Zip code 21286: Towson, Maryland

Q: What city is zip code 21286?

21286 is assigned to Towson, Maryland. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 21286 in?

21286 is in Baltimore County, Maryland.

Q: What is the population of 21286?

About 21,853 people live in 21286, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 21286?

The median household income in 21286 is $93,808.

Q: What zip codes are near 21286?

The closest zip codes to 21286 are 21284, 21094, 21252, 21234, 21204.

Residential delivery areaBaltimore CountyEastern Time

Population

21,853

Median household income

$94K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$430K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,605/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

39.6

U.S. 38.9

Land area

8.6 sq mi

2,543 people/sq mi

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

About 21286

21286 is an urban zip code in Towson, Maryland (Baltimore County), covering 8.6 sq mi of land. About 21,853 people live here, or 2,543 per square mile. The median resident is 39.6 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $93,808 a year, 16% above the national median of $80,734. 13.2% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $430,100, or 4.6 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 60% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,605 a month.

59% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 28.5 minutes each way, and 20% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management, healthcare and education.

How 21286 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Bachelor's degree or higher58.8%
88th
StrengthU.S. 35.7% · MD 43.4%70th of 445 in MD
Income inequality (Gini)0.499
88th
WeaknessU.S. 0.483 · MD 0.45639th of 438 in MD
Residents 65 and older22.2%
84th
U.S. 17.2% · MD 16.7%122nd of 446 in MD
Per capita income$58,071
83rd
StrengthU.S. $44,673 · MD $52,979158th of 446 in MD
Median earnings per worker$64,400
81st
StrengthU.S. $49,666 · MD $61,200203rd of 443 in MD
Work from home20.3%
78th
U.S. 15.1% · MD 19.3%154th of 444 in MD
Tech workers4.9%
78th
U.S. 3.8% · MD 6.4%214th of 444 in MD
Rent-burdened renters56.5%
72nd
U.S. 51.1% · MD 51.5%125th of 404 in MD
Government workers16.7%
70th
U.S. 14.5% · MD 22.5%333rd of 444 in MD
Median household income$93,808
66th
U.S. $80,734 · MD $103,678242nd of 414 in MD
Median home value$430,100
66th
U.S. $332,700 · MD $419,900201st of 421 in MD
Average commute28.5 min
66th
U.S. 26.4 min · MD 31.1 min293rd of 421 in MD
Healthcare workers10.5%
65th
U.S. 9.7% · MD 9%122nd of 444 in MD
Population density2,543/sq mi
62nd
U.S. 95/sq mi · MD 639/sq mi98th of 446 in MD
Poverty rate13.2%
62nd
U.S. 12.5% · MD 9.4%94th of 441 in MD
Median gross rent$1,605
61st
U.S. $1,413 · MD $1,705177th of 338 in MD
Foreign-born residents11.8%
56th
U.S. 14.1% · MD 16.6%129th of 446 in MD
Diversity index52.1
55th
U.S. 61.4 · MD 67.7161st of 446 in MD
Median age39.6
54th
U.S. 38.9 · MD 39.4280th of 446 in MD
Self-employed workers9.2%
49th
U.S. 10% · MD 8.7%211th of 444 in MD
Housing vacancy5.6%
39th
U.S. 10.1% · MD 7.7%213th of 441 in MD
Veterans5%
38th
U.S. 6.2% · MD 6.8%324th of 446 in MD
Population21,853
34th
U.S. 334,922,499 · MD 6,206,011118th of 446 in MD
Homeownership rate59.9%
32nd
U.S. 65.2% · MD 67.6%370th of 441 in MD
Broadband access89.1%
29th
U.S. 91% · MD 92.4%312th of 441 in MD
Unemployment rate3.3%
21st
U.S. 5.2% · MD 4.9%267th of 444 in MD
Residents under 1818.3%
20th
U.S. 22% · MD 22.2%325th of 446 in MD
Uninsured rate2.7%
10th
StrengthU.S. 8.4% · MD 6.3%283rd of 444 in MD

Measure	21286	Baltimore	MD	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in MD
Bachelor's degree or higherStrength	58.8%	42.3%	43.4%	35.7%	88th	70th of 445
Income inequality (Gini)Weakness	0.499	0.458	0.456	0.483	88th	39th of 438
Residents 65 and older	22.2%	18.1%	16.7%	17.2%	84th	122nd of 446
Per capita incomeStrength	$58,071	$49,074	$52,979	$44,673	83rd	158th of 446
Median earnings per workerStrength	$64,400	$57,592	$61,200	$49,666	81st	203rd of 443
Work from home	20.3%	16.5%	19.3%	15.1%	78th	154th of 444
Tech workers	4.9%	5.2%	6.4%	3.8%	78th	214th of 444
Rent-burdened renters	56.5%	54.2%	51.5%	51.1%	72nd	125th of 404
Government workers	16.7%	19.1%	22.5%	14.5%	70th	333rd of 444
Median household income	$93,808	$91,768	$103,678	$80,734	66th	242nd of 414
Median home value	$430,100	$349,300	$419,900	$332,700	66th	201st of 421
Average commute	28.5 min	28 min	31.1 min	26.4 min	66th	293rd of 421
Healthcare workers	10.5%	10.8%	9%	9.7%	65th	122nd of 444
Population density	2,543/sq mi	1,422/sq mi	639/sq mi	95/sq mi	62nd	98th of 446
Poverty rate	13.2%	9.8%	9.4%	12.5%	62nd	94th of 441
Median gross rent	$1,605	$1,627	$1,705	$1,413	61st	177th of 338
Foreign-born residents	11.8%	13.2%	16.6%	14.1%	56th	129th of 446
Diversity index	52.1	63.6	67.7	61.4	55th	161st of 446
Median age	39.6	39.7	39.4	38.9	54th	280th of 446
Self-employed workers	9.2%	8.2%	8.7%	10%	49th	211th of 444
Housing vacancy	5.6%	5.1%	7.7%	10.1%	39th	213th of 441
Veterans	5%	5.8%	6.8%	6.2%	38th	324th of 446
Population	21,853	850,796	6,206,011	334,922,499	34th	118th of 446
Homeownership rate	59.9%	66.4%	67.6%	65.2%	32nd	370th of 441
Broadband access	89.1%	91.4%	92.4%	91%	29th	312th of 441
Unemployment rate	3.3%	4.9%	4.9%	5.2%	21st	267th of 444
Residents under 18	18.3%	21.9%	22.2%	22%	20th	325th of 446
Uninsured rateStrength	2.7%	5.4%	6.3%	8.4%	10th	283rd 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

