Population 9,270 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in ZIP 21797
Household size in ZIP 21797
| Period | ZIP 21797 | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.97 | 2.61 | 2.68 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.92 | 2.65 | 2.73 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.88 | 2.65 | 2.74 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 3.08 | 2.59 | 2.68 | 2.65 |
| Change | +0.12 | −0.02 | +0.01 | −0.03 |
ZIP 21797 is a place of big households: 3.08 people per home on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. Numbers like that usually point to plenty of families with kids. Since 2006–10, household size has climbed from 2.97, even as the national average fell.
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 21797
| Period | ZIP 21797 | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 42.9 | 38.7 | 38.5 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 46.5 | 39.5 | 39.3 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 46.6 | 40.2 | 40.2 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 43.5 | 40.3 | 40.6 | 40.1 |
| Change | +0.6 | +1.6 | +2.1 | +2.3 |
ZIP 21797 skews older than the country: its median age is 43.5, against 40.1 nationally. Since 2006–10, the median age has crept up from 42.9, a smaller shift than nationally. Residents skew youngest in the southwest and oldest in the center.
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 21797
| Period | ZIP 21797 | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.4% | 12.6% | 12.5% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.0% | 12.3% | 12.6% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 4.5% | 11.6% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 9.7% | 11.5% | 11.7% | 11.6% |
| Change | +5.2 pts | −1.1 pts | −0.9 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are a bit less common in ZIP 21797 than nationally: 9.7%, against 11.6%. Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has risen 5.2 points, 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 21797
Renters in ZIP 21797
| Period | ZIP 21797 | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.1% | 32.0% | 31.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.4% | 33.5% | 32.9% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 12.2% | 33.5% | 33.1% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 8.5% | 33.1% | 32.4% | 34.8% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | +1.1 pts | +1.4 pts | +1.5 pts |
ZIP 21797 is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 8.5% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 26.2% have no mortgage at all, well below the national share of 39.8%. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged up 1.4 points, mirroring the country.
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 21797
| Period | ZIP 21797 | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.4% | 9.3% | 9.0% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 6.4% | 9.3% | 8.9% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.1% | 9.4% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 2.5% | 7.2% | 7.1% | 9.6% |
| Change | −1.9 pts | −2.1 pts | −1.9 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 2.5% of homes in ZIP 21797 are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Vacancy is down 1.9 points from 2006–10, as it has nationally. Only 14 of the 240 Maryland ZIP codes with 5,000+ people have a lower vacancy rate.
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 21797
| Period | ZIP 21797 | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1986 | 1971 | 1974 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1987 | 1972 | 1975 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1985 | 1973 | 1976 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1985 | 1975 | 1978 | 1980 |
| Change | −0 | +4 | +4 | +6 |
The housing in ZIP 21797 is a little younger than the country's: half of it was built after 1985, against 1980 nationally.
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 21797
| Period | ZIP 21797 | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,063 | $1,179 | $1,249 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,369 | $1,293 | $1,363 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,214 | $1,477 | $1,576 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,712 | $1,778 | $1,869 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$648 | +$599 | +$620 | +$606 |
The median renter in ZIP 21797 pays $1,712 a month for rent and utilities, above the national median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $648 a month since 2006–10, up 61%, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 35.6% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched. The priciest rents are in the west; the most affordable are in the northeast.
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 21797
Bachelor's degrees in ZIP 21797
| Period | ZIP 21797 | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 41.8% | 35.6% | 36.3% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 44.5% | 37.3% | 37.7% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 46.0% | 40.8% | 40.5% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 54.7% | 44.1% | 43.4% | 35.6% |
| Change | +12.9 pts | +8.5 pts | +7.1 pts | +7.2 pts |
ZIP 21797 is highly educated: more than half of adults 25 and older (54.7%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree is up 12.9 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country. College graduates are most concentrated in the south and least in the northeast.
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 21797
| Period | ZIP 21797 | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 94.0% | 87.8% | 88.0% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 96.0% | 89.5% | 89.1% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.1% | 91.1% | 90.2% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.0% | 92.1% | 90.9% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.0 pts | +4.3 pts | +2.9 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in ZIP 21797: 95.0% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. Since 2006–10, the share with a diploma has edged up 1.0 points, a smaller shift than nationally.
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 21797
| Period | ZIP 21797 | Baltimore area | Maryland | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 3.3% | 6.6% | 6.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 2.7% | 8.3% | 8.1% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 3.9% | 5.2% | 5.1% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 4.4% | 4.8% | 5.0% | 5.4% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | −1.8 pts | −1.5 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in ZIP 21797 runs below the national rate: 4.4% of the labor force was out of work and looking, against 5.4% nationally. Unemployment has edged up 1.1 points since 2006–10, even as the national rate fell. 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 21797 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 21797 | 3.08 | 43.5 | 9.7% | 8.5% | 2.5% | 1985 | $1,712 | 54.7% | 95.0% | 4.4% |
| ZIP 21723 | 2.98 | 44.1 | 12.1% | 2.9% | 0.6% | 1996 | $2,089 | 64.1% | 97.0% | 7.7% |
| ZIP 21738 | 3.35 | 41.3 | 7.9% | 2.2% | 2.6% | 1997 | $2,116 | 74.6% | 97.0% | 1.4% |
| ZIP 21771 | 2.97 | 42.5 | 8.0% | 5.7% | 5.3% | 1988 | $2,232 | 48.5% | 95.5% | 4.6% |
| ZIP 21794 | 3.03 | 45.3 | 4.4% | 12.5% | 3.0% | 1995 | $2,606 | 66.3% | 97.2% | 1.0% |
| ZIP 21737 | 3.27 | 43.7 | 4.2% | 3.4% | 3.7% | 1994 | $2,737 | 71.0% | 97.1% | 3.3% |
| ZIP 21784 | 2.88 | 40.3 | 6.9% | 12.6% | 4.9% | 1986 | $1,836 | 53.9% | 96.3% | 3.5% |
| ZIP 21104 | 2.83 | 45.0 | 6.8% | 4.9% | 5.0% | 1998 | $1,769 | 68.0% | 98.3% | 4.8% |
| ZIP 21036 | 3.11 | 48.4 | 5.2% | 2.5% | 3.1% | 1988 | $3,338 | 71.5% | 97.0% | 5.8% |
| ZIP 20872 | 3.01 | 43.3 | 8.2% | 9.7% | 4.2% | 1981 | $1,832 | 43.3% | 89.6% | 2.9% |
| ZIP 20882 | 2.96 | 47.1 | 4.5% | 6.2% | 2.0% | 1985 | $1,581 | 59.6% | 94.6% | 4.5% |
All figures 2020–24.
Zip codes with similar populations: 37840, TN · 50220, IA · 50035, IA · 49720, MI · 48750, MI · 48617, MI · 45176, OH · 42748, KY · 38558, TN · 38382, TN
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 21797. 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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