Population 285 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in ZIP 21542
Household size in ZIP 21542
| Period | ZIP 21542 | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.13 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.35 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.73 | 2.74 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.96 | 2.68 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.83 | +0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in ZIP 21542 are large by national standards, averaging 2.96 people against 2.65 for the U.S. That usually means more families with children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.13, but in a place this small, survey estimates can swing a lot from one release to the next.
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 21542
| Period | ZIP 21542 | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 48.2 | 38.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 50.4 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 36.3 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 37.0 | 40.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | −11.2 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
ZIP 21542 is younger than the country as a whole: its median age is 37.0, against 40.1 nationally.
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 21542
| Period | ZIP 21542 | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.3% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 2.2% | 12.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 14.0% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 14.3% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +11.0 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are more common in ZIP 21542 than nationally: 14.3%, against 11.6%.
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 21542
Renters in ZIP 21542
| Period | ZIP 21542 | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 28.1% | 31.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 22.4% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 25.0% | 33.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 25.1% | 32.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | −3.0 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in ZIP 21542 own their homes; 25.1% rent, below the national share of 34.8%. Among homeowners, 41.0% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally.
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 21542
| Period | ZIP 21542 | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.5% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 2.3% | 8.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 2.9% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 3.8% | 7.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −7.7 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 3.8% of homes in ZIP 21542 are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing.
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 21542
| Period | ZIP 21542 | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1961 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1941 | 1975 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1965 | 1976 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1964 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | +3 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in ZIP 21542 is old by national standards: the median home dates to 1964, against 1980 for the U.S., so buyers will find more older houses, some of them due for updates.
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 21542
| Period | ZIP 21542 | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $560 | $1,249 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $500 | $1,363 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $831 | $1,576 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $693 | $1,869 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$133 | +$620 | +$606 |
Rent in ZIP 21542 runs $693 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent takes 33.8% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 21542
Bachelor's degrees in ZIP 21542
| Period | ZIP 21542 | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 11.4% | 36.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 9.6% | 37.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 15.8% | 40.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 16.4% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +5.0 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
College degrees are relatively uncommon in ZIP 21542: 16.4% of adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's or higher, well below the national share of 35.6%.
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 21542
| Period | ZIP 21542 | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 87.8% | 88.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 95.8% | 89.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 94.4% | 90.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.7% | 90.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +7.9 pts | +2.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in ZIP 21542: 95.7% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%.
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 21542
| Period | ZIP 21542 | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.9% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 13.6% | 8.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 8.8% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 1.5% | 5.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | −7.4 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in ZIP 21542 has been low: just 1.5% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. 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 21542 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 21542 | 2.96 | 37.0 | 14.3% | 25.1% | 3.8% | 1964 | $693 | 16.4% | 95.7% | 1.5% |
| ZIP 21539 | 2.22 | 50.3 | 6.7% | 31.1% | 20.0% | 1957 | $903 | 19.5% | 89.0% | 5.5% |
| ZIP 21543 | 1.99 | 49.5 | 4.6% | 5.7% | 12.3% | 1965 | $844 | 34.3% | 95.0% | 12.8% |
| ZIP 21532 | 2.21 | 37.9 | 11.8% | 37.0% | 13.7% | 1961 | $893 | 31.0% | 91.7% | 6.3% |
| ZIP 21521 | 2.66 | 41.2 | 12.9% | 18.9% | 14.5% | 1951 | $854 | 7.6% | 94.0% | 6.5% |
| ZIP 21557 | 2.21 | 45.3 | 14.1% | 23.9% | 14.5% | 1964 | $706 | 16.9% | 85.9% | 0.0% |
| ZIP 26753 | 2.36 | 44.3 | 11.4% | 18.1% | 8.7% | 1988 | $1,002 | 31.9% | 96.9% | 8.4% |
| ZIP 21562 | 2.42 | 43.5 | 17.4% | 25.6% | 19.2% | 1957 | $637 | 14.1% | 90.9% | 1.0% |
| ZIP 21545 | 2.39 | 42.7 | 6.5% | 20.4% | 11.6% | 1950 | $854 | 17.3% | 95.5% | 7.7% |
| ZIP 26750 | 2.63 | 42.1 | 9.6% | 28.8% | 26.1% | 1960 | $493 | 12.1% | 89.4% | 10.3% |
| ZIP 21502 | 2.27 | 43.8 | 11.0% | 28.4% | 15.7% | 1957 | $804 | 19.7% | 89.6% | 4.6% |
All figures 2020–24.
Zip codes with similar populations: 72526, AR · 57335, SD · 58443, ND · 50432, IA · 40350, KY · 34661, FL · 68414, NE · 71233, LA · 75450, TX · 97369, OR
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 21542. 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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