Crisfield, MD · standard
ZIP Code 21817
Somerset County, Maryland - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 5,236
- 138/sq mi High-density area
- $55,720
- Median income Below-median income area
- $161,000
- Median home value Below-median home value
- 25.6%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Crisfield pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 22nd pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 30th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 138
- people per sq mi
- 73%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 21817 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 21817 (Crisfield, MD) rose +13.1% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 176.8 in 2023 to 200.0 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 21817 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Crisfield, Somerset County, Maryland, home to 5,236 residents across 37.9 square miles, a density of 138 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 21817 reports a modest median household income of $55,720 (51% below the average Maryland ZIP), while per-capita income is $33,667. The poverty rate is 15.4%, with unemployment at 8.2%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $161,000 (64% below the average Maryland ZIP), and median rent is $766; owner occupancy is 73.1%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 25.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42.1, and the average commute is 26 minutes. The page also surfaces 4 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Somerset County, so 21817 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 21817
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Crisfield, MD
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21817.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
20 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
19 establishments
- Construction
Construction
13 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
10 establishments
- Manufacturing 6
Manufacturing
6 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 21817, Crisfield, 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
5,236
Population
37.9
Area (sq mi)
138
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 21817?
42.1
Median Age
47.9%
Male
52.1%
Female
2.6%
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?
$55,720
Median Household Income
-51% vs state ZIP avg
$33,667
Per Capita Income
15.4%
Poverty Rate
8.2%
Unemployment Rate
26.4 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 21817 ranks among Maryland ZIPs
Crisfield, 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)
$55,720 5th percentile higher than 5% 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
2,554housing units
2,554
Total Housing Units
1,925
Occupied Units
629
Vacant Units
2.26
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$161,000
Median Home Value
-64% vs state ZIP avg
$766
Median Rent
1971
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
+13.1%
YoY Change (2024)
200
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+100%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 21817 have increased 13.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +100% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +13.0% | 139 |
| 2021 | +5.1% | 147 |
| 2022 | +13.9% | 167 |
| 2023 | +5.9% | 177 |
| 2024 | +13.1% | 200 |
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 102 business establishments in ZIP 21817, employing approximately 1,179 people with a combined annual payroll of $49,500,000.
102
Businesses
1,179
Employees
$49.5M
Annual Payroll
12
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 20 | 19.6% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 19 | 18.6% |
| Construction | 13 | 12.8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 10 | 9.8% |
| Manufacturing | 6 | 5.9% |
| Health care and social assistance | 6 | 5.9% |
| Wholesale trade | 4 | 3.9% |
| Finance and insurance | 4 | 3.9% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 4 | 3.9% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 4 | 3.9% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 3 | 2.9% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 3 | 2.9% |
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 21817 vs 21838 →
ZIP 21817 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 21817
Crisfield (21817)
5,236 residents
- 21871
Westover (21871)
2,124 residents
- 21838 1,736
Marion Station (21838)
1,736 residents
- 23427 243
Saxis (23427)
243 residents
- 21867 114
Upper Fairmount (21867)
114 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 21817 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 21817 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 21838
Marion Station (21838)
$88,438 median income
- 21817
Crisfield (21817)
$55,720 median income
- 21871
Westover (21871)
$50,524 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 21817 ranks #2 of 3 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 21817, 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 (5,236 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Somerset County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 21817 in?
ZIP code 21817 (Crisfield) is located in Somerset County, Maryland. Somerset County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/somerset-md.
What is the population of ZIP code 21817?
ZIP code 21817 in Crisfield, MD has a population of 5,236 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 21817?
The median household income in ZIP 21817 is $55,720, which is 27% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 21817?
The median home value in ZIP 21817 is $161,000, which is 42% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21817?
The largest racial group in ZIP 21817 is White at 70.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 6.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21817?
ZIP code 21817 has 102 business establishments employing approximately 1,179 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21817?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 21817 are: Retail trade (20), Other services (except public administration) (19), Construction (13). There are 12 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21817?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 21817 increased by 13.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 100%. 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 21817?
In ZIP code 21817, 59.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 25.6% 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 21817?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 21817 is 26.4 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 21817?
In ZIP code 21817, approximately 73.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 26.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21817?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 21817 is 15.4% 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 21817's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 21817 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Crisfield, 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.