Residential delivery area · Maryland
ZIP Code 21842: Ocean City, MD
ZIP code 21842 uses the postal name Ocean City, Maryland and lies entirely in Worcester County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 11,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $79,876 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, its land lies in Ocean City (50%) and West Ocean City (39%); 11% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Ocean City · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Worcester County
- Census places
- Ocean City (50%); West Ocean City (39%) census-designated place
- Neighborhoods
- Bayshore Estates, Bayside Keys, Caine Harbor Mile, Caine Keys, Cainwoods, Fenwick and 3 more GeoNames
- Micro area
- Ocean Pines, MD
- House district
- MD-1 119th Congress
- State
- Maryland
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 9.2 sq mi · 1,226 people per sq mi
- PO Box ZIPs
- 21843 also use the name Ocean City
Where is ZIP code 21842?
21842 centers on 38.363°, -75.085° and covers 9.2 square miles of land plus 12.2 of water. It borders 4 ZIP codes: 21813, 21811, 19944, 19975.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 21842, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0); neighborhoods from the GeoNames gazetteer (CC BY 4.0), placed in this ZIP code by PlainZIP.
How does 21842 compare with the rest of Worcester County?
| Measure | 21842 | In Worcester County | In MD |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 11,226 | 3rd of 12 | 172nd of 477 |
| Median household income | $80k | 3rd of 5 | 237th of 293 |
| Median home value | $448k | 2nd of 6 | 145th of 320 |
Its median household income is higher than in 62% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 80% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 21842?
The 2020 Census counted 11,104 people in 21842; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 11,226. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 0.1% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 11,226
- 2020 Census count
- 11,104+0.1% since 2010 (11,089)
- Households
- 5,751
- Median age
- 53.4
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 21842?
Of the 11,226 people the ACS estimates in 21842, 13.0% are under 18 and 27.4% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (85.9%).
- Under 1813.0%
- 18 to 6459.6%
- 65 and older27.4%
- White, not Hispanic85.9%
- Hispanic or Latino8.3%
- Other or two or more3.0%
- Black, not Hispanic1.8%
- Asian, not Hispanic1.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 21842 earn?
Median household income is $79,876 (ACS 2020-2024), the 3rd highest of the 5 ranked ZIP codes in Worcester County. It rose from $67,563 in 2015-2019 (in 2024 dollars), a change larger than the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $79,876
- Income per person
- $75,528
- Below the poverty line
- 9.4%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 7.6%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 40.7%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $93,7287,790 returns; wages 47% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 21842?
FHFA's house price index for 21842, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 97% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 62% from 2020 to 2025, and moved −5.1% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $447,700
- Median gross rent
- $1,394
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 76.0%
- Housing units
- 32,621
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 21842?
1,116 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 14 more than in 2018; the most are in accommodation and food services (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Accommodation and food services382
- Retail trade220
- Real estate and rental and leasing96
- Other services (except public administration)92
- Professional, scientific, and technical services69
- Construction51
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 21842?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21813 | Bishopville | 2,999 | $122k | 6.6 mi |
| 21811 | Berlin | 24,377 | $90k | 8.0 mi |
| 19944 | Fenwick Island, DE | 636 | $121k | 8.1 mi |
| 19975 | Selbyville, DE | 10,862 | $89k | 8.5 mi |
| 21862 | Showell | 30 | – | 7.3 mi (near) |
| 19945 | Frankford, DE | 9,640 | $88k | 12.1 mi (near) |
| 21872 | Whaleyville | 661 | $118k | 12.1 mi (near) |
| 19967 | Millville, DE | 2,376 | $98k | 12.4 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.
Which other ZIP codes use the name Ocean City?
1 more ZIP code carries the postal name Ocean City, MD without a residential delivery area: PO boxes at the post office, or a single organization with its own ZIP code. The Census Bureau publishes no figures for it.
| ZIP | County |
|---|---|
| 21843 | Worcester County |
Source: GeoNames postal codes (CC BY 4.0), downloaded 2026-10-09; a ZIP code with no Census ZCTA has no residential delivery area.