| City: | Charlestown, Maryland |
| County: | Cecil County |
| Timezone: | Eastern (GMT -05:00) |
| Local Time: | 10:03:40 PM |
| Population: | 736 [See All] |
| Area Codes: | 410 / 443 / 667 |
| Classification: | PO Box |
| Coordinates: | 39.5744, -75.9796 |
| Land Area: | 0.731 sq mi |
| Quick Link: |
Charlestown is a small historic community in Cecil County, Maryland, covering just 0.73 square miles along the Northeast River. With 736 residents and 333 households, this compact town preserves its 18th-century character through streets named for Maryland counties like Cecil, Caroline, Calvert, and Baltimore. The median age of 43.8 years and 78% homeownership rate suggest an established, stable community.
This is a PO Box Only Zone. Street delivery isn't available across the ZIP, making the Charlestown post office the only option for mail. The post office maintains 304 PO Boxes for 333 households, a 91% adoption rate that indicates near-universal reliance on box service. While 2 rural routes serve 132 delivery points, the ZIP's classification as PO Box only means most residents collect mail at the post office rather than receiving it at home.
Street names tell the story of this historic town. Caroline Street (10 delivery points), Market Street, Water Street, and Ogle Street form the core of the settlement, while waterfront streets like Riverview Avenue and Bayview Avenue reference the town's position on the Northeast River. Chesapeake Road connects to the broader regional network. Census data shows 97% of housing units were built before 1939, making Charlestown one of Maryland's most intact historic communities.
The local economy centers on transportation, warehousing, and utilities (166 workers), along with educational and health services (72 workers). Median household income of $57,167 and median home values of $300,600 position Charlestown as a working-class community with moderate housing costs. With 35% of workers reporting remote work, the town serves both traditional commuters and a growing remote workforce.
Standard format:
[Recipient Name]
PO Box [Number]
Charlestown, MD 21914PO Box is required for delivery. Street addresses are not valid for mail delivery in this ZIP code.
Street names preserve Maryland county heritage and the town's colonial waterfront layout.
ZIP Code 21914 has 736 residents and 333 households (average 2.17 persons per household). The median age is 43.8 years, older than the state (38.8) and older than the nation (38.8). The gender split is 50.8% male and 49.2% female, which is slightly higher than the state male share (48.2%), making this a male-majority area. Largest groups are White (88.9%, much higher than the state average of 48.7% and well above the national average of 61.6%) and Hispanic or Latino (3.8%); Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.8%, which is much lower than the national average (18.7%).
Explore More: Population Over Time By Age & Gender By Race By Gender Nativity & Citizenship
| 2020 Population: | 736Source: Census DHC |
| 2024 ACS Population Estimate: | 810Source: Census ACS |
| 2026 ZC Population Estimate: | 0Source: ZIP-Codes.com |
| Population Density: | 1,006.8 people per sq mile |
| Average Income: | $66,806Source: Census ACS |
| Households: | 333Source: Census DHC |
| Average House Value: | $288,500Source: Census ACS |
| Persons Per Household: | 2.17Source: Census DHC |
| Average Family Size: | 2.78Source: Census ACS |
| Group | 2010 | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Census ACS Population Estimate | -- | 599 | 594 | 551 | 497 | 491 | 682 | 739 | 771 | 860 | 804 | 725 | 740 | 786 | 810 |
| Decennial Census | 765 | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 736 | -- | -- | -- | -- |
Median Age: 43.8
Male Median Age: 45.4
Female Median Age: 43.3
| Group | < 5 | 5-9 | 10-14 | 15-19 | 20-24 | 25-29 | 30-34 | 35-39 | 40-44 | 45-49 | 50-54 | 55-59 | 60-64 | 65-69 | 70-74 | 75-79 | 80-84 | 85+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male | 18 | 16 | 24 | 30 | 19 | 21 | 17 | 21 | 19 | 20 | 28 | 34 | 35 | 26 | 23 | 9 | 6 | 8 |
| Female | 12 | 17 | 22 | 27 | 19 | 31 | 19 | 20 | 24 | 16 | 32 | 19 | 28 | 26 | 20 | 14 | 10 | 6 |
| Total | 30 | 33 | 46 | 57 | 38 | 52 | 36 | 41 | 43 | 36 | 60 | 53 | 63 | 52 | 43 | 23 | 16 | 14 |
| White: | 654 | 91.09% |
| Black: | 19 | 2.65% |
| Hispanic:* | 28 | 3.90% |
| Asian: | 7 | 0.97% |
| American Indian: | 3 | 0.42% |
| Hawaiian: | 0 | 0% |
| Other: | 7 | 0.97% |
| Total: | 718 | 100% |
| Gender | Count | % | Median Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| Males: | 374 | 50.82% | 45.4 years |
| Females: | 362 | 49.18% | 43.3 years |
| Total: | 736 | 100% | 43.8 years |
| Native, born in the United States: | 810 | 100.00% |
| Native, born in PR, Island Areas, or abroad: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Foreign born, naturalized U.S. citizen: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Foreign born, not a U.S. citizen: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Total Population: | 810 | 100% |
| Total Native Population: | 810 | 100.00% |
| Total Foreign-born Population: | 0 | 0.00% |
In 2024, the Median household income is $66,806, which is far less than the state median ($101,652), is up $9,540 (16.7%) since 2011 and below its 2019 pre-pandemic level by $13,444. Family households earn a median of $73,750 versus $0 for nonfamily households (a difference of $73,750). By gender, male median income is $57,917 and female is $0, which is well under the state female median ($68,044), with a current gap of $57,917 that has widened from 2011 to 2024. The labor-force participation rate is 45.2%, which is considerably lower than the state rate (67.2%). The unemployment rate is 4.9%, which is about the same as the national rate (5.2%). The largest occupation group is Sales (35.3%).
