ZIP Code 21797
standardSource:
Woodbine · Howard County · Maryland
- Population
- 8,839
- Median income
- $189,241
- Median home value
- $735,600
- Bachelor's or higher
- 51.5%
- Land area
- 112.2 sq mi
79/sq mi
▲ 148% vs US
higher than 99% of US ZIPs
▲ 164% vs US
higher than 94% of US ZIPs
Median age 45.3
New York
ZIP code 21797 in Woodbine, Maryland has a population of 8,839. The median household income is $189,241, which is 148% above the national average. Median home value is $735,600, 164% above the US average. 51.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 21797 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 112.2 square miles in Woodbine, Howard County, Maryland. The area is home to 8,839 residents, producing a population density of 79 people per square mile, and falls within the New York time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 21797 against Maryland and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 21797 sits at $189,241 (66% above the Maryland average), while per-capita income is $70,998. The poverty rate stands at 2.4% and the unemployment rate at 4.2%. On housing, the median home value is $735,600 (64% above the state average) with median rent at $1,535 per month, and 91.7% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 21797 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 51.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 45.3, and the average commute is 39 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Howard County, so you can benchmark 21797 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →
Top industries in ZIP 21797
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, 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; HUD FMR + 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
$70,998
Per Capita Income
2.4%
Poverty Rate
4.2%
Unemployment Rate
38.9 min
Mean Commute Time
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?
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
$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 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 |
More ZIP Codes in Howard County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
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How many businesses are in ZIP code 21797? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21797? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21797? ▼
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What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 21797? ▼
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ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Woodbine, MD
Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023). Business data: Source: Census ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023. Home value trends: Source: FHFA House Price Index (HPI), Five-Digit ZIP Codes.
PlainZIP is not affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau or any government agency.
Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.