Zip code 21042: Ellicott City, Maryland

Q: What city is zip code 21042?

21042 is assigned to Ellicott City, Maryland. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 21042 in?

21042 is in Howard County, Maryland.

Q: What is the population of 21042?

About 43,327 people live in 21042, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 21042?

The median household income in 21042 is $190,061.

Q: What zip codes are near 21042?

The closest zip codes to 21042 are 21041, 21150, 21794, 21163, 21104.

Residential delivery areaHoward CountyEastern Time

Population

43,327

Median household income

$190K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$706K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$2,183/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

45.1

U.S. 38.9

Land area

37 sq mi

1,171 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 21042

21042 is a suburban zip code in Ellicott City, Maryland (Howard County), covering 37 sq mi of land. About 43,327 people live here, or 1,171 per square mile. The median resident is 45.1 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $190,061 a year, about 2.4× the national median of $80,734. 3.3% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $706,400, or 3.7 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 85% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $2,183 a month.

73% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 28.6 minutes each way, and 28% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management; computer and math (tech); and engineering and science. 34% of households speak a language other than English at home, most often an Asian or Pacific Island language.

How 21042 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Median household income$190,061
99th
StrengthU.S. $80,734 · MD $103,67830th of 414 in MD
Median earnings per worker$100,554
98th
StrengthU.S. $49,666 · MD $61,20034th of 443 in MD
Tech workers13.2%
98th
U.S. 3.8% · MD 6.4%26th of 444 in MD
Bachelor's degree or higher72.9%
96th
StrengthU.S. 35.7% · MD 43.4%31st of 445 in MD
Rent-burdened renters66.7%
95th
WeaknessU.S. 51.1% · MD 51.5%64th of 404 in MD
Per capita income$77,643
94th
StrengthU.S. $44,673 · MD $52,97943rd of 446 in MD
Work from home28.2%
92nd
U.S. 15.1% · MD 19.3%54th of 444 in MD
Government workers22.9%
91st
U.S. 14.5% · MD 22.5%181st of 444 in MD
Median gross rent$2,183
89th
U.S. $1,413 · MD $1,70552nd of 338 in MD
Median home value$706,400
88th
U.S. $332,700 · MD $419,90039th of 421 in MD
Homeownership rate84.7%
88th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · MD 67.6%184th of 441 in MD
Median age45.1
86th
U.S. 38.9 · MD 39.4143rd of 446 in MD
Broadband access95.8%
83rd
StrengthU.S. 91% · MD 92.4%135th of 441 in MD
Foreign-born residents24.9%
81st
U.S. 14.1% · MD 16.6%50th of 446 in MD
Self-employed workers12.1%
78th
U.S. 10% · MD 8.7%123rd of 444 in MD
Residents under 1825.2%
76th
U.S. 22% · MD 22.2%90th of 446 in MD
Residents 65 and older19.9%
73rd
U.S. 17.2% · MD 16.7%166th of 446 in MD
Population43,327
72nd
U.S. 334,922,499 · MD 6,206,01132nd of 446 in MD
Diversity index59.9
72nd
U.S. 61.4 · MD 67.7103rd of 446 in MD
Healthcare workers10.7%
67th
U.S. 9.7% · MD 9%114th of 444 in MD
Average commute28.6 min
66th
U.S. 26.4 min · MD 31.1 min288th of 421 in MD
Veterans6%
52nd
U.S. 6.2% · MD 6.8%282nd of 446 in MD
Population density1,171/sq mi
46th
U.S. 95/sq mi · MD 639/sq mi153rd of 446 in MD
Income inequality (Gini)0.397
18th
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · MD 0.456248th of 438 in MD
Uninsured rate3%
12th
StrengthU.S. 8.4% · MD 6.3%264th of 444 in MD
Unemployment rate2%
5th
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · MD 4.9%344th of 444 in MD
Poverty rate3.3%
3rd
StrengthU.S. 12.5% · MD 9.4%348th of 441 in MD
Housing vacancy1.8%
3rd
U.S. 10.1% · MD 7.7%373rd of 441 in MD

Measure	21042	Howard	MD	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in MD
Median household incomeStrength	$190,061	$149,763	$103,678	$80,734	99th	30th of 414
Median earnings per workerStrength	$100,554	$83,801	$61,200	$49,666	98th	34th of 443
Tech workers	13.2%	11.9%	6.4%	3.8%	98th	26th of 444
Bachelor's degree or higherStrength	72.9%	64.5%	43.4%	35.7%	96th	31st of 445
Rent-burdened rentersWeakness	66.7%	47.7%	51.5%	51.1%	95th	64th of 404
Per capita incomeStrength	$77,643	$67,501	$52,979	$44,673	94th	43rd of 446
Work from home	28.2%	26%	19.3%	15.1%	92nd	54th of 444
Government workers	22.9%	22.9%	22.5%	14.5%	91st	181st of 444
Median gross rent	$2,183	$2,099	$1,705	$1,413	89th	52nd of 338
Median home value	$706,400	$597,900	$419,900	$332,700	88th	39th of 421
Homeownership rateStrength	84.7%	71.5%	67.6%	65.2%	88th	184th of 441
Median age	45.1	39.8	39.4	38.9	86th	143rd of 446
Broadband accessStrength	95.8%	96.6%	92.4%	91%	83rd	135th of 441
Foreign-born residents	24.9%	22.8%	16.6%	14.1%	81st	50th of 446
Self-employed workers	12.1%	9.2%	8.7%	10%	78th	123rd of 444
Residents under 18	25.2%	23.8%	22.2%	22%	76th	90th of 446
Residents 65 and older	19.9%	15.2%	16.7%	17.2%	73rd	166th of 446
Population	43,327	336,328	6,206,011	334,922,499	72nd	32nd of 446
Diversity index	59.9	70.3	67.7	61.4	72nd	103rd of 446
Healthcare workers	10.7%	9.7%	9%	9.7%	67th	114th of 444
Average commute	28.6 min	28.5 min	31.1 min	26.4 min	66th	288th of 421
Veterans	6%	6%	6.8%	6.2%	52nd	282nd of 446
Population density	1,171/sq mi	1,340/sq mi	639/sq mi	95/sq mi	46th	153rd of 446
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.397	0.414	0.456	0.483	18th	248th of 438
Uninsured rateStrength	3%	4.2%	6.3%	8.4%	12th	264th of 444
Unemployment rateStrength	2%	3.5%	4.9%	5.2%	5th	344th of 444
Poverty rateStrength	3.3%	5.2%	9.4%	12.5%	3rd	348th of 441
Housing vacancy	1.8%	3.4%	7.7%	10.1%	3rd	373rd of 441

