PlainZIP

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
$231,466
Median income
$999,400
Median home value
66.1%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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 Maryland average), while per-capita income is $88,649. 2.2% of residents live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate reads 1.0%. The typical home here is valued at $999,400 (123% above the state average); renters pay a median of - monthly, and 99.5% of units 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 -. Beyond these figures, 10 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Howard County, letting you compare 21794 to its immediate surroundings rather than a national baseline 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 21794

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in West Friendship, MD

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21794.

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 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

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 21794?

43.4

Median Age

50.5%

Male

49.5%

Female

14.7%

Foreign-Born

White 78.6%
African American 4.0%
Asian 15.1%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 2.3%
Hispanic or Latino 0.4%

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

$88,649

Per Capita Income

2.2%

Poverty Rate

1.0%

Unemployment Rate

How ZIP 21794 ranks nationally

West Friendship, MD household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$231,466 Top 1% higher than 99% 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%). Below this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Below this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Below this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Below this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). This entry sits in this band. 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 79.3%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 66.1%

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

What does housing look like?

690

Total Housing Units

660

Occupied Units

30

Vacant Units

3.29

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 99.5%
Renter 0.5%

$999,400

Median Home Value

+123% vs state

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.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 21794 ranks #8 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 21794 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 21794 ranks #5 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
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

More ZIP Codes in Howard County

21043 standard
Ellicott City, MD
Pop: 42,246
21044 standard
Columbia, MD
Pop: 41,704
21045 standard
Columbia, MD
Pop: 38,288
21042 standard
Ellicott City, MD
Pop: 38,076
20723 standard
Laurel, MD
Pop: 28,972
21075 standard
Elkridge, MD
Pop: 26,344

Related Areas

Howard County West Friendship, MD Maryland

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.

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