21636 is a Republican stronghold. About 25% of voters here vote Democratic and 75% Republican.
About 73% of adults in 21636 typically vote, above the U.S. average of about 62%. Among adults in 21636, ~18% vote Democratic, ~55% Republican, and ~27% don't vote. The map below shows estimated turnout by block group.
How 21636 compares
Among zip codes within 15 miles, 21636 leans more Republican than 16 of 19 neighbors.
21636 runs about 79 points more Republican than Maryland as a whole. Maryland leans Democratic overall, while 21636 is one of the few Republican-leaning pockets.
Why 21636 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 21636, not a ranked or complete list of what matters most.
Car-dependent areas vote Republican. About 97% of residents in 21636 drive to work alone, about 23 points above the U.S. average of 74%. Low college attainment predicts Republican voting, and 21636 sits in the bottom quarter (about 11%, below 92% of zip codes). 21636 runs against the grain of Maryland, a Republican-leaning pocket in a Democratic-leaning state.
Walkability and Republican lean
Places with a low walkability score tend to lean Republican; 21636, MD sits below the national average on this measure. A walkable street grid does not change how people vote; it mostly reflects how urban a place is.
Why turnout in 21636 looks the way it does
Areas with limited routine healthcare access turn out at lower rates. 21636 is in the bottom quarter nationally for routine-care measures such as insurance coverage, preventive screenings, and dental visits. 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.