US Census Data

ZIP 21538 vs ZIP 21542

A side-by-side comparison of ZIP Code 21538 and ZIP Code 21542: population, income, housing, and more.

ZIP 21538 and ZIP 21542 are ZIP Code areas in Maryland. This page compares them across population, income, housing, education, commuting, and how each has changed since 2019.

ZIP 21538 has the higher population (605 vs 161 in ZIP 21542). Since 2019, ZIP 21538's population has grown faster (+47.6% vs -76.6%).

Population, income & housing

ZIP 21538ZIP 21542
Population605161
Median age37.5 yrs25.7 yrs
Median household income$83,913
Median home value$85,500
Median gross rent$760$707
Housing units39262
Homeownership rate82.7%30.9%
Bachelor's degree or higher9.3%0.0%
Unemployment rate17.3%17.5%

Trends (ACS 5-year, 2019–2023)

ZIP 21538ZIP 21542
Population410 → 605 (+47.6%)687 → 161 (-76.6%)
Median household income$40,833 → $83,913 (+105.5%)$46,000 → $13,889 (-69.8%)
Median home value$79,600 → $85,500 (+7.4%)
Median gross rent$683 → $760 (+11.3%)$775 → $707 (-8.8%)

ZIP 21538

Population
410605
Median household income
$40,833$83,913
Median gross rent
$683$760

ZIP 21542

Population
687161
Median household income
$46,000$13,889
Median home value
$79,600$85,500
Median gross rent
$775$707

Age & race/ethnicity

Age distribution (share)

ZIP 21538ZIP 21542
Under 511.7%15.5%
5 to 1711.1%11.2%
18 to 244.3%19.3%
25 to 3421.0%16.1%
35 to 446.3%10.6%
45 to 5419.2%4.3%
55 to 6415.5%13.0%
65 to 744.1%6.2%
75 and over6.8%3.7%

Race & ethnicity (share)

ZIP 21538ZIP 21542
White (non-Hispanic)85.5%88.2%
Black or African American0.0%0.0%
American Indian & Alaska Native3.5%0.0%
Asian0.0%0.0%
Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander0.0%0.0%
Some other race0.0%0.0%
Two or more races5.8%11.8%
Hispanic or Latino5.3%0.0%

Educational attainment (age 25+)

Share of adults 25+

ZIP 21538ZIP 21542
No high school diploma10.9%0.0%
High school graduate62.6%83.9%
Some college or associate's17.2%16.1%
Bachelor's degree1.8%0.0%
Graduate or professional degree7.5%0.0%

Commute to work

How workers get to work (share)

ZIP 21538ZIP 21542
Drove alone76.7%81.8%
Carpooled13.7%9.1%
Public transit7.2%0.0%
Walked0.0%0.0%
Bicycle0.0%0.0%
Worked from home2.4%4.5%
Other means0.0%4.5%

Housing

Units in structure (share)

ZIP 21538ZIP 21542
1-unit, detached80.4%41.9%
1-unit, attached2.6%3.2%
2 to 4 units6.1%9.7%
5 to 19 units2.3%45.2%
20 or more units0.0%0.0%
Mobile home & other8.7%0.0%

Poverty & households

ZIP 21538ZIP 21542
Poverty rate7.6%34.2%
Average household size1.982.93
Mean commute (minutes)4120
Median year structure built19611970

Full profiles

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