Zip code 21221: Essex, Maryland

Q: What city is zip code 21221?

21221 is assigned to Essex, Maryland. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 21221 in?

21221 is in Baltimore County, Maryland.

Q: What is the population of 21221?

About 43,487 people live in 21221, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 21221?

The median household income in 21221 is $67,340.

Q: What zip codes are near 21221?

The closest zip codes to 21221 are 21222, 21219, 21220, 21237, 21224.

Residential delivery areaBaltimore CountyEastern Time

Population

43,487

Median household income

$67K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$272K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,310/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

42.4

U.S. 38.9

Land area

15 sq mi

2,893 people/sq mi

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

About 21221

21221 is an urban zip code in Essex, Maryland (Baltimore County), covering 15 sq mi of land. About 43,487 people live here, or 2,893 per square mile. The median resident is 42.4 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $67,340 a year, 17% below the national median of $80,734. 12.8% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $271,500, or 4.0 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 63% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,310 a month.

21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 29.5 minutes each way, and 8% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in healthcare; office and administrative support; and construction and repair.

How 21221 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Healthcare workers12.4%
84th
U.S. 9.7% · MD 9%63rd of 444 in MD
Government workers20%
84th
U.S. 14.5% · MD 22.5%256th of 444 in MD
Rent-burdened renters59.1%
80th
WeaknessU.S. 51.1% · MD 51.5%98th of 404 in MD
Median age42.4
74th
U.S. 38.9 · MD 39.4204th of 446 in MD
Population43,487
73rd
U.S. 334,922,499 · MD 6,206,01131st of 446 in MD
Average commute29.5 min
72nd
U.S. 26.4 min · MD 31.1 min264th of 421 in MD
Diversity index59.8
72nd
U.S. 61.4 · MD 67.7105th of 446 in MD
Unemployment rate6.2%
71st
U.S. 5.2% · MD 4.9%103rd of 444 in MD
Veterans7.2%
69th
U.S. 6.2% · MD 6.8%214th of 446 in MD
Population density2,893/sq mi
66th
U.S. 95/sq mi · MD 639/sq mi84th of 446 in MD
Residents 65 and older18.6%
65th
U.S. 17.2% · MD 16.7%200th of 446 in MD
Income inequality (Gini)0.448
61st
U.S. 0.483 · MD 0.45698th of 438 in MD
Poverty rate12.8%
60th
U.S. 12.5% · MD 9.4%97th of 441 in MD
Housing vacancy6.3%
47th
U.S. 10.1% · MD 7.7%191st of 441 in MD
Median earnings per worker$46,931
46th
U.S. $49,666 · MD $61,200353rd of 443 in MD
Residents under 1821.6%
45th
U.S. 22% · MD 22.2%227th of 446 in MD
Median gross rent$1,310
44th
U.S. $1,413 · MD $1,705245th of 338 in MD
Foreign-born residents8.2%
44th
U.S. 14.1% · MD 16.6%183rd of 446 in MD
Per capita income$36,926
40th
U.S. $44,673 · MD $52,979354th of 446 in MD
Tech workers2.3%
39th
U.S. 3.8% · MD 6.4%319th of 444 in MD
Median home value$271,500
38th
U.S. $332,700 · MD $419,900346th of 421 in MD
Homeownership rate62.5%
37th
U.S. 65.2% · MD 67.6%359th of 441 in MD
Broadband access89.8%
33rd
U.S. 91% · MD 92.4%299th of 441 in MD
Median household income$67,340
32nd
U.S. $80,734 · MD $103,678356th of 414 in MD
Uninsured rate4.6%
28th
U.S. 8.4% · MD 6.3%171st of 444 in MD
Bachelor's degree or higher21%
23rd
U.S. 35.7% · MD 43.4%364th of 445 in MD
Work from home8.2%
23rd
U.S. 15.1% · MD 19.3%364th of 444 in MD
Self-employed workers6.3%
12th
U.S. 10% · MD 8.7%333rd of 444 in MD

Measure	21221	Baltimore	MD	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in MD
Healthcare workers	12.4%	10.8%	9%	9.7%	84th	63rd of 444
Government workers	20%	19.1%	22.5%	14.5%	84th	256th of 444
Rent-burdened rentersWeakness	59.1%	54.2%	51.5%	51.1%	80th	98th of 404
Median age	42.4	39.7	39.4	38.9	74th	204th of 446
Population	43,487	850,796	6,206,011	334,922,499	73rd	31st of 446
Average commute	29.5 min	28 min	31.1 min	26.4 min	72nd	264th of 421
Diversity index	59.8	63.6	67.7	61.4	72nd	105th of 446
Unemployment rate	6.2%	4.9%	4.9%	5.2%	71st	103rd of 444
Veterans	7.2%	5.8%	6.8%	6.2%	69th	214th of 446
Population density	2,893/sq mi	1,422/sq mi	639/sq mi	95/sq mi	66th	84th of 446
Residents 65 and older	18.6%	18.1%	16.7%	17.2%	65th	200th of 446
Income inequality (Gini)	0.448	0.458	0.456	0.483	61st	98th of 438
Poverty rate	12.8%	9.8%	9.4%	12.5%	60th	97th of 441
Housing vacancy	6.3%	5.1%	7.7%	10.1%	47th	191st of 441
Median earnings per worker	$46,931	$57,592	$61,200	$49,666	46th	353rd of 443
Residents under 18	21.6%	21.9%	22.2%	22%	45th	227th of 446
Median gross rent	$1,310	$1,627	$1,705	$1,413	44th	245th of 338
Foreign-born residents	8.2%	13.2%	16.6%	14.1%	44th	183rd of 446
Per capita income	$36,926	$49,074	$52,979	$44,673	40th	354th of 446
Tech workers	2.3%	5.2%	6.4%	3.8%	39th	319th of 444
Median home value	$271,500	$349,300	$419,900	$332,700	38th	346th of 421
Homeownership rate	62.5%	66.4%	67.6%	65.2%	37th	359th of 441
Broadband access	89.8%	91.4%	92.4%	91%	33rd	299th of 441
Median household income	$67,340	$91,768	$103,678	$80,734	32nd	356th of 414
Uninsured rate	4.6%	5.4%	6.3%	8.4%	28th	171st of 444
Bachelor's degree or higher	21%	42.3%	43.4%	35.7%	23rd	364th of 445
Work from home	8.2%	16.5%	19.3%	15.1%	23rd	364th of 444
Self-employed workers	6.3%	8.2%	8.7%	10%	12th	333rd of 444