14%

5–17

13%

18–24

14%

25–34

12%

35–44

45–54

12%

55–64

12%

65–74

11%

75+

Median age

39.6

Under 18

18.3%

65 and over

22.2%

Race and ethnicity

White66%
Black17%
Hispanic8%
Asian4%
Native American0.0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.2%
Multiracial4%

Diversity index

52.1

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

11.8%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

59.4%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

85%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 9,765
Average household size: 2.2
Family households: 52.4%
Married couples: 42.7%
Living alone: 35.4%
Veterans (of adults): 5%
Male / female: 48% / 52%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

17%

$25–50k

11%

$50–75k

13%

$75–100k

13%

$100–150k

16%

$150–200k

11%

$200k+

19%

Median household income

21286

$93,808

Baltimore Co.

$91,768

Maryland

$103,678

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$58,071

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

13.2%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

29.6%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.499

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

21286

$430,100

Baltimore Co.

$349,300

Maryland

$419,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

21286

$1,605

Baltimore Co.

$1,627

Maryland

$1,705

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

60%

2–4 units

5–19 units

14%

20+ units

21%

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 10,343
Owner-occupied: 59.9%
Vacant: 5.6%
Median year built: 1964
Median rooms: 6.3
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 56.5%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 27.8%
Home value to income: 4.6× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

68%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

0.1%

Worked from home

20%

Other

0.7%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

11%

10–19

26%

20–29

25%

30–44

21%

45–59

60+

Average commute

28.5 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

3.3%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

63.1%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

16%

Healthcare

10%

Education

Office and admin

Sales

Business and finance

Transportation and moving

Legal and social services

Construction and repair

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Cleaning and personal care

Food service

Arts, media and sports

Police and fire

Production

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.1%

Industries

Professional and technical services

17%

Education

15%

Health care and social assistance

14%

Retail

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Finance, insurance and real estate

Public administration

Construction

Manufacturing

Restaurants and hotels

Other services

Admin, support and management

Wholesale

Arts and recreation

Information

Agriculture and mining

Median earnings per worker

$64,400

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

9.2%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

16.7%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

13.2%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	21286	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$86,175	$74,888
Service	$28,892	$26,804
Sales and office	$53,157	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$62,009	$49,199
Production and transportation	$32,526	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

12%

Some college

18%

Associate's

Bachelor's

30%

Graduate

29%

High school graduate or higher: 95.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 58.8%
Graduate or professional degree: 28.9%
Households with broadband: 89.1%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 77.5%
No internet access: 5.3%
Without health insurance: 2.7%
Limited-English households: 3%

Geography

City (USPS): Towson
State: Maryland
County: Baltimore County
Center point: 39.4118° N, 76.5732° W
Land area: 8.6 sq mi
Water area: 0.4 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Hampton (unincorporated)62% of zip
Towson (unincorporated)35% of zip
Parkville (unincorporated)3% of zip

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

Zip codes near 21286

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
21284	Towson, MD · PO box	1.7 mi	—	—	—
21094	Lutherville Timonium, MD · PO box	2.1 mi	—	—	—
21252	Towson, MD	2.4 mi	4,865	—	—
21234	Parkville, MD	2.6 mi	66,334	$83,517	$288,100
21204	Towson, MD	2.8 mi	19,845	$99,606	$594,800
21285	Towson, MD	2.9 mi	3	—	—
21239	Baltimore, MD	3.3 mi	27,346	$62,650	$207,400
21212	Baltimore, MD	3.8 mi	33,974	$96,685	$373,700
21139	Riderwood, MD · PO box	4 mi	—	—	—
21057	Glen Arm, MD	4.1 mi	4,386	$145,924	$623,200
21093	Lutherville Timonium, MD	4.1 mi	39,100	$125,528	$477,700
21214	Baltimore, MD	4.2 mi	21,092	$86,366	$259,500

Zip codes like 21286 elsewhere

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

Questions about 21286

What city is zip code 21286?

21286 is assigned to Towson, Maryland. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 21286 in?

21286 is in Baltimore County, Maryland.

What is the population of 21286?

About 21,853 people live in 21286, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 21286 in?

21286 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 21286?

The median household income in 21286 is $93,808.

What zip codes are near 21286?

The closest zip codes to 21286 are 21284, 21094, 21252, 21234, 21204.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 21286, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.