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Essex CDP, MD

ZIP 21221 — Housing & Real Estate

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2019–2023 5-Year Estimates. Page data updated 2026-08-02.

Middle ClassLow Snow Area

Home values, rent, tenure, and housing stock

Housing & Real Estate in ZIP Code 21221

Median Home Value
$266,800
Median Rent
$1,099
Affordability Snapshot
$73,000
Est. income to buy

Household income needed for a median home under a 20% down / 6.8% illustrative mortgage model (~$1,714/mo PITI).

20%
Rent-to-Income Ratio

Below the 30% threshold — generally affordable for median earners.

4.0x
Home Price-to-Income Ratio

Within the typical 3-5x range for home affordability.

20.2 yrs
Price-to-Rent Ratio

Years to break even buying vs renting at median home value and rent.

To comfortably buy a median-priced home in ZIP 21221 in Essex CDP, MD, a household would need roughly $73,000 in annual income under a 20% down, 30-year loan at 6.8% (illustrative), keeping housing costs near 28% of income. Estimated monthly PITI is about $1,714. That is roughly in line with the local median household income ($67,368). Rates, taxes, insurance, and HOA fees vary — treat this as a planning estimate, not a lender quote.

Housing Tenure

Diverse housing tenure.

Heating Fuel
Housing Metrics
Owner Occupied
59.4%-9% vs US avg
x
Vacancy Rate
6.7%-35% vs US avg
x
Broadband Access
88.7%+2% vs US avg
x
4+ Bedrooms
4.0%-73% vs US avg
x
Built Pre-1939
11.9%-7% vs US avg
x
Built Post-2014
0.1%-98% vs US avg
x
Rent Burden >30%
27.2%-45% vs US avg
x
Mortgage-Free
32.2%-16% vs US avg
x
$266,800
Home Value
$1,099
Rent
1965
Year Built
2012
Moved In

Residents have lived here since ~2012 on average

Housing Structure

Census ACS structure types (single-family, multi-unit, etc.).

  • 1-unit detached41.8%
  • 1-unit attached32.6%
  • 2-9 units8.2%
  • 10+ units16.0%
  • Mobile home & other1.4%

Housing & Real Estate key statistics

Housing statistics
Housing
Median home value$266,800
Median rent$1,099
Owner-occupied59.4%
Vacant6.7%
Price-to-income4.0x
Est. income to buy$73,000