21545 is a Republican stronghold. About 22% of voters here vote Democratic and 78% Republican.
About 72% of adults in 21545 typically vote, above the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in 21545, ~16% vote Democratic, ~56% Republican, and ~28% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How 21545 compares
Among zip codes within 15 miles, 21545 leans more Republican than 5 of 19 neighbors.
21545 runs about 84 points more Republican than Maryland as a whole. Maryland leans Democratic overall, while 21545 is one of the few Republican-leaning pockets.
Politics vary noticeably by block within 21545. The northeast side is the most Republican-leaning (R+61) and the southwest side is the least Republican-leaning (R+50), a spread of about 10 points.
Why 21545 leans the way it does
This analysis examined 14,881 data points per zip code to find what predicts political lean and turnout. The items below are a few correlations that stood out for 21545, not a ranked or complete list of what matters most.
21545 votes against the grain of Maryland. Maryland leans Democratic overall, while 21545 runs about 84 points more Republican.
Park access and Republican lean
Places with low park coverage tend to lean Republican; 21545, MD sits in the bottom quarter nationally on this measure. Park access does not change how people vote; it tends to track denser, higher-income areas.
Why turnout in 21545 looks the way it does
Areas with high high-school completion turn out at higher rates. About 96% of adults in 21545 have completed high school, about 6 points above the U.S. average of 90%. Learn more about the findings and methodology on the political spectrum map.
Nearby Zip Codes
Zip Codes with Similar Populations
Sources and methodology
Precinct-level voting records used to fit the model come from Maryland State Board of Elections, distributed by the Voting and Election Science Team. Demographic inputs come from the U.S. Census Bureau (ACS 5-year estimates and the 2020 Decennial Census). Health and environmental inputs come from the CDC (PLACES and the Environmental Justice Index). Land cover comes from the USGS and EPA. Election-day and lead-up weather come from PRISM 4km daily grids and the NOAA Global Historical Climatology Network. Mail-voting and election-administration patterns come from the MIT Election Lab's Survey of the Performance of American Elections. Block-group crime detail comes from CrimeGrade. Internet data and modeling support provided by ISPreports.org.
Modeling and analysis by the BestNeighborhood data science team. Full methodology and findings: political spectrum map.
Methodology reviewed by the BestNeighborhood data team. Last updated May 2026.