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

17%

5–17

18–24

11%

25–34

12%

35–44

15%

45–54

13%

55–64

11%

65–74

75+

Median age

42.4

Under 18

21.6%

65 and over

18.6%

Race and ethnicity

White56%
Black28%
Hispanic6%
Asian2%
Native American0.1%
Pacific Islander0%
Other1%
Multiracial7%

Diversity index

59.8

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

8.2%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

73.2%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

87%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 17,286
Average household size: 2.5
Family households: 61.3%
Married couples: 38.8%
Living alone: 33%
Veterans (of adults): 7.2%
Male / female: 47% / 53%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

16%

$25–50k

21%

$50–75k

18%

$75–100k

12%

$100–150k

17%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

21221

$67,340

Baltimore Co.

$91,768

Maryland

$103,678

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$36,926

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

12.8%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

16.6%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.448

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

21221

$271,500

Baltimore Co.

$349,300

Maryland

$419,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

21221

$1,310

Baltimore Co.

$1,627

Maryland

$1,705

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

75%

2–4 units

5–19 units

13%

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 18,442
Owner-occupied: 62.5%
Vacant: 6.3%
Median year built: 1966
Median rooms: 5.8
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 59.1%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 28.4%
Home value to income: 4.0× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

73%

Carpooled

12%

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

0.3%

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

27%

20–29

20%

30–44

26%

45–59

10%

60+

10%

Average commute

29.5 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

6.2%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

64.7%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Healthcare

12%

Office and admin

12%

Construction and repair

11%

Transportation and moving

10%

Sales

10%

Management

Business and finance

Cleaning and personal care

Education

Food service

Production

Police and fire

Engineering and science

Legal and social services

Computer and math

Arts, media and sports

0.9%

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Health care and social assistance

16%

Retail

11%

Education

10%

Public administration

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Construction

Finance, insurance and real estate

Manufacturing

Restaurants and hotels

Professional and technical services

Other services

Admin, support and management

Wholesale

Arts and recreation

Information

Agriculture and mining

0.1%

Median earnings per worker

$46,931

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

6.3%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

20%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

8.7%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	21221	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$62,754	$74,888
Service	$26,703	$26,804
Sales and office	$34,458	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$55,107	$49,199
Production and transportation	$40,633	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

13%

High school

39%

Some college

20%

Associate's

Bachelor's

13%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 86.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 21%
Graduate or professional degree: 8.2%
Households with broadband: 89.8%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 75.6%
No internet access: 8.7%
Without health insurance: 4.6%
Limited-English households: 1.4%

Geography

City (USPS): Essex
State: Maryland
County: Baltimore County
Center point: 39.2921° N, 76.4370° W
Land area: 15 sq mi
Water area: 6.3 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Essex (unincorporated)62% of zip
Middle River (unincorporated)7% of zip
Rosedale (unincorporated)4% of zip

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

Zip codes near 21221

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
21222	Dundalk, MD	3.7 mi	59,407	$64,141	$215,900
21219	Sparrows Point, MD	4.3 mi	9,565	$110,438	$384,600
21220	Middle River, MD	4.3 mi	42,824	$81,817	$300,100
21237	Rosedale, MD	4.6 mi	31,425	$91,693	$295,600
21224	Baltimore, MD	5.7 mi	47,465	$89,017	$295,200
21052	Fort Howard, MD	6 mi	409	$77,300	$293,200
21027	Chase, MD · PO box	6.1 mi	—	—	—
21206	Baltimore, MD	6.3 mi	48,902	$64,531	$216,100
21205	Baltimore, MD	6.8 mi	13,013	$43,176	$96,100
21162	White Marsh, MD	7 mi	4,639	$157,813	$451,600
21236	Nottingham, MD	7.1 mi	39,514	$95,149	$327,200
21213	Baltimore, MD	7.7 mi	28,058	$51,344	$155,000

Zip codes like 21221 elsewhere

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

Questions about 21221

What city is zip code 21221?

21221 is assigned to Essex, Maryland. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 21221 in?

21221 is in Baltimore County, Maryland.

What is the population of 21221?

About 43,487 people live in 21221, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 21221 in?

21221 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 21221?

The median household income in 21221 is $67,340.

What zip codes are near 21221?

The closest zip codes to 21221 are 21222, 21219, 21220, 21237, 21224.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 21221, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.