Zip code 21797: Woodbine, Maryland

Q: What city is zip code 21797?

21797 is assigned to Woodbine, Maryland. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 21797 in?

21797 is mostly in Howard County, but it extends into 2 other counties.

Q: What is the population of 21797?

About 8,643 people live in 21797, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 21797?

The median household income in 21797 is $189,241.

Q: What zip codes are near 21797?

The closest zip codes to 21797 are 21765, 21723, 21738, 21794, 21737.

Residential delivery areaHoward CountyEastern Time

Population

8,643

Median household income

$189K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$736K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,535/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

45.3

U.S. 38.9

Land area

44 sq mi

198 people/sq mi

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

About 21797

21797 is a small-town zip code in Woodbine, Maryland (Howard County), covering 44 sq mi of land. About 8,643 people live here, or 198 per square mile. The median resident is 45.3 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $189,241 a year, about 2.3× the national median of $80,734. 2.4% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $735,600, or 3.9 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 92% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,535 a month.

52% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 38.9 minutes each way, and 28% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management; office and administrative support; and healthcare. 18% of them are self-employed (U.S.: 10%).

How 21797 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Median household income$189,241
99th
StrengthU.S. $80,734 · MD $103,67832nd of 414 in MD
Homeownership rate91.7%
97th
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · MD 67.6%95th of 441 in MD
Average commute38.9 min
96th
WeaknessU.S. 26.4 min · MD 31.1 min63rd of 421 in MD
Self-employed workers18.2%
96th
U.S. 10% · MD 8.7%44th of 444 in MD
Median earnings per worker$87,605
95th
StrengthU.S. $49,666 · MD $61,20060th of 443 in MD
Per capita income$70,998
92nd
StrengthU.S. $44,673 · MD $52,97959th of 446 in MD
Work from home27.9%
92nd
U.S. 15.1% · MD 19.3%57th of 444 in MD
Median home value$735,600
89th
U.S. $332,700 · MD $419,90034th of 421 in MD
Median age45.3
87th
U.S. 38.9 · MD 39.4137th of 446 in MD
Government workers21.1%
87th
U.S. 14.5% · MD 22.5%227th of 444 in MD
Tech workers5.5%
83rd
U.S. 3.8% · MD 6.4%189th of 444 in MD
Bachelor's degree or higher51.5%
81st
StrengthU.S. 35.7% · MD 43.4%111th of 445 in MD
Rent-burdened renters59.5%
81st
WeaknessU.S. 51.1% · MD 51.5%93rd of 404 in MD
Broadband access94.6%
72nd
U.S. 91% · MD 92.4%186th of 441 in MD
Veterans7.2%
69th
U.S. 6.2% · MD 6.8%217th of 446 in MD
Healthcare workers10.3%
62nd
U.S. 9.7% · MD 9%131st of 444 in MD
Median gross rent$1,535
58th
U.S. $1,413 · MD $1,705194th of 338 in MD
Residents under 1822.1%
50th
U.S. 22% · MD 22.2%202nd of 446 in MD
Residents 65 and older16%
46th
U.S. 17.2% · MD 16.7%288th of 446 in MD
Foreign-born residents7.6%
41st
U.S. 14.1% · MD 16.6%201st of 446 in MD
Unemployment rate4.2%
37th
U.S. 5.2% · MD 4.9%197th of 444 in MD
Diversity index34.2
29th
U.S. 61.4 · MD 67.7275th of 446 in MD
Population density198/sq mi
21st
U.S. 95/sq mi · MD 639/sq mi296th of 446 in MD
Population8,643
13th
U.S. 334,922,499 · MD 6,206,011194th of 446 in MD
Income inequality (Gini)0.367
5th
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · MD 0.456325th of 438 in MD
Housing vacancy1.9%
3rd
U.S. 10.1% · MD 7.7%366th of 441 in MD
Uninsured rate1.4%
2nd
StrengthU.S. 8.4% · MD 6.3%361st of 444 in MD
Poverty rate2.4%
1st
StrengthU.S. 12.5% · MD 9.4%372nd of 441 in MD

Measure	21797	Howard	MD	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in MD
Median household incomeStrength	$189,241	$149,763	$103,678	$80,734	99th	32nd of 414
Homeownership rateStrength	91.7%	71.5%	67.6%	65.2%	97th	95th of 441
Average commuteWeakness	38.9 min	28.5 min	31.1 min	26.4 min	96th	63rd of 421
Self-employed workers	18.2%	9.2%	8.7%	10%	96th	44th of 444
Median earnings per workerStrength	$87,605	$83,801	$61,200	$49,666	95th	60th of 443
Per capita incomeStrength	$70,998	$67,501	$52,979	$44,673	92nd	59th of 446
Work from home	27.9%	26%	19.3%	15.1%	92nd	57th of 444
Median home value	$735,600	$597,900	$419,900	$332,700	89th	34th of 421
Median age	45.3	39.8	39.4	38.9	87th	137th of 446
Government workers	21.1%	22.9%	22.5%	14.5%	87th	227th of 444
Tech workers	5.5%	11.9%	6.4%	3.8%	83rd	189th of 444
Bachelor's degree or higherStrength	51.5%	64.5%	43.4%	35.7%	81st	111th of 445
Rent-burdened rentersWeakness	59.5%	47.7%	51.5%	51.1%	81st	93rd of 404
Broadband access	94.6%	96.6%	92.4%	91%	72nd	186th of 441
Veterans	7.2%	6%	6.8%	6.2%	69th	217th of 446
Healthcare workers	10.3%	9.7%	9%	9.7%	62nd	131st of 444
Median gross rent	$1,535	$2,099	$1,705	$1,413	58th	194th of 338
Residents under 18	22.1%	23.8%	22.2%	22%	50th	202nd of 446
Residents 65 and older	16%	15.2%	16.7%	17.2%	46th	288th of 446
Foreign-born residents	7.6%	22.8%	16.6%	14.1%	41st	201st of 446
Unemployment rate	4.2%	3.5%	4.9%	5.2%	37th	197th of 444
Diversity index	34.2	70.3	67.7	61.4	29th	275th of 446
Population density	198/sq mi	1,340/sq mi	639/sq mi	95/sq mi	21st	296th of 446
Population	8,643	336,328	6,206,011	334,922,499	13th	194th of 446
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.367	0.414	0.456	0.483	5th	325th of 438
Housing vacancy	1.9%	3.4%	7.7%	10.1%	3rd	366th of 441
Uninsured rateStrength	1.4%	4.2%	6.3%	8.4%	2nd	361st of 444
Poverty rateStrength	2.4%	5.2%	9.4%	12.5%	1st	372nd 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

