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Area data

Ocean City, MD — ZIP 21842

Population: 11,226 (Census ACS)

The median home value in ZIP 21842 (Ocean City, MD) is $446,397 — down 2.0% over the past year. Typical rent runs $2,013/month. 1 schools serve the area (NCES). FEMA's National Risk Index rates the county's overall natural-hazard risk Relatively Low, with coastalflooding, coldwave, drought the top-rated hazards. Cost of living is 8.0% above the US average (BEA, metro/state-level).

Backed by 25+ public sourcesFEMA · U.S. Census · NOAA · Dept. of Education · EPA · and more

$446,397

Median home value

-2.0%

1-year change

Relatively Low

Hazard risk (county)

Home values & appreciation

Median home value
$446,397
1-year appreciation
-2.0%
3-year appreciation
-1.5%
5-year appreciation
+19.5%
10-year appreciation
+73.2%
All-time peak (2024-03)
$465,429
House Price Index (state)
367.5 (+0.7% YoY)

Sources: home value index (ZIP-level) · FHFA House Price Index (state-level)

Market activity

For-sale inventory
601
1-year forecast
+0.5%
Days to pending
81 days
New listings (monthly)
110

Source: recent area sales and market data (ZIP-level)

Rents

Typical rent
$2,013/mo

Sources: market rent index (ZIP-level) · HUD Fair Market Rents (metro/county-level, 40th-percentile regulatory reference)

Affordability

Cost of living index (Above Average)
108.0 (100 = US avg)
Electricity rate (state-level)
19.5¢/kWh
Natural gas rate (state-level)
$16.10/MCF
30-year mortgage rate (national)
6.66%
15-year mortgage rate (national)
6.00%

Sources: BEA Regional Price Parities (metro/state-level) · EIA energy rates (state-level) · