West Friendship, MD · standard
ZIP Code 21794
Howard County, Maryland - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 2,434
- 108/sq mi High-density area
- $231,466
- Median income Above-median income area
- $999,400
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 66.1%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
West Friendship pairs a top-decile household income with top-decile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 1%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 2%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 108
- people per sq mi
- 100%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 21794 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 21794 covers 22.6 square miles in West Friendship, Howard County, Maryland (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 2,434 residents on file, a density of 108 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 21794 skews affluent, with a median household income of $231,466 (103% above the average Maryland ZIP), while per-capita income is $88,649. Both reported hardship measures are comparatively low in absolute terms: poverty is 2.2% and unemployment is 1.0%. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $999,400 (123% above the average Maryland ZIP), while 99.5% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 66.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 43.4, and the average commute is -. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Howard County, so 21794 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 21794
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in West Friendship, MD
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21794.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
22 establishments
- Construction
Construction
13 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
13 establishments
- Retail trade 7
Retail trade
7 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 7
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
7 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 21794, West Friendship, 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
2,434
Population
22.6
Area (sq mi)
108
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 21794?
43.4
Median Age
50.5%
Male
49.5%
Female
14.7%
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?
$231,466
Median Household Income
+103% vs state ZIP avg
$88,649
Per Capita Income
2.2%
Poverty Rate
1.0%
Unemployment Rate
How ZIP 21794 ranks among Maryland ZIPs
West Friendship, 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)
$231,466 Top 4% higher than 96% 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
690housing units
690
Total Housing Units
660
Occupied Units
30
Vacant Units
3.29
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$999,400
Median Home Value
+123% vs state ZIP avg
1994
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
+1.3%
YoY Change (2024)
253
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+153%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 21794 have increased 1.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +153% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | +1.7% | 168 |
| 2020 | +2.9% | 172 |
| 2021 | +6.6% | 184 |
| 2022 | +1.3% | 186 |
| 2024 | – | 253 |
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 84 business establishments in ZIP 21794, employing approximately 413 people with a combined annual payroll of $28,044,000.
84
Businesses
413
Employees
$28.0M
Annual Payroll
9
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 22 | 26.2% |
| Construction | 13 | 15.5% |
| Health care and social assistance | 13 | 15.5% |
| Retail trade | 7 | 8.3% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 7 | 8.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 4 | 4.8% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 3 | 3.6% |
| Finance and insurance | 3 | 3.6% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 3 | 3.6% |
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 21794 vs 21723 →
ZIP 21794 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
- 21784
Sykesville (21784)
37,941 residents
- 21029 11,333
Clarksville (21029)
11,333 residents
- 21797 8,839
Woodbine (21797)
8,839 residents
- 21104 4,601
Marriottsville (21104)
4,601 residents
- 20777 3,314
Highland (20777)
3,314 residents
- 21738 3,268
Glenwood (21738)
3,268 residents
- 21794 2,434
West Friendship (21794)
2,434 residents
- 21036 2,114
Dayton (21036)
2,114 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 21794 ranks #8 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 21794 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 21737
Glenelg (21737)
$250,000 median income
- 21738
Glenwood (21738)
$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
- 20777
Highland (20777)
$226,146 median income
- 21036
Dayton (21036)
$218,036 median income
- 21104
Marriottsville (21104)
$191,804 median income
- 21042
Ellicott City (21042)
$190,061 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 21794 ranks #5 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21723 | Cooksville, MD | 803 | 2.8 mi |
| 21738 | Glenwood, MD | 3,268 | 3.0 mi |
| 21737 | Glenelg, MD | 1,458 | 3.8 mi |
| 21036 | Dayton, MD | 2,114 | 4.6 mi |
| 21784 | Sykesville, MD | 37,941 | 7.2 mi |
| 21042 | Ellicott City, MD | 38,076 | 4.6 mi |
| 21029 | Clarksville, MD | 11,333 | 6.4 mi |
| 21104 | Marriottsville, MD | 4,601 | 5.1 mi |
| 20777 | Highland, MD | 3,314 | 8.4 mi |
| 21797 | Woodbine, MD | 8,839 | 5.8 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 21794, 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 (2,434 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 21794 in?
ZIP code 21794 (West Friendship) 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 21794?
ZIP code 21794 in West Friendship, MD has a population of 2,434 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 21794?
The median household income in ZIP 21794 is $231,466, which is 203% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 21794?
The median home value in ZIP 21794 is $999,400, which is 259% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21794?
The largest racial group in ZIP 21794 is White at 78.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 0.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21794?
ZIP code 21794 has 84 business establishments employing approximately 413 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21794?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 21794 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (22), Construction (13), Health care and social assistance (13). There are 9 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21794?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 21794 increased by 1.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 153%. 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 21794?
In ZIP code 21794, 79.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 66.1% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 21794?
In ZIP code 21794, approximately 99.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 0.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21794?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 21794 is 2.2% 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 21794's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 21794 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where West Friendship, 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.