21742 Zip Code Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for the zip code 21742, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

21742 is a zip code in Washington County, Maryland, which covers District 7, Smithsburg, District 9, Leitersburg, District 10, Funkstown, District 13, Maugansville, District 14, Ringgold, District 16, Beaver Creek, District 17, Hagerstown, District 18, Chewsville, District 21, Hagerstown, District 22, Hagerstown, District 27, and Fountain Head, with a total population of 34,190 people.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in the 21742 zip code. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in 21742.

The estimated population of people living in 21742 is 34,190, with a median age of 41.3.

We can look back at data from previous years to see how the population in the 21742 area has changed over the last 5 years.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
34,190
+2.29%
+2.90%
2020
33,425
 -0.17% -
2019
33,483
+0.91%
-
2018
33,180
 -0.14% -
2017
33,228
 - -

Population of 21742 by Race and Ethnicity

How much has the race and ethnicity of the population in the 21742 zip code changed? The US Census Bureau gives us a few defined types that the population is broken down into.

Let's look at the total numbers and also the change over the last 5 years.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
75.3%
79.5%
 -5.28%
Black/African American
9.2%
9.3%
 -1.08%
Native
0.1%
0.1%
 0.00%
Hispanic
7.2%
5.2%
 +38.46%
Asian
2.9%
3.1%
 -6.45%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0.1%
0%
 0.00%
Two Or More Races
4.9%
2.7%
 +81.48%
Other
0.3%
0%
 0.00%

This data can be very important for anybody studying the 21742 zip for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of 21742 by Age and Gender

We can also monitor the change of the age and gender in the 21742 zip code to track track trends in the population over time.

We can see how the population in 21742 has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 41.3 +1.98% 38.5 +2.12% 43.1 +0.47%
2020 40.5 +1% 37.7 +2.45% 42.9 +0.23%
2019 40.1 -3.14% 36.8 -4.42% 42.8 -2.73%
2018 41.4 -0.72% 38.5 -3.51% 44 +1.62%
2017 41.7 - 39.9 - 43.3 -

The median age of the 21742 zip gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population in the 21742 area, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 2,041 +28.17% 1,797 +11.37% 2,665 1,993
10 to 19 2,244 -1.8% 2,161 -9.05% 2,197 1,969
20 to 29 1,868 +7.35% 1,818 +9.27% 2,006 1,990
30 to 39 1,859 -7% 2,226 -4.44% 1,725 2,112
40 to 49 2,545 -14.92% 2,229 +6.56% 2,181 2,376
50 to 59 2,093 -15.46% 2,641 -24.08% 1,773 2,030
60 to 69 1,826 +15.6% 2,039 +15.81% 2,125 2,367
70+ 1,480 +30.87% 2,361 +13.39% 1,990 2,691

Median Household Income

The latest median household income for the 21742 zip code is $73,397.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less.

The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for 21742.

  • Under 25
    $54,875.00
  • 25 to 44
    $81,804.00
  • 45 to 64
    $88,280.00
  • 65 and over
    $55,621.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in the 21742 zip code, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in 21742, and then dividing that number by the total number of households.

This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of 21742 is currently $96,311.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

9.17% of households in 21742 are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of 21742 against other zip codes.

  • Less than $24,999
    14.26%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    18.36%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    17.97%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    15.57%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    16.93%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    7.74%
  • $200,000 or more
    9.17%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in 21742 is $38,386.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of 21742 by the total population of 21742.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people living in the 21742 area, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in 21742 to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    16.39%
  • Bachelor's degree
    27.81%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    12.11%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    41.49%
  • Less than high school diploma
    2.20%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in 21742 that are over the age of 16.

Currently, the total population of the 21742 zip over the age of 16 is 27,044.

Of those people, a total of 62.50% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in 21742 is 59.60%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate. Here's how that breaks down for the 21742 zip code.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 1,678 56.00% 5.40%
20 to 24 years 1,810 73.40% 11.70%
25 to 29 years 2,186 86.30% 4.30%
30 to 34 years 1,822 78.40% 7.00%
35 to 44 years 4,276 86.00% 3.40%
45 to 54 years 4,205 87.40% 4.70%
55 to 59 years 1,894 68.90% 1.50%
60 to 64 years 2,325 58.20% 2.00%
65 to 74 years 3,812 30.90% 2.00%
75 years and over 3,036 4.60% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in 21742. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau (which we mentioned earlier in this article).

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 22,062 60.70% 4.20%
Black or African American 2,451 70.40% 5.90%
American Indian and Alaska Native 26 65.40% 0.00%
Asian 806 66.30% 3.00%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 19 100.00% 0.00%
Other 425 58.60% 2.00%
Two or more races 1,255 78.10% 7.70%
Hispanic or Latino 1,615 63.50% 1.60%
Not Hispanic or Latino 21,271 60.70% 4.20%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations for people living in the 21742 area as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in 21742 is 16,121, with median earnings of $45,513.00.