Explore More: Income Over Time Household Income Employment Status By Occupation
| Income Type | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median Household Income | $57,266 | $68,750 | $62,656 | $64,250 | $53,542 | $75,313 | $79,722 | $80,962 | $80,250 | $88,854 | $65,417 | $70,347 | $57,167 | $66,806 |
| Median Family Income | $71,250 | $76,563 | $75,750 | $81,250 | $76,250 | $75,208 | $78,250 | $79,167 | $81,750 | $64,479 | $91,161 | $99,688 | $77,300 | $73,750 |
| Median NonFamily Income | $50,417 | $31,500 | $58,625 | $57,875 | $50,278 | $75,417 | $91,389 | $81,875 | $76,923 | $91,875 | $34,000 | $34,976 | $35,625 | $0 |
| Median Male Income | $44,375 | $53,036 | $53,472 | $59,000 | $63,333 | $90,391 | $87,500 | $74,813 | $76,750 | $97,665 | $65,938 | $70,156 | $56,027 | $57,917 |
| Median Female Income | $46,750 | $33,333 | $33,611 | $51,250 | $43,000 | $60,368 | $61,389 | $63,516 | $64,044 | $60,417 | $36,154 | $34,151 | $0 | $0 |
| Employed: | 289 | 43.01% |
| Unemployed: | 15 | 2.23% |
| Not In Labor Force: | 368 | 54.76% |
| Total: | 672 | 100% |
| Management, business, science, and arts: | 92 | 31.83% |
| Service: | 69 | 23.88% |
| Sales and Office: | 102 | 35.29% |
| Natural resources, construction, and maintenance: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Production, transportation, and material moving: | 26 | 9.00% |
| Total Civilian Employed Population: | 289 | 100% |
In 2024, the median home value is $288,500, which is far less than the state median ($397,700), is up $58,000 (25.16%) since 2011 and above its 2019 pre-pandemic level by $53,400. The median gross rent is $1,522, which is far above the national median ($1,348), is up $640 (72.56%) since 2011 and above its 2019 pre-pandemic level by $358. Of occupied housing, owners make up 80.42% (47.19% with a mortgage, 52.81% free-and-clear) and renters 19.58% - making this ZIP Code more home ownership than the state and under national rental averages. The vacancy rate is 5.41%, which is far lower than the national rate (10.43%).
Explore More: Compare Home Value Home Value Over Time Rent & Over Time Housing Occupancy
| Group | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $230,500 | $229,600 | $232,100 | $225,300 | $229,500 | $234,800 | $241,600 | $235,200 | $235,100 | $241,800 | $265,000 | $282,600 | $300,600 | $288,500 |
| Less than $500: | 0 | 0.00% |
| $500 to $999: | 0 | 0.00% |
| $1,000 to $1,499: | 31 | 47.69% |
| $1,500 to $1,999: | 34 | 52.31% |
| $2,000 to $2,499: | 0 | 0.00% |
| $2,500 to $2,999: | 0 | 0.00% |
| $3,000 or more: | 0 | 0.00% |
| No Rent: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Total: | 65 | 100% |
| Group | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median Rent | $882 | $1,338 | $950 | $882 | $940 | $950 | $1,099 | $1,175 | $1,164 | $1,264 | $1,393 | $1,311 | $1,490 | $1,522 |
| Owner Occupied (with mortgage): | 126 | 37.95% |
| Owner Occupied (free and clear, no mortgage): | 141 | 42.47% |
| Renter Occupied: | 65 | 19.58% |
| Total Occupied Housing Units: | 332 | 100% |
| Occupied Housing Units: | 332 | 94.59% |
| Vacant Housing Units (not graphed): | 19 | 5.41% |
| Total Housing Units: | 351 | 100% |
| Single-Family Units: | 317 | 90.31% |
| Multi-Family Units: | 34 | 9.69% |
| Other Units: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Total Housing Units: | 351 | 100% |
In 2024, 25.10% of adults (25+) have a bachelor's degree or higher, which is markedly below the state rate (42.70%). High school or higher is 88.80%, which is on par with the state rate (91.00%). The uninsured rate is 1.90%, which is far lower than the national rate (8.60%). The share of people in poverty is 5.90%, which is comparable to the national rate (8.70%), up 4.80 percentage points since 2011 and below its 2019 pre-pandemic level by 10.20 percentage points. This signals a sharp increase in hardship - a shrinking consumer base, heavy pressure on public services, and job-market contraction risks. Among residents ages 3+, the largest enrollment group is elementary (37.11%). College enrollment is 18.87%, which is on par with the state rate (28.00%), meaning the community mirrors broader higher-education participation.
