Pocomoke City, MD · standard
ZIP Code 21851
Worcester County, Maryland - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 7,315
- 27/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $53,162
- Median income Below-median income area
- $206,700
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 22.5%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Pocomoke City pairs one of the lowest household incomes in the country with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 18th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 45th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 27
- people per sq mi
- 65%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 21851 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 21851 (Pocomoke City, MD) fell -1.3% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 220.4 in 2023 to 217.6 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 21851 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Pocomoke City, Worcester County, Maryland, home to 7,315 residents across 274.0 square miles, a density of 27 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 21851 reports a modest median household income of $53,162 (53% below the average Maryland ZIP), while per-capita income is $37,655. The poverty rate is 12.2%, with unemployment at 9.1%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $206,700 (54% below the average Maryland ZIP), and median rent is $848; owner occupancy is 64.7%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 22.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 44.1, and the average commute is 24 minutes. The page also surfaces 6 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Worcester County, so 21851 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 21851
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Pocomoke City, MD
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21851.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
41 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
27 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
23 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
21 establishments
- Construction 15
Construction
15 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 21851, Pocomoke City, 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
7,315
Population
274.0
Area (sq mi)
27
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 21851?
44.1
Median Age
50.2%
Male
49.8%
Female
3.6%
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?
$53,162
Median Household Income
-53% vs state ZIP avg
$37,655
Per Capita Income
12.2%
Poverty Rate
9.1%
Unemployment Rate
24.4 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 21851 ranks among Maryland ZIPs
Pocomoke City, 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)
$53,162 4th percentile higher than 4% 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
3,644housing units
3,644
Total Housing Units
3,252
Occupied Units
392
Vacant Units
2.22
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$206,700
Median Home Value
-54% vs state ZIP avg
$848
Median Rent
1975
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
-1.3%
YoY Change (2024)
218
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+118%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 21851 have decreased 1.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +118% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.0% | 149 |
| 2021 | +14.8% | 171 |
| 2022 | +11.4% | 191 |
| 2023 | +15.7% | 220 |
| 2024 | -1.3% | 218 |
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 189 business establishments in ZIP 21851, employing approximately 2,813 people with a combined annual payroll of $127,525,000.
189
Businesses
2,813
Employees
$127.5M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 41 | 21.7% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 27 | 14.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 23 | 12.2% |
| Health care and social assistance | 21 | 11.1% |
| Construction | 15 | 7.9% |
| Finance and insurance | 12 | 6.3% |
| Wholesale trade | 10 | 5.3% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 8 | 4.2% |
| Manufacturing | 7 | 3.7% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 7 | 3.7% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 4 | 2.1% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 4 | 2.1% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 4 | 2.1% |
| Information | 3 | 1.6% |
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 21851 vs 23415 →
ZIP 21851 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 21851
Pocomoke City (21851)
7,315 residents
- 21863
Snow Hill (21863)
5,029 residents
- 23415 1,893
New Church (23415)
1,893 residents
- 23395 645
Horntown (23395)
645 residents
- 21864 611
Stockton (21864)
611 residents
- 23416 356
Oak Hall (23416)
356 residents
- 23488 201
Withams (23488)
201 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 21851 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 21851 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 21864
Stockton (21864)
$82,917 median income
- 23488
Withams (23488)
$76,731 median income
- 21863
Snow Hill (21863)
$61,975 median income
- 21851
Pocomoke City (21851)
$53,162 median income
- 23415
New Church (23415)
$46,836 median income
- 23416 $16,688
Oak Hall (23416)
$16,688 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 21851 ranks #4 of 6 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 21851, 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 (7,315 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Worcester County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 21851 in?
ZIP code 21851 (Pocomoke City) is located in Worcester County, Maryland. Worcester County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/worcester-md.
What is the population of ZIP code 21851?
ZIP code 21851 in Pocomoke City, MD has a population of 7,315 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 21851?
The median household income in ZIP 21851 is $53,162, which is 30% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 21851?
The median home value in ZIP 21851 is $206,700, which is 26% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21851?
The largest racial group in ZIP 21851 is White at 59.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.0% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21851?
ZIP code 21851 has 189 business establishments employing approximately 2,813 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21851?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 21851 are: Retail trade (41), Other services (except public administration) (27), Accommodation and food services (23). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21851?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 21851 decreased by 1.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 118%. 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 21851?
In ZIP code 21851, 58.9% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 22.5% 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 21851?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 21851 is 24.4 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 21851?
In ZIP code 21851, approximately 64.7% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 35.3% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21851?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 21851 is 12.2% 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 21851's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 21851 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Pocomoke City, 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.