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

21%

5–17

18–24

25–34

12%

35–44

15%

45–54

15%

55–64

11%

65–74

75+

Median age

45.1

Under 18

25.2%

65 and over

19.9%

Race and ethnicity

White56%
Black6%
Hispanic4%
Asian29%
Native American0.1%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.9%
Multiracial4%

Diversity index

59.9

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

24.9%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

40.8%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

66%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

10%

Asian / Pacific

19%

Other

Households

Households: 15,099
Average household size: 2.9
Family households: 81.7%
Married couples: 72.3%
Living alone: 16.4%
Veterans (of adults): 6%
Male / female: 49% / 51%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

$25–50k

$50–75k

$75–100k

$100–150k

12%

$150–200k

15%

$200k+

47%

Median household income

21042

$190,061

Howard Co.

$149,763

Maryland

$103,678

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$77,643

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

3.3%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

62.2%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.397

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

21042

$706,400

Howard Co.

$597,900

Maryland

$419,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

21042

$2,183

Howard Co.

$2,099

Maryland

$1,705

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

86%

2–4 units

0.7%

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

0.1%

Housing units: 15,368
Owner-occupied: 84.7%
Vacant: 1.8%
Median year built: 1987
Median rooms: 8.3
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 66.7%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 35%
Home value to income: 3.7× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

65%

Carpooled

Transit

0.6%

Walked

Bicycle

0.2%

Worked from home

28%

Other

0.8%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

22%

20–29

29%

30–44

26%

45–59

60+

Average commute

28.6 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

64.3%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

16%

Computer and math

13%

Engineering and science

11%

Healthcare

11%

Education

Business and finance

Sales

Office and admin

Legal and social services

Food service

Construction and repair

Cleaning and personal care

Arts, media and sports

Production

Police and fire

Transportation and moving

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.1%

Industries

Professional and technical services

21%

Education

14%

Health care and social assistance

13%

Public administration

10%

Manufacturing

Finance, insurance and real estate

Construction

Retail

Other services

Restaurants and hotels

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Admin, support and management

Information

Arts and recreation

Wholesale

0.8%

Agriculture and mining

0.2%

Median earnings per worker

$100,554

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

12.1%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

22.9%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

12.7%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	21042	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$121,074	$74,888
Service	$24,544	$26,804
Sales and office	$48,100	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$34,018	$49,199
Production and transportation	$30,029	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

10%

Some college

Associate's

Bachelor's

31%

Graduate

41%

High school graduate or higher: 97%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 72.9%
Graduate or professional degree: 41.5%
Households with broadband: 95.8%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 89.5%
No internet access: 2.1%
Without health insurance: 3%
Limited-English households: 3.1%

Geography

City (USPS): Ellicott City
State: Maryland
County: Howard County
Center point: 39.2772° N, 76.8946° W
Land area: 37 sq mi
Water area: 0.2 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Ellicott City (unincorporated)44% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 21042

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
21041	Ellicott City, MD · PO box	3.8 mi	—	—	—
21150	Simpsonville, MD · PO box	3.8 mi	—	—	—
21794	West Friendship, MD	4.1 mi	2,192	$231,466	$999,400
21163	Woodstock, MD	4.9 mi	7,539	$134,672	$602,800
21104	Marriottsville, MD	4.9 mi	6,052	$191,804	$680,200
21044	Columbia, MD	5 mi	44,114	$135,057	$566,500
21043	Ellicott City, MD	5.2 mi	48,525	$148,125	$620,900
21029	Clarksville, MD	5.6 mi	13,607	$243,542	$912,100
21045	Columbia, MD	6.1 mi	40,034	$118,563	$453,700
21036	Dayton, MD	6.7 mi	2,569	$218,036	$881,300
21723	Cooksville, MD	6.8 mi	669	$241,250	$1,005,500
21738	Glenwood, MD	7.1 mi	3,696	$250,000+	$914,300

Zip codes like 21042 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 21042

What city is zip code 21042?

21042 is assigned to Ellicott City, Maryland. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 21042 in?

21042 is in Howard County, Maryland.

What is the population of 21042?

About 43,327 people live in 21042, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 21042 in?

21042 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 21042?

The median household income in 21042 is $190,061.

What zip codes are near 21042?

The closest zip codes to 21042 are 21041, 21150, 21794, 21163, 21104.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 21042, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.