Princess Anne, MD · standard
ZIP Code 21853
Somerset County, Maryland - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 11,126
- 36/sq mi Moderate-density area
- $69,697
- Median income Near-median income area
- $208,300
- Median home value Near-median home value
- 27.5%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Princess Anne pairs a below-median household income with below-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- 46th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- 46th pct
- home value, US ZIPs
- 36
- people per sq mi
- 65%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 21853 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 21853 (Princess Anne, MD) rose +5.2% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 212.7 in 2023 to 223.8 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 21853 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Princess Anne, Somerset County, Maryland, home to 11,126 residents across 308.2 square miles, a density of 36 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 21853 reports a modest median household income of $69,697 (39% below the average Maryland ZIP), while per-capita income is $29,913. The poverty rate is 20.7%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $208,300 (53% below the average Maryland ZIP), and median rent is $1,042; owner occupancy is 64.5%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 27.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 33.7, and the average commute is 21 minutes. The page also surfaces 9 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Somerset County, so 21853 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 21853
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Princess Anne, MD
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21853.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
32 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
23 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
17 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
15 establishments
- Construction
Construction
14 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 21853, Princess Anne, 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
11,126
Population
308.2
Area (sq mi)
36
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 21853?
33.7
Median Age
49.4%
Male
50.6%
Female
8.2%
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?
$69,697
Median Household Income
-39% vs state ZIP avg
$29,913
Per Capita Income
20.7%
Poverty Rate
5.3%
Unemployment Rate
20.9 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 21853 ranks among Maryland ZIPs
Princess Anne, 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)
$69,697 15th percentile higher than 15% 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
4,806housing units
4,806
Total Housing Units
3,599
Occupied Units
1,207
Vacant Units
2.50
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$208,300
Median Home Value
-53% vs state ZIP avg
$1,042
Median Rent
1994
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
+5.2%
YoY Change (2024)
224
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+124%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 21853 have increased 5.2% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +124% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | -4.5% | 152 |
| 2021 | +12.0% | 170 |
| 2022 | +20.4% | 205 |
| 2023 | +3.7% | 213 |
| 2024 | +5.2% | 224 |
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 157 business establishments in ZIP 21853, employing approximately 1,513 people with a combined annual payroll of $60,913,000.
157
Businesses
1,513
Employees
$60.9M
Annual Payroll
12
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 32 | 20.4% |
| Retail trade | 23 | 14.7% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 17 | 10.8% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 15 | 9.6% |
| Construction | 14 | 8.9% |
| Accommodation and food services | 13 | 8.3% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 11 | 7.0% |
| Finance and insurance | 8 | 5.1% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 8 | 5.1% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 6 | 3.8% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 4 | 2.5% |
| Manufacturing | 4 | 2.5% |
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 21853 vs 21890 →
ZIP 21853 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 21853
Princess Anne (21853)
11,126 residents
- 21826
Fruitland (21826)
4,837 residents
- 21890 3,240
Westover (21890)
3,240 residents
- 21871 2,124
Westover (21871)
2,124 residents
- 21822 1,930
Eden (21822)
1,930 residents
- 21856 1,035
Quantico (21856)
1,035 residents
- 21810 487
Allen (21810)
487 residents
- 21865 470
Tyaskin (21865)
470 residents
- 21867 114
Upper Fairmount (21867)
114 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 21853 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 21853 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 21856
Quantico (21856)
$88,045 median income
- 21822
Eden (21822)
$84,479 median income
- 21865
Tyaskin (21865)
$83,155 median income
- 21853
Princess Anne (21853)
$69,697 median income
- 21826
Fruitland (21826)
$64,946 median income
- 21871
Westover (21871)
$50,524 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 21853 ranks #4 of 6 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21890 | Westover, MD | 3,240 | 3.2 mi |
| 21810 | Allen, MD | 487 | 6.6 mi |
| 21871 | Westover, MD | 2,124 | 6.9 mi |
| 21822 | Eden, MD | 1,930 | 6.5 mi |
| 21867 | Upper Fairmount, MD | 114 | 7.8 mi |
| 21826 | Fruitland, MD | 4,837 | 9.2 mi |
| 21865 | Tyaskin, MD | 470 | 8.9 mi |
| 21856 | Quantico, MD | 1,035 | 10.0 mi |
| 21802 | Salisbury, MD | 89 | 12.1 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 21853, 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 (11,126 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 21853 in?
ZIP code 21853 (Princess Anne) 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 21853?
ZIP code 21853 in Princess Anne, MD has a population of 11,126 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 21853?
The median household income in ZIP 21853 is $69,697, which is 9% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 21853?
The median home value in ZIP 21853 is $208,300, which is 25% below the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21853?
The largest racial group in ZIP 21853 is African American at 53.6%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 2.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21853?
ZIP code 21853 has 157 business establishments employing approximately 1,513 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21853?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 21853 are: Health care and social assistance (32), Retail trade (23), Other services (except public administration) (17). There are 12 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21853?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 21853 increased by 5.2% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 124%. 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 21853?
In ZIP code 21853, 65.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 27.5% 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 21853?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 21853 is 20.9 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 21853?
In ZIP code 21853, approximately 64.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 35.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21853?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 21853 is 20.7% 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 21853's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 21853 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Princess Anne, 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.