Zip code 21043: Ellicott City, Maryland

Q: What city is zip code 21043?

21043 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 21043 in?

21043 is mostly in Howard County, but it extends into 1 other county.

Q: What is the population of 21043?

About 48,525 people live in 21043, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 21043?

The median household income in 21043 is $148,125.

Q: What zip codes are near 21043?

The closest zip codes to 21043 are 21228, 21045, 21075, 21250, 21042.

Residential delivery areaHoward CountyEastern Time

Population

48,525

Median household income

$148K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$621K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$2,094/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

40.3

U.S. 38.9

Land area

17 sq mi

2,838 people/sq mi

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

About 21043

21043 is an urban zip code in Ellicott City, Maryland (Howard County), covering 17 sq mi of land. About 48,525 people live here, or 2,838 per square mile. The median resident is 40.3 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $148,125 a year, 83% above the national median of $80,734. 3.9% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $620,900, or 4.2 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 67% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $2,094 a month.

64% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 28.1 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 healthcare. 35% of households speak a language other than English at home, most often an Asian or Pacific Island language.

How 21043 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Tech workers12%
98th
U.S. 3.8% · MD 6.4%37th of 444 in MD
Broadband access97.6%
96th
StrengthU.S. 91% · MD 92.4%82nd of 441 in MD
Median earnings per worker$87,313
95th
StrengthU.S. $49,666 · MD $61,20063rd of 443 in MD
Median household income$148,125
94th
StrengthU.S. $80,734 · MD $103,67885th of 414 in MD
Bachelor's degree or higher64.2%
92nd
StrengthU.S. 35.7% · MD 43.4%49th of 445 in MD
Work from home28.1%
92nd
U.S. 15.1% · MD 19.3%55th of 444 in MD
Per capita income$65,206
89th
StrengthU.S. $44,673 · MD $52,97993rd of 446 in MD
Diversity index67.8
89th
U.S. 61.4 · MD 67.745th of 446 in MD
Median gross rent$2,094
87th
U.S. $1,413 · MD $1,70570th of 338 in MD
Government workers20.9%
87th
U.S. 14.5% · MD 22.5%232nd of 444 in MD
Median home value$620,900
83rd
U.S. $332,700 · MD $419,90065th of 421 in MD
Foreign-born residents25.9%
83rd
U.S. 14.1% · MD 16.6%48th of 446 in MD
Population48,525
79th
U.S. 334,922,499 · MD 6,206,01122nd of 446 in MD
Residents under 1824.8%
73rd
U.S. 22% · MD 22.2%98th of 446 in MD
Population density2,838/sq mi
66th
U.S. 95/sq mi · MD 639/sq mi85th of 446 in MD
Healthcare workers10.4%
64th
U.S. 9.7% · MD 9%126th of 444 in MD
Average commute28.1 min
63rd
U.S. 26.4 min · MD 31.1 min305th of 421 in MD
Median age40.3
60th
U.S. 38.9 · MD 39.4266th of 446 in MD
Self-employed workers9.2%
49th
U.S. 10% · MD 8.7%213th of 444 in MD
Homeownership rate66.9%
46th
U.S. 65.2% · MD 67.6%330th of 441 in MD
Residents 65 and older15.1%
39th
U.S. 17.2% · MD 16.7%313th of 446 in MD
Veterans4.9%
37th
U.S. 6.2% · MD 6.8%329th of 446 in MD
Unemployment rate3.7%
28th
U.S. 5.2% · MD 4.9%239th of 444 in MD
Income inequality (Gini)0.409
27th
U.S. 0.483 · MD 0.456210th of 438 in MD
Uninsured rate4.2%
24th
U.S. 8.4% · MD 6.3%192nd of 444 in MD
Rent-burdened renters42.3%
21st
U.S. 51.1% · MD 51.5%276th of 404 in MD
Housing vacancy3.1%
12th
U.S. 10.1% · MD 7.7%319th of 441 in MD
Poverty rate3.9%
6th
StrengthU.S. 12.5% · MD 9.4%319th of 441 in MD

Measure	21043	Howard	MD	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in MD
Tech workers	12%	11.9%	6.4%	3.8%	98th	37th of 444
Broadband accessStrength	97.6%	96.6%	92.4%	91%	96th	82nd of 441
Median earnings per workerStrength	$87,313	$83,801	$61,200	$49,666	95th	63rd of 443
Median household incomeStrength	$148,125	$149,763	$103,678	$80,734	94th	85th of 414
Bachelor's degree or higherStrength	64.2%	64.5%	43.4%	35.7%	92nd	49th of 445
Work from home	28.1%	26%	19.3%	15.1%	92nd	55th of 444
Per capita incomeStrength	$65,206	$67,501	$52,979	$44,673	89th	93rd of 446
Diversity index	67.8	70.3	67.7	61.4	89th	45th of 446
Median gross rent	$2,094	$2,099	$1,705	$1,413	87th	70th of 338
Government workers	20.9%	22.9%	22.5%	14.5%	87th	232nd of 444
Median home value	$620,900	$597,900	$419,900	$332,700	83rd	65th of 421
Foreign-born residents	25.9%	22.8%	16.6%	14.1%	83rd	48th of 446
Population	48,525	336,328	6,206,011	334,922,499	79th	22nd of 446
Residents under 18	24.8%	23.8%	22.2%	22%	73rd	98th of 446
Population density	2,838/sq mi	1,340/sq mi	639/sq mi	95/sq mi	66th	85th of 446
Healthcare workers	10.4%	9.7%	9%	9.7%	64th	126th of 444
Average commute	28.1 min	28.5 min	31.1 min	26.4 min	63rd	305th of 421
Median age	40.3	39.8	39.4	38.9	60th	266th of 446
Self-employed workers	9.2%	9.2%	8.7%	10%	49th	213th of 444
Homeownership rate	66.9%	71.5%	67.6%	65.2%	46th	330th of 441
Residents 65 and older	15.1%	15.2%	16.7%	17.2%	39th	313th of 446
Veterans	4.9%	6%	6.8%	6.2%	37th	329th of 446
Unemployment rate	3.7%	3.5%	4.9%	5.2%	28th	239th of 444
Income inequality (Gini)	0.409	0.414	0.456	0.483	27th	210th of 438
Uninsured rate	4.2%	4.2%	6.3%	8.4%	24th	192nd of 444
Rent-burdened renters	42.3%	47.7%	51.5%	51.1%	21st	276th of 404
Housing vacancy	3.1%	3.4%	7.7%	10.1%	12th	319th of 441
Poverty rateStrength	3.9%	5.2%	9.4%	12.5%	6th	319th 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

