Zip code 21842: Ocean City, Maryland

Q: What city is zip code 21842?

21842 is assigned to Ocean City, Maryland. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 21842 in?

21842 is in Worcester County, Maryland.

Q: What is the population of 21842?

About 11,226 people live in 21842, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 21842?

The median household income in 21842 is $79,876.

Q: What zip codes are near 21842?

The closest zip codes to 21842 are 21843, 21813, 21862, 21811, 19944.

Residential delivery areaWorcester CountyEastern Time

Population

11,226

Median household income

$80K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$448K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,394/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

53.4

U.S. 38.9

Land area

9.1 sq mi

1,240 people/sq mi

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

About 21842

21842 is a suburban zip code in Ocean City, Maryland (Worcester County), covering 9.1 sq mi of land. About 11,226 people live here, or 1,240 per square mile. The median resident is 53.4 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $79,876 a year, close to the national median of $80,734. 9.4% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $447,700, or 5.6 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively expensive for local earners. 76% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,394 a month.

41% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 19.6 minutes each way, and 13% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management, food service and sales. 17% of them are self-employed (U.S.: 10%).

How 21842 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Housing vacancy82.4%
99th
U.S. 10.1% · MD 7.7%1st of 441 in MD
Median age53.4
97th
U.S. 38.9 · MD 39.453rd of 446 in MD
Income inequality (Gini)0.551
97th
WeaknessU.S. 0.483 · MD 0.45610th of 438 in MD
Residents 65 and older27.4%
95th
U.S. 17.2% · MD 16.7%65th of 446 in MD
Per capita income$75,528
94th
StrengthU.S. $44,673 · MD $52,97948th of 446 in MD
Self-employed workers16.5%
94th
U.S. 10% · MD 8.7%62nd of 444 in MD
Unemployment rate7.6%
84th
WeaknessU.S. 5.2% · MD 4.9%61st of 444 in MD
Veterans8.9%
84th
U.S. 6.2% · MD 6.8%136th of 446 in MD
Rent-burdened renters59%
80th
WeaknessU.S. 51.1% · MD 51.5%103rd of 404 in MD
Broadband access95.2%
78th
U.S. 91% · MD 92.4%161st of 441 in MD
Median home value$447,700
69th
U.S. $332,700 · MD $419,900187th of 421 in MD
Homeownership rate76%
69th
U.S. 65.2% · MD 67.6%268th of 441 in MD
Bachelor's degree or higher40.7%
67th
U.S. 35.7% · MD 43.4%196th of 445 in MD
Government workers15.9%
65th
U.S. 14.5% · MD 22.5%352nd of 444 in MD
Median earnings per worker$50,147
56th
U.S. $49,666 · MD $61,200325th of 443 in MD
Work from home13%
51st
U.S. 15.1% · MD 19.3%294th of 444 in MD
Median household income$79,876
50th
U.S. $80,734 · MD $103,678321st of 414 in MD
Median gross rent$1,394
50th
U.S. $1,413 · MD $1,705225th of 338 in MD
Uninsured rate6.8%
50th
U.S. 8.4% · MD 6.3%97th of 444 in MD
Population density1,240/sq mi
48th
U.S. 95/sq mi · MD 639/sq mi150th of 446 in MD
Foreign-born residents9%
47th
U.S. 14.1% · MD 16.6%167th of 446 in MD
Poverty rate9.4%
41st
U.S. 12.5% · MD 9.4%149th of 441 in MD
Tech workers2.4%
41st
U.S. 3.8% · MD 6.4%317th of 444 in MD
Healthcare workers7.7%
23rd
U.S. 9.7% · MD 9%247th of 444 in MD
Diversity index25.5
18th
U.S. 61.4 · MD 67.7329th of 446 in MD
Population11,226
17th
U.S. 334,922,499 · MD 6,206,011172nd of 446 in MD
Average commute19.6 min
11th
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · MD 31.1 min401st of 421 in MD
Residents under 1813%
5th
U.S. 22% · MD 22.2%394th of 446 in MD

Measure	21842	Worcester	MD	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in MD
Housing vacancy	82.4%	57.6%	7.7%	10.1%	99th	1st of 441
Median age	53.4	50.7	39.4	38.9	97th	53rd of 446
Income inequality (Gini)Weakness	0.551	0.486	0.456	0.483	97th	10th of 438
Residents 65 and older	27.4%	28.6%	16.7%	17.2%	95th	65th of 446
Per capita incomeStrength	$75,528	$53,274	$52,979	$44,673	94th	48th of 446
Self-employed workers	16.5%	13.2%	8.7%	10%	94th	62nd of 444
Unemployment rateWeakness	7.6%	6.7%	4.9%	5.2%	84th	61st of 444
Veterans	8.9%	8.4%	6.8%	6.2%	84th	136th of 446
Rent-burdened rentersWeakness	59%	55.3%	51.5%	51.1%	80th	103rd of 404
Broadband access	95.2%	91.2%	92.4%	91%	78th	161st of 441
Median home value	$447,700	$374,700	$419,900	$332,700	69th	187th of 421
Homeownership rate	76%	78%	67.6%	65.2%	69th	268th of 441
Bachelor's degree or higher	40.7%	35.3%	43.4%	35.7%	67th	196th of 445
Government workers	15.9%	20.2%	22.5%	14.5%	65th	352nd of 444
Median earnings per worker	$50,147	$50,541	$61,200	$49,666	56th	325th of 443
Work from home	13%	12.3%	19.3%	15.1%	51st	294th of 444
Median household income	$79,876	$81,745	$103,678	$80,734	50th	321st of 414
Median gross rent	$1,394	$1,159	$1,705	$1,413	50th	225th of 338
Uninsured rate	6.8%	5%	6.3%	8.4%	50th	97th of 444
Population density	1,240/sq mi	115/sq mi	639/sq mi	95/sq mi	48th	150th of 446
Foreign-born residents	9%	4.7%	16.6%	14.1%	47th	167th of 446
Poverty rate	9.4%	9.9%	9.4%	12.5%	41st	149th of 441
Tech workers	2.4%	2.3%	6.4%	3.8%	41st	317th of 444
Healthcare workers	7.7%	9.6%	9%	9.7%	23rd	247th of 444
Diversity index	25.5	37.6	67.7	61.4	18th	329th of 446
Population	11,226	53,700	6,206,011	334,922,499	17th	172nd of 446
Average commuteStrength	19.6 min	23.3 min	31.1 min	26.4 min	11th	401st of 421
Residents under 18	13%	17.1%	22.2%	22%	5th	394th of 446

