PlainZIP

Salisbury, MD · standard

ZIP Code 21804

Wicomico County, Maryland - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

38,491
200/sq mi
$73,156
Median income
$243,700
Median home value
28.2%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Salisbury pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.

Top 48%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 44%
home value, US ZIPs
200
people per sq mi
51%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 21804 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 21804 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Salisbury, Wicomico County, Maryland, with 38,491 residents across 192.5 square miles, a density of 200 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 21804 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $73,156 (36% below the Maryland average), while per-capita income is $35,152. The poverty rate stands at 16.7% and the unemployment rate at 7.2%. The typical home here is valued at $243,700 (46% below the state average); renters pay a median of $1,432 monthly, and 51.4% of units are owner-occupied.

Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 28.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 32.6, and the average commute is 22 minutes. Beyond these figures, 8 nearby ZIP codes within about 10 miles are surfaced below, along with 6 more sharing Wicomico County, letting you compare 21804 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 21804

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Salisbury, MD

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21804.

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 21804, 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

38,491

Population

192.5

Area (sq mi)

200

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 21804?

32.6

Median Age

49.3%

Male

50.7%

Female

12.5%

Foreign-Born

White 55.2%
African American 30.4%
Asian 3.2%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 9.5%
Hispanic or Latino 7.9%

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?

$73,156

Median Household Income

-36% vs state

$35,152

Per Capita Income

16.7%

Poverty Rate

7.2%

Unemployment Rate

22.3 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 21804 ranks nationally

Salisbury, MD household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$73,156 Top 48% higher than 52% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Above this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. 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 60.9%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 28.2%

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

What does housing look like?

17,049

Total Housing Units

15,707

Occupied Units

1,342

Vacant Units

2.48

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 51.4%
Renter 48.6%

$243,700

Median Home Value

-46% vs state

$1,432

Median Rent

1982

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

+8.8%

YoY Change (2024)

257

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+157%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 21804 have increased 8.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +157% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +3.4% 165
2021 +13.9% 188
2022 +16.3% 219
2023 +7.8% 236
2024 +8.8% 257

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 833 business establishments in ZIP 21804, employing approximately 10,904 people with a combined annual payroll of $595,736,000.

833

Businesses

10,904

Employees

$595.7M

Annual Payroll

17

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Health care and social assistance 177 21.3%
Retail trade 94 11.3%
Other services (except public administration) 83 10.0%
Construction 73 8.8%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 72 8.6%
Real estate and rental and leasing 64 7.7%
Accommodation and food services 61 7.3%
Finance and insurance 52 6.2%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 41 4.9%
Transportation and warehousing 28 3.4%
Wholesale trade 26 3.1%
Manufacturing 18 2.2%
Educational services 12 1.4%
Management of companies and enterprises 10 1.2%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 10 1.2%
Information 8 1.0%
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting 3 0.4%

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 21804 vs 21802 →

ZIP 21804 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 21804 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 21804 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 21804 ranks #4 of 8 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
21802 Salisbury, MD 89 3.5 mi
21826 Fruitland, MD 4,837 5.1 mi
21849 Parsonsburg, MD 3,238 5.8 mi
21822 Eden, MD 1,930 6.2 mi
21875 Delmar, MD 6,467 8.9 mi
21801 Salisbury, MD 29,961 7.5 mi
21850 Pittsville, MD 2,790 8.0 mi
21863 Snow Hill, MD 5,029 11.1 mi

More ZIP Codes in Wicomico County

21801 standard
Salisbury, MD
Pop: 29,961
21875 standard
Delmar, MD
Pop: 6,467
21826 standard
Fruitland, MD
Pop: 4,837
21830 standard
Hebron, MD
Pop: 4,026
21849 standard
Parsonsburg, MD
Pop: 3,238
21850 standard
Pittsville, MD
Pop: 2,790

Related Areas

Wicomico County Salisbury, MD Maryland

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 21804 in? ▼
ZIP code 21804 (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 21804? ▼
ZIP code 21804 in Salisbury, MD has a population of 38,491 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 21804? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 21804 is $73,156, which is 4% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 21804? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 21804 is $243,700, which is 12% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21804? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 21804 is White at 55.2%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 7.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21804? ▼
ZIP code 21804 has 833 business establishments employing approximately 10,904 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21804? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 21804 are: Health care and social assistance (177), Retail trade (94), Other services (except public administration) (83). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21804? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 21804 increased by 8.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 157%. 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 21804? ▼
In ZIP code 21804, 60.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 28.2% 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 21804? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 21804 is 22.3 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 21804? ▼
In ZIP code 21804, approximately 51.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 48.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21804? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 21804 is 16.7% 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.