10%

25–34

17%

35–44

14%

45–54

12%

55–64

65–74

75+

Median age

40.3

Under 18

24.8%

65 and over

15.1%

Race and ethnicity

White48%
Black13%
Hispanic6%
Asian26%
Native American0.1%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.3%
Multiracial7%

Diversity index

67.8

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

25.9%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

40.2%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

65%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

10%

Asian / Pacific

15%

Other

Households

Households: 17,568
Average household size: 2.7
Family households: 71.3%
Married couples: 60.3%
Living alone: 22.4%
Veterans (of adults): 4.9%
Male / female: 49% / 51%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

$25–50k

10%

$50–75k

$75–100k

10%

$100–150k

17%

$150–200k

16%

$200k+

33%

Median household income

21043

$148,125

Howard Co.

$149,763

Maryland

$103,678

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$65,206

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

3.9%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

49.3%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.409

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

21043

$620,900

Howard Co.

$597,900

Maryland

$419,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

21043

$2,094

Howard Co.

$2,099

Maryland

$1,705

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

66%

2–4 units

5–19 units

23%

20+ units

10%

Mobile home

0.1%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 18,133
Owner-occupied: 66.9%
Vacant: 3.1%
Median year built: 1995
Median rooms: 6.5
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 42.3%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 19.8%
Home value to income: 4.2× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

64%

Carpooled

Transit

0.9%

Walked

0.5%

Bicycle

Worked from home

28%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

28%

20–29

24%

30–44

22%

45–59

12%

60+

Average commute

28.1 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

3.7%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

68.4%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

16%

Computer and math

12%

Healthcare

10%

Business and finance

Engineering and science

Education

Office and admin

Sales

Legal and social services

Transportation and moving

Construction and repair

Cleaning and personal care

Arts, media and sports

Production

Food service

Police and fire

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.3%

Industries

Professional and technical services

19%

Health care and social assistance

14%

Education

11%

Public administration

Retail

Manufacturing

Finance, insurance and real estate

Other services

Admin, support and management

Restaurants and hotels

Construction

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Information

Wholesale

Arts and recreation

Agriculture and mining

0.1%

Median earnings per worker

$87,313

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

9.2%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

20.9%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

12.8%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	21043	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$109,968	$74,888
Service	$25,390	$26,804
Sales and office	$50,613	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$47,632	$49,199
Production and transportation	$36,151	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

12%

Some college

12%

Associate's

Bachelor's

30%

Graduate

34%

High school graduate or higher: 94%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 64.2%
Graduate or professional degree: 34%
Households with broadband: 97.6%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 90.4%
No internet access: 2%
Without health insurance: 4.2%
Limited-English households: 4%

Geography

City (USPS): Ellicott City
State: Maryland
County: Howard County
Center point: 39.2558° N, 76.8015° W
Land area: 17 sq mi
Water area: 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

21043 spans 2 counties

Howard County97% of land
Baltimore County3% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Ellicott City (unincorporated)72% of zip
Ilchester (unincorporated)25% of zip
Catonsville (unincorporated)3% of zip

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

Zip codes near 21043

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
21228	Catonsville, MD	3.1 mi	50,492	$112,656	$404,700
21045	Columbia, MD	3.7 mi	40,034	$118,563	$453,700
21075	Elkridge, MD	4.5 mi	37,363	$135,303	$455,300
21250	Baltimore, MD	4.8 mi	2,834	—	—
21042	Ellicott City, MD	5.2 mi	43,327	$190,061	$706,400
21044	Columbia, MD	5.4 mi	44,114	$135,057	$566,500
21244	Windsor Mill, MD	5.6 mi	38,208	$85,114	$282,600
21046	Columbia, MD	5.9 mi	15,608	$127,813	$479,500
21163	Woodstock, MD	6.2 mi	7,539	$134,672	$602,800
21229	Baltimore, MD	6.2 mi	46,679	$60,047	$201,300
21207	Gwynn Oak, MD	6.4 mi	47,099	$67,060	$260,300
21227	Halethorpe, MD	6.6 mi	34,907	$85,986	$289,400

Zip codes like 21043 elsewhere

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

Monmouth Junction, NJ

Questions about 21043

What city is zip code 21043?

21043 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 21043 in?

21043 is mostly in Howard County, but it extends into 1 other county.

What is the population of 21043?

About 48,525 people live in 21043, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 21043 in?

21043 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 21043?

The median household income in 21043 is $148,125.

What zip codes are near 21043?

The closest zip codes to 21043 are 21228, 21045, 21075, 21250, 21042.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 21043, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.