Colora, MD · standard
ZIP Code 21917
Cecil County, Maryland - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 2,520
- 124/sq mi High-density area
- $96,750
- Median income Above-median income area
- $409,400
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 12.1%
- Bachelor's or higher Below-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Colora pairs an upper-quartile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 21%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 20%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 124
- people per sq mi
- 94%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 21917 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 21917 (Colora, MD) rose +9.8% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 204.9 in 2023 to 224.8 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 21917 covers 20.3 square miles in Colora, Cecil County, Maryland (a standard USPS delivery area), with a modest 2,520 residents on file, a density of 124 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 21917 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $96,750 (15% below the average Maryland ZIP), while per-capita income is $42,367. The poverty rate is 7.4%, with unemployment at 4.1%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $409,400 (9% below the average Maryland ZIP); 94.0% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
Formal educational attainment runs low here: just 12.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 42.4, and the average commute is -. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Cecil County, so 21917 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 21917
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Colora, MD
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21917.
- Construction
Construction
4 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
4 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
3 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
3 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 21917, Colora, 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
2,520
Population
20.3
Area (sq mi)
124
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 21917?
42.4
Median Age
51.9%
Male
48.1%
Female
1.1%
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?
$96,750
Median Household Income
-15% vs state ZIP avg
$42,367
Per Capita Income
7.4%
Poverty Rate
4.1%
Unemployment Rate
How ZIP 21917 ranks among Maryland ZIPs
Colora, 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)
$96,750 44th percentile higher than 44% 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
818housing units
818
Total Housing Units
818
Occupied Units
0
Vacant Units
2.69
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$409,400
Median Home Value
-9% vs state ZIP avg
1987
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
+9.8%
YoY Change (2024)
225
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+125%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 21917 have increased 9.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +125% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3.1% | 166 |
| 2021 | +8.5% | 181 |
| 2022 | +7.4% | 194 |
| 2023 | +5.6% | 205 |
| 2024 | +9.8% | 225 |
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 24 business establishments in ZIP 21917, employing approximately 189 people with a combined annual payroll of $7,860,000.
24
Businesses
189
Employees
$7.9M
Annual Payroll
4
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 4 | 16.7% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 4 | 16.7% |
| Retail trade | 3 | 12.5% |
| Health care and social assistance | 3 | 12.5% |
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 21917 vs 21904 →
ZIP 21917 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 21078
Havre De Grace (21078)
17,603 residents
- 21911
Rising Sun (21911)
11,004 residents
- 21904
Port Deposit (21904)
7,252 residents
- 19362 5,815
Nottingham (19362)
5,815 residents
- 21903 5,687
Perryville (21903)
5,687 residents
- 21918 4,284
Conowingo (21918)
4,284 residents
- 17563 3,849
Peach Bottom (17563)
3,849 residents
- 21034 3,387
Darlington (21034)
3,387 residents
- 21917 2,520
Colora (21917)
2,520 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 21917 ranks #9 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 21917 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 21078
Havre De Grace (21078)
$106,667 median income
- 21911
Rising Sun (21911)
$104,673 median income
- 21917
Colora (21917)
$96,750 median income
- 17563
Peach Bottom (17563)
$94,167 median income
- 19362
Nottingham (19362)
$89,302 median income
- 21904
Port Deposit (21904)
$88,136 median income
- 21918
Conowingo (21918)
$84,587 median income
- 21903
Perryville (21903)
$78,962 median income
- 21034
Darlington (21034)
$78,047 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 21917 ranks #3 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21904 | Port Deposit, MD | 7,252 | 3.5 mi |
| 21911 | Rising Sun, MD | 11,004 | 3.4 mi |
| 21918 | Conowingo, MD | 4,284 | 3.7 mi |
| 19362 | Nottingham, PA | 5,815 | 5.8 mi |
| 21034 | Darlington, MD | 3,387 | 6.7 mi |
| 21078 | Havre De Grace, MD | 17,603 | 7.5 mi |
| 21902 | Perry Point, MD | 471 | 8.5 mi |
| 21903 | Perryville, MD | 5,687 | 7.5 mi |
| 17563 | Peach Bottom, PA | 3,849 | 7.9 mi |
| 21914 | Charlestown, MD | 765 | 9.2 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 21917, 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 (2,520 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 21917 in?
ZIP code 21917 (Colora) 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 21917?
ZIP code 21917 in Colora, MD has a population of 2,520 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 21917?
The median household income in ZIP 21917 is $96,750, which is 27% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 21917?
The median home value in ZIP 21917 is $409,400, which is 47% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21917?
The largest racial group in ZIP 21917 is White at 86.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 14.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21917?
ZIP code 21917 has 24 business establishments employing approximately 189 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21917?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 21917 are: Construction (4), Other services (except public administration) (4), Retail trade (3). There are 4 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21917?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 21917 increased by 9.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 125%. 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 21917?
In ZIP code 21917, 58.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 12.1% 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 21917?
In ZIP code 21917, approximately 94.0% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 6.0% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21917?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 21917 is 7.4% 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 21917's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 21917 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Colora, 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.