Zip code 21655: Preston, Maryland

Q: What city is zip code 21655?

21655 is assigned to Preston, Maryland. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 21655 in?

21655 is in Caroline County, Maryland.

Q: What is the population of 21655?

About 5,053 people live in 21655, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 21655?

The median household income in 21655 is $90,385.

Q: What zip codes are near 21655?

The closest zip codes to 21655 are 21609, 21643, 21632, 21625, 21629.

Residential delivery areaCaroline CountyEastern Time

Population

5,053

Median household income

$90K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$289K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,380/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

42.2

U.S. 38.9

Land area

53 sq mi

96 people/sq mi

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

About 21655

21655 is a small-town zip code in Preston, Maryland (Caroline County), covering 53 sq mi of land. About 5,053 people live here, or 96 per square mile. The median resident is 42.2 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $90,385 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 4.3% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $289,200, or 3.2 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 84% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,380 a month.

24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 29.2 minutes each way, and 6% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in office and administrative support; construction and repair; and healthcare.

How 21655 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Homeownership rate84%
87th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · MD 67.6%194th of 441 in MD
Government workers19.8%
84th
U.S. 14.5% · MD 22.5%264th of 444 in MD
Rent-burdened renters58.7%
79th
U.S. 51.1% · MD 51.5%108th of 404 in MD
Median age42.2
73rd
U.S. 38.9 · MD 39.4211th of 446 in MD
Veterans7.4%
71st
U.S. 6.2% · MD 6.8%204th of 446 in MD
Average commute29.2 min
70th
U.S. 26.4 min · MD 31.1 min275th of 421 in MD
Residents 65 and older18.7%
65th
U.S. 17.2% · MD 16.7%197th of 446 in MD
Median household income$90,385
62nd
U.S. $80,734 · MD $103,678255th of 414 in MD
Per capita income$42,506
57th
U.S. $44,673 · MD $52,979299th of 446 in MD
Self-employed workers9.6%
54th
U.S. 10% · MD 8.7%186th of 444 in MD
Median earnings per worker$49,243
53rd
U.S. $49,666 · MD $61,200334th of 443 in MD
Healthcare workers9.6%
52nd
U.S. 9.7% · MD 9%153rd of 444 in MD
Broadband access92.1%
50th
U.S. 91% · MD 92.4%254th of 441 in MD
Median gross rent$1,380
49th
U.S. $1,413 · MD $1,705228th of 338 in MD
Housing vacancy6.4%
48th
U.S. 10.1% · MD 7.7%189th of 441 in MD
Residents under 1821.6%
45th
U.S. 22% · MD 22.2%228th of 446 in MD
Median home value$289,200
42nd
U.S. $332,700 · MD $419,900333rd of 421 in MD
Income inequality (Gini)0.419
36th
U.S. 0.483 · MD 0.456174th of 438 in MD
Bachelor's degree or higher24%
31st
U.S. 35.7% · MD 43.4%338th of 445 in MD
Diversity index33.7
28th
U.S. 61.4 · MD 67.7279th of 446 in MD
Tech workers1.5%
23rd
U.S. 3.8% · MD 6.4%341st of 444 in MD
Unemployment rate3.1%
18th
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · MD 4.9%281st of 444 in MD
Population density96/sq mi
13th
U.S. 95/sq mi · MD 639/sq mi356th of 446 in MD
Uninsured rate2.9%
12th
StrengthU.S. 8.4% · MD 6.3%271st of 444 in MD
Foreign-born residents1.7%
10th
U.S. 14.1% · MD 16.6%366th of 446 in MD
Work from home5.5%
9th
U.S. 15.1% · MD 19.3%392nd of 444 in MD
Population5,053
8th
U.S. 334,922,499 · MD 6,206,011239th of 446 in MD
Poverty rate4.3%
8th
StrengthU.S. 12.5% · MD 9.4%301st of 441 in MD

Measure	21655	Caroline	MD	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in MD
Homeownership rateStrength	84%	71.9%	67.6%	65.2%	87th	194th of 441
Government workers	19.8%	17.2%	22.5%	14.5%	84th	264th of 444
Rent-burdened renters	58.7%	55.8%	51.5%	51.1%	79th	108th of 404
Median age	42.2	39.9	39.4	38.9	73rd	211th of 446
Veterans	7.4%	6.2%	6.8%	6.2%	71st	204th of 446
Average commute	29.2 min	33.4 min	31.1 min	26.4 min	70th	275th of 421
Residents 65 and older	18.7%	17.3%	16.7%	17.2%	65th	197th of 446
Median household income	$90,385	$68,457	$103,678	$80,734	62nd	255th of 414
Per capita income	$42,506	$34,341	$52,979	$44,673	57th	299th of 446
Self-employed workers	9.6%	9.5%	8.7%	10%	54th	186th of 444
Median earnings per worker	$49,243	$46,014	$61,200	$49,666	53rd	334th of 443
Healthcare workers	9.6%	10%	9%	9.7%	52nd	153rd of 444
Broadband access	92.1%	88.3%	92.4%	91%	50th	254th of 441
Median gross rent	$1,380	$1,105	$1,705	$1,413	49th	228th of 338
Housing vacancy	6.4%	7.7%	7.7%	10.1%	48th	189th of 441
Residents under 18	21.6%	23.9%	22.2%	22%	45th	228th of 446
Median home value	$289,200	$290,100	$419,900	$332,700	42nd	333rd of 421
Income inequality (Gini)	0.419	0.425	0.456	0.483	36th	174th of 438
Bachelor's degree or higher	24%	16.2%	43.4%	35.7%	31st	338th of 445
Diversity index	33.7	44.8	67.7	61.4	28th	279th of 446
Tech workers	1.5%	1.5%	6.4%	3.8%	23rd	341st of 444
Unemployment rateStrength	3.1%	5.7%	4.9%	5.2%	18th	281st of 444
Population density	96/sq mi	105/sq mi	639/sq mi	95/sq mi	13th	356th of 446
Uninsured rateStrength	2.9%	7.3%	6.3%	8.4%	12th	271st of 444
Foreign-born residents	1.7%	6.1%	16.6%	14.1%	10th	366th of 446
Work from home	5.5%	6.9%	19.3%	15.1%	9th	392nd of 444
Population	5,053	33,669	6,206,011	334,922,499	8th	239th of 446
Poverty rateStrength	4.3%	12.2%	9.4%	12.5%	8th	301st 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

