ZIP Code 21042, Maryland
ZIP Code 21042 profile, demographic data, and geographic information.
ZCTA5 21042 is a 5-digit ZIP Code area located in Howard County, Maryland. As of official census estimates, it has a reported population of 43,327. The land area covers 37.00 sq mi. [1]
Demographics & Population
| Demographic Metric | Estimate / Count | Margin of Error | Survey Period / Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | 43,327 | ±1,938 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
| Median Age | 45.1 yrs | ±1 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
| Total Households | 15,099 | ±669 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (PEP, ACS 5-Year).
Housing & Real Estate Profile
| Housing Metric | Estimate / Value | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| Total Housing Units | 15,368 | ±651 |
| Occupied Housing Units | 15,099 | ±669 |
| Vacant Housing Units | 269 | ±137 |
| Median Home Value | $706,400 | ±$15,172 |
| Median Gross Rent | $2,183 | ±$104 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2020-2024).
Economy & Workforce
| Economic Metric | Estimate / Value | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $190,061 | ±$12,121 |
| Per Capita Income | $77,643 | ±$3,556 |
| Poverty Rate | 3.3% | ±0.9% |
| Population Below Poverty Level | 1,425 | ±412 |
| Unemployment Rate | 2% | ±0.7% |
| Civilian Labor Force, Employed | 21,170 | ±1,034 |
| Broadband Internet Rate | 95.8% | ±0.8% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2020-2024).
Local Government & Public Administration
Authoritative general-purpose local government units serving this area
U.S. Census Bureau GUS (2026) / GMAF
| Government Unit | Unit Type | Jurisdiction Role | Contact / Address |
|---|---|---|---|
|
GUS Population: 339,668 (2024)
ID: 166366
|
County | Official County Government |
Contact: EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT II
3430 COURT HOUSE DR, ELLICOTT CITY MD 21043-4350
|
Education
Listing 10 local institutions (NCES 2024-2025)
External reference via K12Guides
| Institution | Type | Grades | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular School Nearby | 06-08 | Silver Spring, MD | |
| Regular School Nearby | 06-12 | Baltimore, MD | |
| Alternative School Nearby | 06-12 | Rockville, MD | |
| Alternative School Nearby | 09-12 | Ellicott City, MD | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | Baltimore, MD | |
| Regular School Nearby | 06-08 | Baltimore, MD | |
| Regular School Nearby | 06-08 | Silver Spring, MD | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-05 | Baltimore, MD | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-02 | Baltimore, MD | |
| Regular School Nearby | 09-12 | Gambrills, MD |
Source: k12guides.com.
Community Facilities & Infrastructure
Displaying 10 civic institutions across 2 datasets queried
CMS • IPEDS • IMLS
| Facility Name | Category | Relationship | Address / Location | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Howard Community College
|
College | 4.5 mi away | 10901 Little Patuxent Pkwy, Columbia, MD, 21044-3197 |
4435181000
|
|
MILLER BRANCH
|
Library | 3.0 mi away | 9421 FREDERICK RD., ELLICOTT CITY, MD, 21042 |
(410) 313-1950
|
|
Maryland University of Integrative Health
|
College | 7.7 mi away | 7750 Montpelier Road, Laurel, MD, 20723 |
4108889048
|
|
ON THE ROAD TP K
|
Library | 3.0 mi away | 9411 FREDERICK ROAD, ELLICOTT CITY, MD, 21042 |
(410) 313-7750
|
|
Lincoln College of Technology-Columbia
|
College | 7.7 mi away | 9325 Snowden River Pky, Columbia, MD, 21046 |
410290710041500
|
|
STEAM MACHINE
|
Library | 3.0 mi away | 9411 FREDERICK ROAD, ELLICOTT CITY, MD, 21042 |
(410) 313-7750
|
|
North American Trade Schools
|
College Vocational | 8.0 mi away | 6901 Security Blvd, Suite 16, Baltimore, MD, 21244 |
4102984844
|
|
CENTRAL BRANCH
|
Library | 4.9 mi away | 10375 LITTLE PATUXENT PARKWAY, COLUMBIA, MD, 21044 |
(410) 313-7800
|
|
Paul Mitchell the School-Jessup
|
College Vocational | 9.5 mi away | 7351 Assateague Drive, Suite 370, Jessup, MD, 20794 |
3013668675
|
|
EAST COLUMBIA BRANCH
|
Library | 6.5 mi away | 6600 CRADLEROCK WAY, COLUMBIA, MD, 21045 |
(410) 313-7770
|
Distances calculated from authoritative source coordinates. Source: CMS, IMLS, NCES IPEDS.
Climate & Weather Observations
NOAA Monthly Climate Normals
Observation Station: Climate data reflects NOAA 1991–2020 standard normals recorded at LAUREL 3 W, MD US, located 13.3 miles from ZCTA5 21042. Local microclimates, topography, and elevation may cause municipal conditions to differ.
| Month | High (°F) | Low (°F) | Mean (°F) | Precip (in) | Snow (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 42.7° | 26.1° | 34.4° | 3.46" | — |
| February | 46.1° | 28.0° | 37.0° | 2.73" | — |
| March | 54.8° | 34.8° | 44.8° | 4.20" | — |
| April | 67.0° | 44.9° | 55.9° | 3.80" | — |
| May | 75.5° | 55.3° | 65.4° | 4.41" | — |
| June | 84.2° | 64.5° | 74.4° | 4.38" | — |
| July | 88.6° | 69.4° | 79.0° | 4.17" | — |
| August | 87.1° | 67.9° | 77.5° | 3.80" | — |
| September | 80.0° | 61.2° | 70.6° | 4.70" | — |
| October | 68.5° | 49.7° | 59.1° | 4.41" | — |
| November | 57.1° | 38.6° | 47.8° | 3.52" | — |
| December | 47.0° | 31.4° | 39.2° | 3.93" | — |
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020).
Local Weather Forecast
Weather forecast data is currently unavailable in the local cache.
Nearby Cities & Communities
Listing adjacent communities by spatial proximity (miles)
Proximity discovery
| Community Name | Classification | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ellicott City CDP | CDP | 3.2 mi | — |
| Columbia CDP | CDP | 5.6 mi | — |
| Highland CDP | CDP | 7.1 mi | — |
| Sykesville town | Town | 7.7 mi | — |
| Woodlawn CDP | CDP | 8.1 mi | — |
| Catonsville CDP | CDP | 8.2 mi | — |
Sources & Data Provenance
- Geographic Classification & Identifiers: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer (2026) and TIGER/Line Shapefiles. GEOID: 21042. • Official Source Dataset →
- Socioeconomic & Housing Metrics: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates and Population Estimates Program (PEP). Margin of Error (MOE) intervals are reported where published; suppressed values are never estimated or replaced with false zeros.
- Civic Directory Datasets: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS Hospital Directory), National Center for Education Statistics (NCES IPEDS Postsecondary Directory), and Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS Public Libraries Survey). Airport landing facilities are provided by airport-data.com.
- Weather & Climate Observations: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 and National Weather Service (NWS) point forecasts.