PlainZIP

Fruitland, MD · standard

ZIP Code 21826

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

4,837
420/sq mi
$64,946
Median income
$223,100
Median home value
36.2%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Fruitland pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.

38th pct
household income, US ZIPs
Top 50%
home value, US ZIPs
420
people per sq mi
66%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 21826 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 21826 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 11.5 square miles in Fruitland, Wicomico County, Maryland. The area is home to 4,837 residents, producing a population density of 420 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 21826 against Maryland and the nation.

On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 21826 sits at $64,946 (43% below the Maryland average), while per-capita income is $28,326. The poverty rate stands at 15.4% and the unemployment rate at 3.6%. On housing, the median home value is $223,100 (50% below the state average) with median rent at $1,586 per month, and 66.0% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 21826 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.

Education and household profile round out the picture: 36.2% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 33.2, and the average commute is —. We also surface 9 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Wicomico County, so you can benchmark 21826 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 21826

Top 5 sectors by establishment count

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21826.

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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 21826, Fruitland, 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

4,837

Population

11.5

Area (sq mi)

420

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 21826?

33.2

Median Age

44.3%

Male

55.7%

Female

9.5%

Foreign-Born

White 57.4%
African American 25.0%
Asian 2.3%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.5%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 12.8%
Hispanic or Latino 14.2%

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?

$64,946

Median Household Income

-43% vs state

$28,326

Per Capita Income

15.4%

Poverty Rate

3.6%

Unemployment Rate

How ZIP 21826 ranks nationally

Household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$64,946 38th percentile higher than 38% 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 72.2%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 36.2%

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

What does housing look like?

2,044

Total Housing Units

1,909

Occupied Units

135

Vacant Units

2.84

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 66.0%
Renter 34.0%

$223,100

Median Home Value

-50% vs state

$1,586

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

-7.7%

YoY Change (2024)

221

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+121%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 21826 have decreased 7.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +121% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +6.6% 166
2021 +8.6% 181
2022 +22.2% 221
2023 +8.4% 239
2024 -7.7% 221

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 94 business establishments in ZIP 21826, employing approximately 1,057 people with a combined annual payroll of $38,724,000.

94

Businesses

1,057

Employees

$38.7M

Annual Payroll

11

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Other services (except public administration) 17 18.1%
Retail trade 12 12.8%
Construction 9 9.6%
Health care and social assistance 8 8.5%
Accommodation and food services 8 8.5%
Wholesale trade 7 7.5%
Real estate and rental and leasing 6 6.4%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 6 6.4%
Transportation and warehousing 5 5.3%
Finance and insurance 4 4.3%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 3 3.2%

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 21826 vs 21822 →

ZIP 21826 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 21826 ranks #5 by population — useful context the national average alone can't give.

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

ZIP 21826 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 21826 ranks #7 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
21822 Eden, MD 1,930 3.0 mi
21802 Salisbury, MD 89 3.1 mi
21801 Salisbury, MD 29,961 4.5 mi
21804 Salisbury, MD 38,491 5.1 mi
21810 Allen, MD 487 4.7 mi
21830 Hebron, MD 4,026 8.1 mi
21875 Delmar, MD 6,467 9.5 mi
21853 Princess Anne, MD 11,126 9.2 mi
21837 Mardela Springs, MD 2,614 12.4 mi

More ZIP Codes in Wicomico County

21804 standard
Salisbury, MD
Pop: 38,491
21801 standard
Salisbury, MD
Pop: 29,961
21875 standard
Delmar, MD
Pop: 6,467
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 Fruitland, MD Maryland

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 21826 in? ▼
ZIP code 21826 (Fruitland) 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 21826? ▼
ZIP code 21826 in Fruitland, MD has a population of 4,837 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 21826? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 21826 is $64,946, which is 15% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 21826? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 21826 is $223,100, which is 20% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21826? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 21826 is White at 57.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 14.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21826? ▼
ZIP code 21826 has 94 business establishments employing approximately 1,057 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21826? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 21826 are: Other services (except public administration) (17), Retail trade (12), Construction (9). There are 11 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21826? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 21826 decreased by 7.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 121%. 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 21826? ▼
In ZIP code 21826, 72.2% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 36.2% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 21826? ▼
In ZIP code 21826, approximately 66.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 34.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21826? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 21826 is 15.4% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

ZIP Code Research Guides

Reading Census Demographics
How to interpret population, income, and education data from the Census Bureau.
Understanding ZIP Code Data
What ZIP codes are, how ZCTAs differ, and what the data reveals.
Best ZIP Codes for Families
Key factors to evaluate when choosing a family-friendly neighborhood.
ZIP Codes for Relocation
Data-driven tips for evaluating ZIP codes before a move.

Official Data Resources for Fruitland, MD

Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.

U.S. Census Bureau
Official demographic, economic, and housing data from the American Community Survey.
HUD Fair Market Rents
Department of Housing and Urban Development rental cost estimates by metropolitan area.
FBI Uniform Crime Reports
Official crime statistics compiled from law enforcement agencies nationwide.
FHFA House Price Index
Federal Housing Finance Agency home value trends based on repeat sales and appraisals.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.