17%

5–17

18–24

10%

25–34

15%

35–44

11%

45–54

14%

55–64

11%

65–74

75+

Median age

42.2

Under 18

21.6%

65 and over

18.7%

Race and ethnicity

White81%
Black10%
Hispanic2%
Asian0%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other2%
Multiracial5%

Diversity index

33.7

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

1.7%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

72.1%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

98%

Spanish

0.9%

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

0.3%

Other

Households

Households: 1,862
Average household size: 2.7
Family households: 75.1%
Married couples: 56.9%
Living alone: 19.9%
Veterans (of adults): 7.4%
Male / female: 50% / 50%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

$25–50k

18%

$50–75k

17%

$75–100k

15%

$100–150k

23%

$150–200k

12%

$200k+

Median household income

21655

$90,385

Caroline Co.

$68,457

Maryland

$103,678

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$42,506

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

4.3%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

19.4%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.419

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

21655

$289,200

Caroline Co.

$290,100

Maryland

$419,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

21655

$1,380

Caroline Co.

$1,105

Maryland

$1,705

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

93%

2–4 units

5–19 units

0.6%

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 1,989
Owner-occupied: 84%
Vacant: 6.4%
Median year built: 1979
Median rooms: 6.5
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 58.7%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 23.5%
Home value to income: 3.2× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

86%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

23%

20–29

28%

30–44

23%

45–59

60+

11%

Average commute

29.2 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

3.1%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

69.2%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Office and admin

16%

Construction and repair

14%

Healthcare

10%

Management

Transportation and moving

Sales

Cleaning and personal care

Education

Police and fire

Business and finance

Production

Food service

Legal and social services

Engineering and science

Arts, media and sports

Computer and math

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Health care and social assistance

15%

Construction

12%

Retail

11%

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Public administration

Other services

Education

Manufacturing

Professional and technical services

Restaurants and hotels

Agriculture and mining

Wholesale

Finance, insurance and real estate

Admin, support and management

Information

Arts and recreation

0.9%

Median earnings per worker

$49,243

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

9.6%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

19.8%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

8.5%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	21655	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$71,348	$74,888
Service	$30,889	$26,804
Sales and office	$49,177	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$48,142	$49,199
Production and transportation	$47,969	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

10%

High school

35%

Some college

18%

Associate's

12%

Bachelor's

13%

Graduate

11%

High school graduate or higher: 89.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 24%
Graduate or professional degree: 10.6%
Households with broadband: 92.1%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 57.9%
No internet access: 5.6%
Without health insurance: 2.9%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Preston
State: Maryland
County: Caroline County
Center point: 38.7450° N, 75.9128° W
Land area: 53 sq mi
Water area: 3.3 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Preston1% of zip

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

Zip codes near 21655

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
21609	Bethlehem, MD · PO box	2.5 mi	—	—	—
21643	Hurlock, MD	7.2 mi	5,392	$67,219	$230,000
21632	Federalsburg, MD	7.6 mi	6,436	$61,316	$216,000
21625	Cordova, MD	9 mi	1,766	$83,250	$372,200
21629	Denton, MD	9.2 mi	10,252	$73,956	$334,200
21664	Secretary, MD	9.7 mi	635	$82,721	$172,000
21601	Easton, MD	10 mi	24,671	$83,680	$376,400
21673	Trappe, MD	10 mi	2,843	$68,194	$363,100
21631	East New Market, MD	11 mi	2,429	$73,864	$306,700
21641	Hillsboro, MD	12 mi	127	$66,875	$254,200
21654	Oxford, MD	12 mi	1,179	$82,772	$840,000
21659	Rhodesdale, MD	13 mi	1,601	$73,750	$259,900

Zip codes like 21655 elsewhere

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

Questions about 21655

What city is zip code 21655?

21655 is assigned to Preston, Maryland. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 21655 in?

21655 is in Caroline County, Maryland.

What is the population of 21655?

About 5,053 people live in 21655, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 21655 in?

21655 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 21655?

The median household income in 21655 is $90,385.

What zip codes are near 21655?

The closest zip codes to 21655 are 21609, 21643, 21632, 21625, 21629.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 21655, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.