Salisbury, MD · standard
ZIP Code 21801
Wicomico County, Maryland - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 29,961
- 274/sq mi High-density area
- $71,313
- Median income Near-median income area
- $327,700
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 33.5%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Salisbury pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- 49th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 29%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 274
- people per sq mi
- 58%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 21801 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 21801 (Salisbury, MD) fell -2.5% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 237.6 in 2023 to 231.5 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 21801 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Salisbury, Wicomico County, Maryland, with 29,961 residents across 109.5 square miles, a density of 274 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 21801 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $71,313 (38% below the average Maryland ZIP), while per-capita income is $40,266. The poverty rate is 15.6%, with unemployment at 5.9%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $327,700 (27% below the average Maryland ZIP), and median rent is $1,114; owner occupancy is 58.2%.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 33.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 36.9, and the average commute is 23 minutes. The page also surfaces 9 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Wicomico County, so 21801 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 21801
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Salisbury, MD
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21801.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
195 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
144 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
130 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
110 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
105 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 21801, Salisbury, 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
29,961
Population
109.5
Area (sq mi)
274
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 21801?
36.9
Median Age
48.2%
Male
51.8%
Female
10.1%
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?
$71,313
Median Household Income
-38% vs state ZIP avg
$40,266
Per Capita Income
15.6%
Poverty Rate
5.9%
Unemployment Rate
22.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 21801 ranks among Maryland ZIPs
Salisbury, 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)
$71,313 16th percentile higher than 16% 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
12,296housing units
12,296
Total Housing Units
11,348
Occupied Units
948
Vacant Units
2.42
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$327,700
Median Home Value
-27% vs state ZIP avg
$1,114
Median Rent
1984
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
-2.5%
YoY Change (2024)
232
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+132%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 21801 have decreased 2.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +132% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +6.0% | 156 |
| 2021 | +12.9% | 176 |
| 2022 | +17.1% | 206 |
| 2023 | +15.1% | 238 |
| 2024 | -2.5% | 232 |
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 1,141 business establishments in ZIP 21801, employing approximately 20,295 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,072,668,000.
1,141
Businesses
20,295
Employees
$1.1B
Annual Payroll
17
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 195 | 17.1% |
| Health care and social assistance | 144 | 12.6% |
| Accommodation and food services | 130 | 11.4% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 110 | 9.6% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 105 | 9.2% |
| Construction | 83 | 7.3% |
| Finance and insurance | 67 | 5.9% |
| Wholesale trade | 60 | 5.3% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 59 | 5.2% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 53 | 4.7% |
| Information | 44 | 3.9% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 31 | 2.7% |
| Manufacturing | 29 | 2.5% |
| Utilities | 9 | 0.8% |
| Educational services | 8 | 0.7% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 7 | 0.6% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 4 | 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 21801 vs 21826 →
ZIP 21801 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 21804
Salisbury (21804)
38,491 residents
- 21801
Salisbury (21801)
29,961 residents
- 21875 6,467
Delmar (21875)
6,467 residents
- 19940 5,574
Delmar (19940)
5,574 residents
- 21826 4,837
Fruitland (21826)
4,837 residents
- 21830 4,026
Hebron (21830)
4,026 residents
- 21837 2,614
Mardela Springs (21837)
2,614 residents
- 21822 1,930
Eden (21822)
1,930 residents
- 21810 487
Allen (21810)
487 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 21801 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 21801 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 21830
Hebron (21830)
$112,991 median income
- 21822
Eden (21822)
$84,479 median income
- 21875
Delmar (21875)
$83,665 median income
- 21804
Salisbury (21804)
$73,156 median income
- 21801
Salisbury (21801)
$71,313 median income
- 19940
Delmar (19940)
$65,024 median income
- 21826
Fruitland (21826)
$64,946 median income
- 21837
Mardela Springs (21837)
$62,880 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 21801 ranks #5 of 8 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21826 | Fruitland, MD | 4,837 | 4.5 mi |
| 21802 | Salisbury, MD | 89 | 4.0 mi |
| 21822 | Eden, MD | 1,930 | 7.3 mi |
| 21830 | Hebron, MD | 4,026 | 5.1 mi |
| 21810 | Allen, MD | 487 | 6.8 mi |
| 21875 | Delmar, MD | 6,467 | 6.5 mi |
| 19940 | Delmar, DE | 5,574 | 7.8 mi |
| 21804 | Salisbury, MD | 38,491 | 7.5 mi |
| 21837 | Mardela Springs, MD | 2,614 | 8.7 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 21801, 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 (29,961 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Wicomico County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 21801 in?
ZIP code 21801 (Salisbury) is located in Wicomico County, Maryland. Wicomico County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/wicomico-md.
What is the population of ZIP code 21801?
ZIP code 21801 in Salisbury, MD has a population of 29,961 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 21801?
The median household income in ZIP 21801 is $71,313, which is 7% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 21801?
The median home value in ZIP 21801 is $327,700, which is 18% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21801?
The largest racial group in ZIP 21801 is White at 51.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 6.4% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21801?
ZIP code 21801 has 1,141 business establishments employing approximately 20,295 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21801?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 21801 are: Retail trade (195), Health care and social assistance (144), Accommodation and food services (130). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21801?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 21801 decreased by 2.5% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 132%. 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 21801?
In ZIP code 21801, 63.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 33.5% 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 21801?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 21801 is 22.6 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 21801?
In ZIP code 21801, approximately 58.2% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 41.8% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21801?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 21801 is 15.6% 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 21801's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 21801 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Salisbury, 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.