Elkton, MD · standard
ZIP Code 21921
Cecil County, Maryland - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 44,471
- 182/sq mi High-density area
- $85,775
- Median income Above-median income area
- $330,400
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 28.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Elkton pairs an above-median household income with above-median home values, in a rural, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 31%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 29%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 182
- people per sq mi
- 70%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 21921 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 21921 (Elkton, MD) rose +6.4% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 215.5 in 2023 to 229.2 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 21921 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Elkton, Cecil County, Maryland, with 44,471 residents across 245.0 square miles, a density of 182 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 21921 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $85,775 (25% below the average Maryland ZIP), while per-capita income is $40,249. The poverty rate is 13.6%, with unemployment at 4.5%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $330,400 (26% below the average Maryland ZIP), and median rent is $1,421; owner occupancy is 69.8%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 28.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.4, and the average commute is 27 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Cecil County, so 21921 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 21921
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Elkton, MD
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 21921.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
128 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
104 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
101 establishments
- Construction
Construction
79 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
72 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 21921, Elkton, 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
44,471
Population
245.0
Area (sq mi)
182
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 21921?
39.4
Median Age
49.1%
Male
50.9%
Female
5.5%
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?
$85,775
Median Household Income
-25% vs state ZIP avg
$40,249
Per Capita Income
13.6%
Poverty Rate
4.5%
Unemployment Rate
26.9 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 21921 ranks nationally
Elkton, MD household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$85,775 Top 31% higher than 69% of 30,318 US ZIPs
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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
18,475housing units
18,475
Total Housing Units
17,316
Occupied Units
1,159
Vacant Units
2.57
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$330,400
Median Home Value
-26% vs state ZIP avg
$1,421
Median Rent
1986
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
+6.4%
YoY Change (2024)
229
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+129%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 21921 have increased 6.4% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +129% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.0% | 165 |
| 2021 | +10.5% | 182 |
| 2022 | +12.3% | 205 |
| 2023 | +5.2% | 215 |
| 2024 | +6.4% | 229 |
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 802 business establishments in ZIP 21921, employing approximately 15,064 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,021,905,000.
802
Businesses
15,064
Employees
$1.0B
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 128 | 16.0% |
| Retail trade | 104 | 13.0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 101 | 12.6% |
| Construction | 79 | 9.8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 72 | 9.0% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 67 | 8.3% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 42 | 5.2% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 42 | 5.2% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 37 | 4.6% |
| Manufacturing | 32 | 4.0% |
| Finance and insurance | 29 | 3.6% |
| Wholesale trade | 28 | 3.5% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 19 | 2.4% |
| Educational services | 12 | 1.5% |
| Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting | 4 | 0.5% |
| Information | 4 | 0.5% |
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 21921 vs 21916 →
ZIP 21921 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 19702
Newark (19702)
51,899 residents
- 21921
Elkton (21921)
44,471 residents
- 19713
Newark (19713)
30,408 residents
- 21901 15,875
North East (21901)
15,875 residents
- 19350 10,921
Landenberg (19350)
10,921 residents
- 19717 3,770
Newark (19717)
3,770 residents
- 21915 3,030
Chesapeake City (21915)
3,030 residents
- 19716 1,568
Newark (19716)
1,568 residents
- 21914 765
Charlestown (21914)
765 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 21921 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 21921 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 19350
Landenberg (19350)
$144,375 median income
- 21920
Elk Mills (21920)
$124,146 median income
- 21901
North East (21901)
$113,719 median income
- 21915
Chesapeake City (21915)
$95,875 median income
- 19702
Newark (19702)
$92,446 median income
- 21921
Elkton (21921)
$85,775 median income
- 19713
Newark (19713)
$76,493 median income
- 21914
Charlestown (21914)
$66,806 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 21921 ranks #6 of 8 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21916 | Childs, MD | 37 | 1.0 mi |
| 21920 | Elk Mills, MD | 257 | 2.7 mi |
| 19702 | Newark, DE | 51,899 | 7.0 mi |
| 21901 | North East, MD | 15,875 | 6.0 mi |
| 21915 | Chesapeake City, MD | 3,030 | 8.8 mi |
| 19717 | Newark, DE | 3,770 | 6.7 mi |
| 19716 | Newark, DE | 1,568 | 6.9 mi |
| 21914 | Charlestown, MD | 765 | 7.5 mi |
| 19713 | Newark, DE | 30,408 | 8.4 mi |
| 19350 | Landenberg, PA | 10,921 | 10.1 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 21921, 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 (44,471 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 21921 in?
ZIP code 21921 (Elkton) 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 21921?
ZIP code 21921 in Elkton, MD has a population of 44,471 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 21921?
The median household income in ZIP 21921 is $85,775, which is 12% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 21921?
The median home value in ZIP 21921 is $330,400, which is 19% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 21921?
The largest racial group in ZIP 21921 is White at 76.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 6.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 21921?
ZIP code 21921 has 802 business establishments employing approximately 15,064 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 21921?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 21921 are: Health care and social assistance (128), Retail trade (104), Other services (except public administration) (101). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 21921?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 21921 increased by 6.4% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 129%. 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 21921?
In ZIP code 21921, 65.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 28.8% 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 21921?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 21921 is 26.9 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 21921?
In ZIP code 21921, approximately 69.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 30.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 21921?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 21921 is 13.6% 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 21921's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 21921 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Elkton, 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.