Explore More: Educational Attainment Health Insurance Poverty Over Time School Enrollment
| Less than 9th grade: | 16 | 2.64% |
| 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: | 52 | 8.60% |
| High school graduate (includes equivalency): | 175 | 28.93% |
| Some college, no degree: | 180 | 29.75% |
| Associate's degree: | 30 | 4.96% |
| Bachelor's degree: | 81 | 13.39% |
| Graduate or professional degree: | 71 | 11.74% |
| Total: | 605 | 100% |
| High school or higher: | 537 | 88.76% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher: | 152 | 25.12% |
| Private Insurance: | 630 | 67.38% |
| Public Insurance: | 290 | 31.02% |
| No Insurance: | 15 | 1.60% |
| Total: | 935 | 100% |
| Has Health Insurance: | 920 | 98.40% |
| Group | 2011 | 2102 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| % of People in Poverty | 0.0% | 0.0% | 6.7% | 7.1% | 14.9% | 19.6% | 20.1% | 16.3% | 15.0% | 9.1% | 5.1% | 0.0% | 4.8% | 5.9% |
Note: Counts of Families & People in poverty are not published at the ZIP Code level due to small sample sizes. Percentages shown are survey estimates from the American Community Survey (ACS). They may differ from official poverty statistics. The U.S. Census Bureau defines poverty status by comparing a family's or individual's total income with federal poverty thresholds that vary by family size and composition.
| Nursery School, Preschool: | 0 | 0.00% |
| Kindergarten: | 34 | 21.38% |
| Elementary school (grades 1-8): | 59 | 37.11% |
| High school (grades 9-12): | 36 | 22.64% |
| College or graduate school: | 30 | 18.87% |
| Total: | 159 | 100% |
| Early Childhood: | 34 | 21.38% |
| K-12 (Primary & Secondary School): | 129 | 81.13% |
ZIP Code 21914 supports both business and residential activity. According to the Business Census (2024), there are 6 business establishments, employing about 100 people with an annual payroll of $3,886,000.
| # Residential Mailboxes: | 0Source: USPS |
| # Business Mailboxes: | 0Source: USPS |
| Total Delivery Receptacles: | 319Source: USPS |
| Single Family Delivery Units: | 0Source: USPS |
| Multi Family Delivery Units: | 0Source: USPS |
| # of Businesses: | 6Source: CBP |
| 1st Quarter Payroll: | $641,000Source: CBP |
| Annual Payroll: | $3,886,000Source: CBP |
| # of Employees: | 100Source: CBP |
ZIP Code 21914 is located in Cecil County, Maryland, within the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Metropolitan Statistical Area (CBSA 37980) and Maryland's 1st Congressional District. This Metro area has a population of 5,965,343 people, about 0.01% of whom live in ZIP Code 21914, and is subdivided into the Wilmington, DE-MD-NJ division. It covers 0.731 sq mi of land and a water area of 0.002 sq mi.
| CBSA Name: | Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MDSource: Census |
| CBSA Number: | 37980Source: Census |
| CBSA Type: | MetroSource: Census |
| CBSA Division: | Wilmington, DE-MD-NJ (CBSA Div 48864)Source: Census |
| CBSA Population: | 5,965,343Source: Census |
| MSA: | Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, PA-NJ-DE-MD CMSASource: Census |
| Land Area: | 0.731 sq miSource: Census |
| Water Area: | 0.002 sq miSource: Census |
| Congressional District: | 01Source: USPS |
| Congressional Land Area: | 3977.06 sq miSource: Census |
| PMSA: | Wilmington-Newark, DE-MD PMSASource: Census |
| Intro Date: | < 2004-10Source: ZIP-Codes.com |
| Place FIPS Code: | 2415400Source: Census |
| Place Name: | Charlestown town; MarylandSource: Census |
ZIP Code 21914 is in the Cecil County Public Schools, which serves grades Pre-Kindergarten thru 12th. There are 1 public school(s) in this ZIP Code, and we have located 3 private school(s). It also has 6 colleges, universities or post secondary education institutions nearby which would be a short commute to.
Our sources include trusted federal and licensed data from the United States Postal Service, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Geological Survey, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and the National Center for Education Statistics, along with proprietary datasets created by ZIP-Codes.com. Data last updated on February 1, 2026.