NEIGHBORSCORE

Essex, Maryland · ZIP 21221

Essex — ZIP 21221

Crime DataSchools

Essex (21221) scores 36/100 — Below Average for Maryland. Safety: Higher reported-crime rate under the available data tier. Schools: Lower reported proficiency or limited grade-band coverage. A mid-range price profile for the state. The typical home value here is $299K.

36OUT OF 100

Overall NeighborScore

FBelow Average

Tap a tab to compare 21221 against its city, state, or the nation.

Higher reported-crime rate under the available data tier.

Safety index25/100
Violent crime share14%
Property crime share86%

Lower reported proficiency or limited grade-band coverage.

School index48/100
Avg math proficiency12%
Avg reading proficiency29%
Schools nearby12

A mid-range price profile for the state.

Affordability index67/100
Typical home value$299K
Median rent$1,351/mo

How this score is calculated: the NeighborScore composite weights crime 53% and schools 47%, each normalized to the local area. Home affordability is shown for context and is not factored into the overall score. Sources & methodology →

Last refreshed — Schools: Aug 2026 · Real estate: Aug 2026 · Demographics: Jun 2026

Nearby Neighborhoods

Not the right fit? See how adjacent ZIPs score — tap to jump over.

Middle River, MarylandMiddle RiverZIP 21220
31▼5 vs here
Rossville, MarylandRossvilleZIP 21237
28▼8 vs here
Dundalk, MarylandDundalkZIP 21222
35▼1 vs here
Baltimore, MarylandBaltimoreZIP 21206
33▼3 vs here

Real Estate Snapshot

Typical Home Value

$299K

Median Rent

$1,351/mo

Days on Market

—

Sale-to-List

—

Typical Home Value — 23 Months

Median Rent — 24 Months

Crime Overview

Total Incidents

24,088

Violent Crime

3,481

Property Crime

20,607

Crime statistics for this area are estimated from FBI-reported county-level data for Baltimore County, Maryland (2025). This ZIP does not yet have city-specific monthly crime data, so figures reflect the entire county rather than this ZIP alone.

Full Crime Report →

Nearby Schools

Grades
Middleborough ElementaryPK–05288
27%
42%
Orems ElementaryPK–05402
17%
37%
Mars Estates ElementaryPK–05400
17%
37%
Essex ElementaryPK–05481
16%
20%
Sandalwood ElementaryPK–05440
15%
32%
Sussex ElementaryPK–05475
12%
17%
Middlesex ElementaryPK–05448
12%
17%
Kenwood High09–121,900
10%
42%
Deep Creek ElementaryKG–05385
10%
19%
Chesapeake High09–121,052
8%
42%
Stemmers Run Middle06–08831
3%
21%
Deep Creek Middle06–08670
2%
20%

Directory and latest enrollment: NCES Common Core of Data (SY 2024–25 where reported). Proficiency: U.S. Department of Education EDFacts SY 2021–22; state standards are not directly comparable.

Full School Report →

Demographics

Population

43,536

Median Income

$67K

Homeownership

63%

Median Age

42.4 yrs

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2024).

Map

Frequently Asked Questions

ZIP 21221 has a reported-crime score of 25/100. A higher score represents a lower reported-crime rate under the best available data tier for this ZIP; it is not a guarantee of safety. Review the crime report and current local police data before making a decision.
ZIP 21221 has a school score of 48/100. The index combines reported SY 2021–22 math and reading proficiency with grade-band coverage. Nearby or county-level estimates may be used where ZIP-level reporting is sparse, and state assessment standards are not directly comparable.
The latest home value or sale-price figure available for ZIP 21221 is approximately $299K. The profile identifies the underlying source; Zillow ZHVI is a typical home value measure, while Redfin data is a median sale-price measure. These are different metrics and may lag current listings.
ZIP 21221 in Essex has an overall NeighborScore of 36/100. It combines the crime score (53%) and school score (47%); affordability is context only. Use the component data and its coverage notes rather than treating the composite as a complete measure of livability.