North East, MD · standard
ZIP Code 21901
Cecil County, Maryland - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 15,875
- 125/sq mi High-density area
- $113,719
- Median income Above-median income area
- $367,400
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 36.3%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
North East pairs an upper-quartile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 12%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 24%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 125
- people per sq mi
- 73%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 21901 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 21901 (North East, MD) rose +7.4% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 229.3 in 2023 to 246.3 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 21901 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in North East, Cecil County, Maryland, home to 15,875 residents across 127.4 square miles, a density of 125 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 21901 skews affluent, with a median household income of $113,719 (0% below the average Maryland ZIP), while per-capita income is $48,933. The poverty rate is 9.6%, with unemployment at 6.6%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $367,400 (18% below the average Maryland ZIP), and median rent is $1,465; owner occupancy is 73.1%.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 36.3% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 38.3, and the average commute is 28 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Cecil County, so 21901 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 21901
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in North East, MD
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21901.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
53 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
39 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
35 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
28 establishments
- Real estate and rental and leasing
Real estate and rental and leasing
24 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 21901, North East, 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
15,875
Population
127.4
Area (sq mi)
125
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 21901?
38.3
Median Age
50.1%
Male
49.9%
Female
1.9%
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?
$113,719
Median Household Income
-0% vs state ZIP avg
$48,933
Per Capita Income
9.6%
Poverty Rate
6.6%
Unemployment Rate
27.8 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 21901 ranks among Maryland ZIPs
North East, 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)
$113,719 Top 44% higher than 56% 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
8,206housing units
8,206
Total Housing Units
7,510
Occupied Units
696
Vacant Units
2.59
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$367,400
Median Home Value
-18% vs state ZIP avg
$1,465
Median Rent
1996
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
+7.4%
YoY Change (2024)
246
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+146%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 21901 have increased 7.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +146% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3.6% | 170 |
| 2021 | +10.5% | 188 |
| 2022 | +12.4% | 212 |
| 2023 | +8.3% | 229 |
| 2024 | +7.4% | 246 |
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 321 business establishments in ZIP 21901, employing approximately 6,453 people with a combined annual payroll of $293,436,000.
321
Businesses
6,453
Employees
$293.4M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 53 | 16.5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 39 | 12.2% |
| Accommodation and food services | 35 | 10.9% |
| Health care and social assistance | 28 | 8.7% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 24 | 7.5% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 21 | 6.5% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 21 | 6.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 19 | 5.9% |
| Construction | 17 | 5.3% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 17 | 5.3% |
| Manufacturing | 12 | 3.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 11 | 3.4% |
| Information | 8 | 2.5% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 8 | 2.5% |
| Educational services | 5 | 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 21901 vs 21914 →
ZIP 21901 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 21921
Elkton (21921)
44,471 residents
- 21901 15,875
North East (21901)
15,875 residents
- 21911 11,004
Rising Sun (21911)
11,004 residents
- 21904 7,252
Port Deposit (21904)
7,252 residents
- 21903 5,687
Perryville (21903)
5,687 residents
- 21915 3,030
Chesapeake City (21915)
3,030 residents
- 21917 2,520
Colora (21917)
2,520 residents
- 21914 765
Charlestown (21914)
765 residents
- 21902 471
Perry Point (21902)
471 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 21901 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 21901 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 21920
Elk Mills (21920)
$124,146 median income
- 21901
North East (21901)
$113,719 median income
- 21911
Rising Sun (21911)
$104,673 median income
- 21917
Colora (21917)
$96,750 median income
- 21915
Chesapeake City (21915)
$95,875 median income
- 21904
Port Deposit (21904)
$88,136 median income
- 21921
Elkton (21921)
$85,775 median income
- 21903
Perryville (21903)
$78,962 median income
- 21914
Charlestown (21914)
$66,806 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 21901 ranks #2 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21914 | Charlestown, MD | 765 | 1.5 mi |
| 21903 | Perryville, MD | 5,687 | 4.4 mi |
| 21902 | Perry Point, MD | 471 | 6.1 mi |
| 21921 | Elkton, MD | 44,471 | 6.0 mi |
| 21916 | Childs, MD | 37 | 6.4 mi |
| 21904 | Port Deposit, MD | 7,252 | 6.9 mi |
| 21911 | Rising Sun, MD | 11,004 | 8.3 mi |
| 21915 | Chesapeake City, MD | 3,030 | 8.5 mi |
| 21920 | Elk Mills, MD | 257 | 8.5 mi |
| 21917 | Colora, MD | 2,520 | 9.5 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 21901, 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 (15,875 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Cecil County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 21901 in?
ZIP code 21901 (North East) is located in Cecil County, Maryland. Cecil County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/cecil-md.
What is the population of ZIP code 21901?
ZIP code 21901 in North East, MD has a population of 15,875 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 21901?
The median household income in ZIP 21901 is $113,719, which is 49% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 21901?
The median home value in ZIP 21901 is $367,400, which is 32% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21901?
The largest racial group in ZIP 21901 is White at 83.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21901?
ZIP code 21901 has 321 business establishments employing approximately 6,453 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21901?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 21901 are: Retail trade (53), Other services (except public administration) (39), Accommodation and food services (35). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21901?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 21901 increased by 7.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 146%. 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 21901?
In ZIP code 21901, 63.5% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 36.3% 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 21901?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 21901 is 27.8 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 21901?
In ZIP code 21901, 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 21901?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 21901 is 9.6% 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 21901's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 21901 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where North East, 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.