25–34

11%

35–44

16%

45–54

19%

55–64

10%

65–74

75+

Median age

45.3

Under 18

22.1%

65 and over

16%

Race and ethnicity

White81%
Black4%
Hispanic4%
Asian6%
Native American0.5%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.3%
Multiracial5%

Diversity index

34.2

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

7.6%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

64.5%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

87%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 2,849
Average household size: 3
Family households: 86.2%
Married couples: 74.3%
Living alone: 9.4%
Veterans (of adults): 7.2%
Male / female: 52% / 48%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

$25–50k

10%

$50–75k

$75–100k

$100–150k

13%

$150–200k

17%

$200k+

43%

Median household income

21797

$189,241

Howard Co.

$149,763

Maryland

$103,678

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$70,998

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

2.4%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

60.8%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.367

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

21797

$735,600

Howard Co.

$597,900

Maryland

$419,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

21797

$1,535

Howard Co.

$2,099

Maryland

$1,705

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

92%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 2,903
Owner-occupied: 91.7%
Vacant: 1.9%
Median year built: 1985
Median rooms: 8.3
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 59.5%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 27.7%
Home value to income: 3.9× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

65%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

0.2%

Bicycle

Worked from home

28%

Other

0.2%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

20–29

17%

30–44

38%

45–59

18%

60+

14%

Average commute

38.9 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

4.2%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

66.8%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

18%

Office and admin

12%

Healthcare

10%

Construction and repair

Sales

Education

Business and finance

Cleaning and personal care

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Transportation and moving

Production

Farming, fishing and forestry

Legal and social services

Food service

Arts, media and sports

Police and fire

0.4%

Industries

Professional and technical services

15%

Public administration

12%

Health care and social assistance

11%

Education

11%

Construction

10%

Retail

Manufacturing

Finance, insurance and real estate

Agriculture and mining

Other services

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Admin, support and management

Restaurants and hotels

Wholesale

Arts and recreation

Information

Median earnings per worker

$87,605

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

18.2%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

21.1%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

6.1%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	21797	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$118,643	$74,888
Service	$48,317	$26,804
Sales and office	$49,125	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$49,958	$49,199
Production and transportation	$64,800	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

21%

Some college

16%

Associate's

Bachelor's

28%

Graduate

24%

High school graduate or higher: 94.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 51.5%
Graduate or professional degree: 23.9%
Households with broadband: 94.6%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 83.8%
No internet access: 4.4%
Without health insurance: 1.4%
Limited-English households: 0.9%

Geography

City (USPS): Woodbine
State: Maryland
County: Howard County
Center point: 39.3312° N, 77.0686° W
Land area: 44 sq mi
Water area: 0.2 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

21797 spans 3 counties

Howard County67% of land
Carroll County32% of land
Montgomery County1% of land

Cities and towns within this zip

Lisbon (unincorporated)3% of zip
Eldersburg (unincorporated)2% of zip

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

Zip codes near 21797

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
21765	Lisbon, MD · PO box	0.5 mi	—	—	—
21723	Cooksville, MD	3.5 mi	669	$241,250	$1,005,500
21738	Glenwood, MD	4.2 mi	3,696	$250,000+	$914,300
21794	West Friendship, MD	5.9 mi	2,192	$231,466	$999,400
21737	Glenelg, MD	6.1 mi	2,474	$250,000+	$996,400
21771	Mount Airy, MD	6.5 mi	33,031	$157,302	$556,200
21784	Sykesville, MD	7 mi	39,258	$139,395	$491,800
21036	Dayton, MD	7.4 mi	2,569	$218,036	$881,300
20872	Damascus, MD	7.7 mi	13,983	$141,050	$504,300
20833	Brookeville, MD	8.4 mi	7,860	$204,375	$797,100
21104	Marriottsville, MD	8.4 mi	6,052	$191,804	$680,200
20882	Gaithersburg, MD	8.7 mi	13,751	$184,136	$737,400

Zip codes like 21797 elsewhere

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

Questions about 21797

What city is zip code 21797?

21797 is assigned to Woodbine, Maryland. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 21797 in?

21797 is mostly in Howard County, but it extends into 2 other counties.

What is the population of 21797?

About 8,643 people live in 21797, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 21797 in?

21797 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 21797?

The median household income in 21797 is $189,241.

What zip codes are near 21797?

The closest zip codes to 21797 are 21765, 21723, 21738, 21794, 21737.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 21797, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.