PlainZIP

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
$96,750
Median income
$409,400
Median home value
12.1%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

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.

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 Maryland average), while per-capita income is $42,367. Local economic indicators show a 7.4% poverty rate alongside 4.1% unemployment. Median home value sits at $409,400 (9% below the state average), median rent at - a month, and owner-occupancy at 94.0%.

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 -. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Cecil County, so you can benchmark 21917 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone.

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.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

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

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 21917?

42.4

Median Age

51.9%

Male

48.1%

Female

1.1%

Foreign-Born

White 86.5%
African American 1.5%
Asian 0.0%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 1.1%
Hispanic or Latino 14.8%

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

$42,367

Per Capita Income

7.4%

Poverty Rate

4.1%

Unemployment Rate

How ZIP 21917 ranks nationally

Colora, MD household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$96,750 Top 21% higher than 79% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US 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?

High School Graduate or Higher 58.4%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 12.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

818

Total Housing Units

818

Occupied Units

0

Vacant Units

2.69

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 94.0%
Renter 6.0%

$409,400

Median Home Value

-9% vs state

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.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 21917 ranks #9 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 21917 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

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.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
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

More ZIP Codes in Cecil County

21921 standard
Elkton, MD
Pop: 44,471
21901 standard
North East, MD
Pop: 15,875
21911 standard
Rising Sun, MD
Pop: 11,004
21904 standard
Port Deposit, MD
Pop: 7,252
21903 standard
Perryville, MD
Pop: 5,687
21918 standard
Conowingo, MD
Pop: 4,284

Related Areas

Cecil County Colora, MD Maryland

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.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.