Woodbine, MD · standard
ZIP Code 21797
Howard County, Maryland - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 8,839
- 79/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $189,241
- Median income Above-median income area
- $735,600
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 51.5%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Woodbine pairs a top-decile household income with top-decile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 1%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 6%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 79
- people per sq mi
- 92%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 21797 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 21797 (Woodbine, MD) rose +4.1% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 257.7 in 2023 to 268.1 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 21797 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Woodbine, Howard County, Maryland, home to 8,839 residents across 112.2 square miles, a density of 79 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 21797 skews affluent, with a median household income of $189,241 (66% above the average Maryland ZIP), while per-capita income is $70,998. The poverty rate is 2.4%, with unemployment at 4.2%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $735,600 (64% above the average Maryland ZIP), while 91.7% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,535.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 51.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 45.3, and the average commute is 39 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Howard County, so 21797 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 21797
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Woodbine, MD
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21797.
- Construction
Construction
75 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
58 establishments
- Other services (except public administration) 23
Other services (except public administration)
23 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 22
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
22 establishments
- Transportation and warehousing 16
Transportation and warehousing
16 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 21797, Woodbine, 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
8,839
Population
112.2
Area (sq mi)
79
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 21797?
45.3
Median Age
52.2%
Male
47.8%
Female
7.6%
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?
$189,241
Median Household Income
+66% vs state ZIP avg
$70,998
Per Capita Income
2.4%
Poverty Rate
4.2%
Unemployment Rate
38.9 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 21797 ranks among Maryland ZIPs
Woodbine, 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)
$189,241 Top 8% higher than 92% 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
2,903housing units
2,903
Total Housing Units
2,849
Occupied Units
54
Vacant Units
3.03
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$735,600
Median Home Value
+64% vs state ZIP avg
$1,535
Median Rent
1985
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
+4.1%
YoY Change (2024)
268
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+168%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 21797 have increased 4.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +168% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +1.2% | 187 |
| 2021 | +7.6% | 201 |
| 2022 | +13.2% | 228 |
| 2023 | +13.1% | 258 |
| 2024 | +4.1% | 268 |
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 261 business establishments in ZIP 21797, employing approximately 1,955 people with a combined annual payroll of $127,517,000.
261
Businesses
1,955
Employees
$127.5M
Annual Payroll
13
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 75 | 28.7% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 58 | 22.2% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 23 | 8.8% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 22 | 8.4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 16 | 6.1% |
| Retail trade | 14 | 5.4% |
| Health care and social assistance | 12 | 4.6% |
| Accommodation and food services | 10 | 3.8% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 8 | 3.1% |
| Manufacturing | 5 | 1.9% |
| Wholesale trade | 5 | 1.9% |
| Finance and insurance | 5 | 1.9% |
| Educational services | 3 | 1.1% |
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 21797 vs 21723 →
ZIP 21797 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 21784
Sykesville (21784)
37,941 residents
- 21771
Mount Airy (21771)
29,563 residents
- 20882 14,063
Gaithersburg (20882)
14,063 residents
- 20872 13,104
Damascus (20872)
13,104 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
- 21036 2,114
Dayton (21036)
2,114 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 21797 ranks #5 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 21797 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
- 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
- 21797
Woodbine (21797)
$189,241 median income
- 20882
Gaithersburg (20882)
$184,136 median income
- 21771
Mount Airy (21771)
$157,302 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 21797 ranks #7 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21723 | Cooksville, MD | 803 | 3.2 mi |
| 21738 | Glenwood, MD | 3,268 | 4.3 mi |
| 21737 | Glenelg, MD | 1,458 | 6.1 mi |
| 21794 | West Friendship, MD | 2,434 | 5.8 mi |
| 20833 | Brookeville, MD | 7,735 | 8.9 mi |
| 21771 | Mount Airy, MD | 29,563 | 6.2 mi |
| 21784 | Sykesville, MD | 37,941 | 6.9 mi |
| 21036 | Dayton, MD | 2,114 | 7.8 mi |
| 20882 | Gaithersburg, MD | 14,063 | 8.0 mi |
| 20872 | Damascus, MD | 13,104 | 8.4 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 21797, 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 (8,839 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 21797 in?
ZIP code 21797 (Woodbine) 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 21797?
ZIP code 21797 in Woodbine, MD has a population of 8,839 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 21797?
The median household income in ZIP 21797 is $189,241, which is 148% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 21797?
The median home value in ZIP 21797 is $735,600, which is 164% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21797?
The largest racial group in ZIP 21797 is White at 82.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 4.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21797?
ZIP code 21797 has 261 business establishments employing approximately 1,955 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21797?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 21797 are: Construction (75), Professional, scientific, and technical services (58), Other services (except public administration) (23). There are 13 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21797?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 21797 increased by 4.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 168%. 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 21797?
In ZIP code 21797, 72.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 51.5% 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 21797?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 21797 is 38.9 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 21797?
In ZIP code 21797, approximately 91.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 8.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21797?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 21797 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 21797's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 21797 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Woodbine, 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.