD 36,920 10.3 mi
21048 Finksburg, MD 10,650 7.3 mi
21797 Woodbine, MD 8,839 6.9 mi
21738 Glenwood, MD 3,268 8.8 mi
21163 Woodstock, MD 7,026 7.6 mi
21737 Glenelg, MD 1,458 10.4 mi
21042 Ellicott City, MD 38,076 10.0 mi

More ZIP Codes in Carroll County

21157 standard
Westminster, MD
Pop: 36,920
21158 standard
Westminster, MD
Pop: 20,234
21074 standard
Hampstead, MD
Pop: 15,084
21102 standard
Manchester, MD
Pop: 11,751
21787 standard
Taneytown, MD
Pop: 10,693
21048 standard
Finksburg, MD
Pop: 10,650

Related Areas

Carroll County Sykesville, MD Maryland

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 21784 in? ▼
ZIP code 21784 (Sykesville) is located in Carroll County, Maryland. Carroll County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/carroll-md.
What is the population of ZIP code 21784? ▼
ZIP code 21784 in Sykesville, MD has a population of 37,941 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 21784? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 21784 is $139,395, which is 83% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 21784? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 21784 is $491,800, which is 77% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21784? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 21784 is White at 78.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 6.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21784? ▼
ZIP code 21784 has 975 business establishments employing approximately 12,994 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21784? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 21784 are: Construction (153), Health care and social assistance (131), Professional, scientific, and technical services (130). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21784? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 21784 increased by 8.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 173%. 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 21784? ▼
In ZIP code 21784, 72.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 53.0% 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 21784? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 21784 is 33.3 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 21784? ▼
In ZIP code 21784, approximately 87.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 12.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21784? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 21784 is 4.4% 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.