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

5–17

18–24

11%

25–34

35–44

11%

45–54

21%

55–64

17%

65–74

11%

75+

Median age

53.4

Under 18

13%

65 and over

27.4%

Race and ethnicity

White86%
Black2%
Hispanic8%
Asian1%
Native American0.1%
Pacific Islander0.3%
Other1%
Multiracial1%

Diversity index

25.5

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

54.9%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

85%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

0.7%

Households

Households: 5,751
Average household size: 1.9
Family households: 52.4%
Married couples: 41.8%
Living alone: 39.5%
Veterans (of adults): 8.9%
Male / female: 49% / 51%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

10%

$25–50k

15%

$50–75k

19%

$75–100k

14%

$100–150k

16%

$150–200k

$200k+

17%

Median household income

21842

$79,876

Worcester Co.

$81,745

Maryland

$103,678

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$75,528

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

9.4%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

25.2%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.551

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

21842

$447,700

Worcester Co.

$374,700

Maryland

$419,900

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

21842

$1,394

Worcester Co.

$1,159

Maryland

$1,705

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

28%

2–4 units

5–19 units

21%

20+ units

42%

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 32,621
Owner-occupied: 76%
Vacant: 82.4%
Median year built: 1983
Median rooms: 3.8
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 59%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 26.1%
Home value to income: 5.6× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

74%

Carpooled

Transit

0.7%

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

13%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

27%

10–19

36%

20–29

16%

30–44

10%

45–59

60+

Average commute

19.6 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

7.6%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

64.4%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

18%

Food service

12%

Sales

11%

Office and admin

Business and finance

Healthcare

Construction and repair

Cleaning and personal care

Transportation and moving

Education

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

Production

Computer and math

Police and fire

Engineering and science

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.9%

Industries

Restaurants and hotels

21%

Professional and technical services

12%

Finance, insurance and real estate

Health care and social assistance

Public administration

Education

Retail

Construction

Arts and recreation

Admin, support and management

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Manufacturing

Other services

Information

Agriculture and mining

Wholesale

0.7%

Median earnings per worker

$50,147

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

16.5%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

15.9%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

4.7%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	21842	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$71,940	$74,888
Service	$29,816	$26,804
Sales and office	$31,966	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$58,929	$49,199
Production and transportation	$44,219	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

28%

Some college

19%

Associate's

Bachelor's

25%

Graduate

16%

High school graduate or higher: 94.8%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 40.7%
Graduate or professional degree: 16.1%
Households with broadband: 95.2%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 83%
No internet access: 3.6%
Without health insurance: 6.8%
Limited-English households: 0.3%

Geography

City (USPS): Ocean City
State: Maryland
County: Worcester County
Center point: 38.3631° N, 75.0850° W
Land area: 9.1 sq mi
Water area: 12 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Ocean City50% of zip
West Ocean City (unincorporated)39% of zip

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

Zip codes near 21842

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
21843	Ocean City, MD · PO box	1.8 mi	—	—	—
21813	Bishopville, MD	6.6 mi	2,999	$121,472	$628,000
21862	Showell, MD	7.3 mi	30	—	—
21811	Berlin, MD	8 mi	24,377	$90,082	$388,900
19944	Fenwick Island, DE	8.1 mi	636	$121,250	$1,189,300
19975	Selbyville, DE	8.7 mi	10,862	$88,568	$462,700
19945	Frankford, DE	12 mi	9,640	$87,638	$443,100
21872	Whaleyville, MD	12 mi	661	$117,888	$433,300
19967	Millville, DE	12 mi	2,376	$98,301	$483,100
19930	Bethany Beach, DE	13 mi	3,014	$125,491	$887,400
19970	Ocean View, DE	13 mi	8,524	$94,103	$526,600
21841	Newark, MD	14 mi	793	—	$343,000

Zip codes like 21842 elsewhere

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

Questions about 21842

What city is zip code 21842?

21842 is assigned to Ocean City, Maryland. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 21842 in?

21842 is in Worcester County, Maryland.

What is the population of 21842?

About 11,226 people live in 21842, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 21842 in?

21842 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 21842?

The median household income in 21842 is $79,876.

What zip codes are near 21842?

The closest zip codes to 21842 are 21843, 21813, 21862, 21811, 19944.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 21842, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.