Women in 21742 are earning approximately 59.40% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 16,121 $45,513.00
Male 8,305 $56,495.00
Female 7,816 $33,532.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings for 21742 even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 2,026 $70,726.00
Business and Financial 1,055 $85,685.00
Computer and Mathematical 781 $72,213.00
Architecture and Engineering 431 $90,320.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 153 $64,313.00
Community and Social Service 240 $45,147.00
Legal 77 $124,886.00
Educational and Library 774 $44,063.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 162 $25,345.00
Healthcare Practitioners 1,294 $66,402.00
Healthcare Support 306 $27,917.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 343 $63,625.00
Law Enforcement 237 $71,042.00
Food Preparation and Serving 915 $9,320.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 483 $25,819.00
Personal Care and Service 412 $16,607.00
Sales 1,572 $30,625.00
Office and Administrative Support 1,720 $31,448.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 64 $8,333.00
Construction and Extraction 769 $55,646.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 402 $45,479.00
Production 455 $51,414.00
Transportation and Material Moving 496 $32,289.00

Occupations by Gender

Now we can also look at the occupations by category for 21742 when it is broken down by male and female.

This lets us see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings for 21742.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 1,241 $72,132.00 785 $62,448.00
Business and Financial 562 $100,917.00 493 $59,107.00
Computer and Mathematical 597 $71,639.00 184 $86,118.00
Architecture and Engineering 410 $90,407.00 21 $0.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 72 $60,595.00 81 $73,194.00
Community and Social Service 132 $57,105.00 108 $39,813.00
Legal 67 $123,750.00 10 $0.00
Educational and Library 192 $48,879.00 582 $37,903.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 44 $67,969.00 118 $23,571.00
Healthcare Practitioners 295 $213,385.00 999 $62,281.00
Healthcare Support 6 $0.00 300 $27,449.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 337 $64,375.00 6 $0.00
Law Enforcement 166 $85,625.00 71 $37,917.00
Food Preparation and Serving 356 $7,885.00 559 $9,602.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 323 $41,691.00 160 $7,432.00
Personal Care and Service 79 $14,659.00 333 $16,674.00
Sales 502 $52,745.00 1,070 $22,065.00
Office and Administrative Support 484 $31,174.00 1,236 $32,660.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 55 $9,271.00 9 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 753 $55,313.00 16 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 347 $45,931.00 55 $33,482.00
Production 307 $56,853.00 148 $20,203.00
Transportation and Material Moving 451 $34,671.00 45 $0.00

Households and Family Size

A household is defined by the US Census Bureau as a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 13,341 households in 21742, with an average household size of 2.54 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 9,037 families living in the 21742 zip code with an average family size of 3.03 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each, that live in 21742:

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 6,467 761 1,809 4,304
Average Household Size 3.17 3.45 2.94 1.25
Total Families 6,467 761 1,809 0
Average Household Size 3.13 2.9 2.72 0

Poverty

Of the 9,037 families living in 21742, 9.00% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in 21742:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 14,069 housing units in 21742.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 13,341 94.83%
Vacant 728 5.17%

29.04% of the total 14,069 housing units in 21742 are rental units. This is approximately 4,086 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 9,079 are occupied by the owner - or 64.53% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in 21742 is $1,148.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in 21742 that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    176
  • Less than $500
    368
  • $500 to $999
    1,090
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    1,762
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    710
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    113
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    0
  • $3,000 or more
    43

Property Value

The median value of a property in 21742 is $238,100.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in 21742 that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    273
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    189
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    1,014
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    1,852
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    2,966
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    2,227
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    417
  • $1,000,000 or more
    141

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in 21742. The chart below shows the number of properties in 21742 that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    1,686
  • 1940 to 1949
    982
  • 1950 to 1959
    1,847
  • 1960 to 1969
    1,213
  • 1970 to 1979
    1,431
  • 1980 to 1989
    1,366
  • 1990 to 1999
    2,483
  • 2000 to 2009
    2,126
  • 2010 to 2013
    935
  • 2014 or later
    0

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in 21742 that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    550
  • 1 vehicle available
    4,271
  • 2 vehicles available
    5,060
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    3,460

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in 21742 get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in 21742 that commute to work in a particular way.

26.7 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in 21742.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    270
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    1,290
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    2,181
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    3,375
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    1,848
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    575
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    1,280
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    517
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    643
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    679
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    1,065
  • 90 or more minutes
    620

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for 21742 in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

States in 21742

If you want to see how the population and demographics of 21742 compare to other zip codes in Maryland, check out the list of all Maryland zip codes below: