ZIP Code 21842, Maryland
ZIP Code 21842 profile, demographic data, and geographic information.
ZCTA5 21842 is a 5-digit ZIP Code area located in Worcester County, Maryland. As of official census estimates, it has a reported population of 11,226. The land area covers 9.05 sq mi. [1]
Demographics & Population
| Demographic Metric | Estimate / Count | Margin of Error | Survey Period / Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | 11,226 | ±570 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
| Median Age | 53.4 yrs | ±2 | 2020-2024 / Census ACS 5-Year 2024 |
| Total Households | 5,751 | ±386 | 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 | 32,621 | ±457 |
| Occupied Housing Units | 5,751 | ±386 |
| Vacant Housing Units | 26,870 | ±434 |
| Median Home Value | $447,700 | ±$25,059 |
| Median Gross Rent | $1,394 | ±$99 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year (2020-2024).
Economy & Workforce
| Economic Metric | Estimate / Value | Margin of Error |
|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $79,876 | ±$5,443 |
| Per Capita Income | $75,528 | ±$9,876 |
| Poverty Rate | 9.4% | ±2.5% |
| Population Below Poverty Level | 1,040 | ±286 |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.6% | ±3.6% |
| Civilian Labor Force, Employed | 5,797 | ±420 |
| Broadband Internet Rate | 95.2% | ±1.6% |
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: 54,337 (2024)
ID: 105992
|
County | Official County Government |
Contact: PRESIDENT
1 W MARKET ST, RM 1103, SNOW HILL MD 21863-1072
|
Education
Listing 10 local institutions (NCES 2024-2025)
External reference via K12Guides
| Institution | Type | Grades | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular School Nearby | 05-06 | Berlin, MD | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-04 | Berlin, MD | |
| Alternative School Nearby | M | Frankford, DE | |
| Regular School Nearby | KG-05 | Frankford, DE | |
| Regular School Nearby | 09-12 | Dagsboro, DE | |
| Special Education School Nearby | 12 | Selbyville, DE | |
| Regular School Nearby | KG-05 | Ocean View, DE | |
| Regular School Nearby | PK-04 | Ocean City, MD | |
| Alternative School Nearby | UG | Frankford, DE | |
| Regular School Nearby | 06-08 | Selbyville, DE |
Source: k12guides.com.
Community Facilities & Infrastructure
Displaying 10 civic institutions across 2 datasets queried
CMS • IPEDS • IMLS
| Facility Name | Category | Relationship | Address / Location | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Delaware Learning Institute of Cosmetology
|
College Vocational | 15.4 mi away | 32448 Royal Blvd. Suite A, Dagsboro, DE, 19939 |
3027326704
|
|
OCEAN CITY BRANCH
|
Library | 3.8 mi away | 10003 COASTAL HIGHWAY, OCEAN CITY, MD, 21842 |
(410) 524-1818
|
|
Wor-Wic Community College
|
College | 22.5 mi away | 32000 Campus Drive, Salisbury, MD, 21804-7131 |
4103342800
|
|
OCEAN PINES BRANCH
|
Library | 4.6 mi away | 11107 CATHELL ROAD, BERLIN, MD, 21811 |
(410) 208-4014
|
|
POP-UP LIBRARY
|
Library | 4.6 mi away | 11107 CATHELL ROAD, OCEAN PINES, MD, 21811 |
(410) 208-2910
|
|
BERLIN BRANCH
|
Library | 7.7 mi away | 13 HARRISON AVENUE, BERLIN, MD, 21811 |
(410) 641-0650
|
|
SELBYVILLE PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 9.9 mi away | 11 MAIN & MCCABE STREET, SELBYVILLE, DE, 19975 |
(302) 436-8195
|
|
SOUTH COASTAL PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 12.0 mi away | 43 KENT AVENUE, BETHANY BEACH, DE, 19930 |
(302) 858-5518
|
|
FRANKFORD PUBLIC LIBRARY
|
Library | 13.4 mi away | 8 MAIN STREET, FRANKFORD, DE, 19945 |
(302) 732-9351
|
|
PITTSVILLE BRANCH
|
Library | 18.3 mi away | 34372 OLD OCEAN CITY RD, PITTSVILLE, MD, 21850 |
(410) 835-2353
|
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 OCEAN CITY MUNI AP, MD US, located 4.3 miles from ZCTA5 21842. Local microclimates, topography, and elevation may cause municipal conditions to differ.
| Month | High (°F) | Low (°F) | Mean (°F) | Precip (in) | Snow (in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 44.9° | 27.9° | 36.4° | 3.39" | — |
| February | 46.7° | 29.3° | 38.0° | 2.95" | — |
| March | 52.2° | 35.4° | 43.8° | 3.86" | — |
| April | 61.5° | 44.1° | 52.8° | 3.00" | — |
| May | 70.1° | 53.4° | 61.8° | 3.76" | — |
| June | 79.3° | 63.3° | 71.3° | 3.32" | — |
| July | 84.2° | 68.4° | 76.3° | 3.77" | — |
| August | 82.6° | 67.1° | 74.8° | 3.83" | — |
| September | 77.1° | 61.1° | 69.1° | 3.93" | — |
| October | 67.5° | 49.2° | 58.4° | 4.04" | — |
| November | 57.5° | 38.8° | 48.1° | 3.18" | — |
| December | 49.5° | 31.9° | 40.7° | 3.60" | — |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Ocean City CDP | CDP | 1.8 mi | — |
| Ocean City town | Town | 3.4 mi | — |
| Ocean Pines CDP | CDP | 3.7 mi | — |
| Fenwick Island town | Town | 7.0 mi | — |
| Berlin town | Town | 7.4 mi | — |
| Bishopville CDP | CDP | 8.5 mi | — |
Sources & Data Provenance
- Geographic Classification & Identifiers: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer (2026) and TIGER/Line Shapefiles. GEOID: 21842. • 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.