Population 40,784 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in ZIP 21502
Household size in ZIP 21502
| Period | ZIP 21502 | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.32 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.34 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.29 | 2.74 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.27 | 2.68 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.06 | +0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in ZIP 21502 are small: just 2.27 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Household size has edged down from 2.32 in 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only 16 of the 240 Maryland ZIP codes with 5,000+ people have smaller households.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in ZIP 21502
| Period | ZIP 21502 | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.3 | 38.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 43.4 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.9 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.8 | 40.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +1.5 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
ZIP 21502 skews older than the country: its median age is 43.8, against 40.1 nationally. The median age has climbed from 42.3 in 2006–10, as it has nationally. Residents skew youngest in the south and oldest in the northeast.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in ZIP 21502
| Period | ZIP 21502 | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 9.7% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 10.9% | 12.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 10.8% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.0% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.3 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head just over one in ten households in ZIP 21502 (11.0%), close to the national share of 11.6%. The single-parent share has edged up 1.3 points since 2006–10, even as the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in ZIP 21502
Renters in ZIP 21502
| Period | ZIP 21502 | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 30.1% | 31.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 30.9% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 34.7% | 33.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 28.4% | 32.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −1.7 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in ZIP 21502 own their homes; 28.4% rent, a little below the national share of 34.8%. Nearly half of owners (46.5%) have paid off their mortgages, above the national share of 39.8%. Rentals cluster in the center; owners are most common in the southwest. The renter share has fallen 1.7 points since 2006–10, even as the national share rose.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in ZIP 21502
| Period | ZIP 21502 | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.1% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 12.6% | 8.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.9% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 15.7% | 7.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | +2.6 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in ZIP 21502: 15.7% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Vacancy has risen 2.6 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in ZIP 21502
| Period | ZIP 21502 | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1953 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1954 | 1975 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1954 | 1976 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1957 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in ZIP 21502 is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1957, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates. The median year built has moved up from 1953 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southeast, the oldest in the center. Only 18 of the 240 Maryland ZIP codes with 5,000+ people have older homes.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in ZIP 21502
| Period | ZIP 21502 | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $605 | $1,249 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $672 | $1,363 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $734 | $1,576 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $804 | $1,869 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$200 | +$620 | +$606 |
Rent in ZIP 21502 runs $804 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $200 a month since 2006–10, up 33%, a slower climb than the nation's. The typical renter here spends 25.7% of household income on rent, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. ZIP 21502 has the lowest rents of any Maryland ZIP code with 5,000+ people.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in ZIP 21502
Bachelor's degrees in ZIP 21502
| Period | ZIP 21502 | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 15.3% | 36.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 17.2% | 37.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.8% | 40.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 19.7% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +4.4 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in ZIP 21502: 19.7% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 4.4 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only 12 of the 240 Maryland ZIP codes with 5,000+ people have a lower share of college graduates.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in ZIP 21502
| Period | ZIP 21502 | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 85.5% | 88.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 86.8% | 89.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 90.4% | 90.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 89.6% | 90.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +4.1 pts | +2.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in ZIP 21502 is close to the national rate: 89.6% of adults have a diploma or equivalent, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 4.1 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in ZIP 21502
| Period | ZIP 21502 | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.0% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.2% | 8.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 6.5% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −3.3 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been a little easier to find in ZIP 21502 than nationally: unemployment was 4.6%, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has fallen 3.3 points, in line with the national trend. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
ZIP 21502 compared with nearby ZIP codes
| ZIP code | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 21502 | 2.27 | 43.8 | 11.0% | 28.4% | 15.7% | 1957 | $804 | 19.7% | 89.6% | 4.6% |
| ZIP 26767 | 2.42 | 48.8 | 7.1% | 3.2% | 27.6% | 1974 | $747 | 25.3% | 97.1% | 0.0% |
| ZIP 26753 | 2.36 | 44.3 | 11.4% | 18.1% | 8.7% | 1988 | $1,002 | 31.9% | 96.9% | 8.4% |
| ZIP 21524 | 2.29 | 46.1 | 12.8% | 24.2% | 4.9% | 1969 | $993 | 15.0% | 90.1% | 2.8% |
| ZIP 21529 | 2.29 | 46.1 | 12.8% | 24.2% | 4.9% | 1969 | $993 | 15.0% | 90.1% | 2.8% |
| ZIP 21545 | 2.39 | 42.7 | 6.5% | 20.4% | 11.6% | 1950 | $854 | 17.3% | 95.5% | 7.7% |
| ZIP 15564 | 2.75 | 42.1 | 7.4% | 13.7% | 17.1% | 1963 | $908 | 17.6% | 88.7% | 5.7% |
| ZIP 21532 | 2.21 | 37.9 | 11.8% | 37.0% | 13.7% | 1961 | $893 | 31.0% | 91.7% | 6.3% |
| ZIP 26719 | 2.25 | 48.4 | 8.9% | 14.2% | 11.4% | 1979 | $841 | 20.7% | 91.9% | 4.1% |
| ZIP 21542 | 2.96 | 37.0 | 14.3% | 25.1% | 3.8% | 1964 | $693 | 16.4% | 95.7% | 1.5% |
| ZIP 21543 | 1.99 | 49.5 | 4.6% | 5.7% | 12.3% | 1965 | $844 | 34.3% | 95.0% | 12.8% |
All figures 2020–24.
Zip codes with similar populations: 90806, CA · 93454, CA · 10573, NY · 92802, CA · 92591, CA · 11222, NY · 11357, NY · 92307, CA · 91733, CA · 91016, CA
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up ZIP 21502. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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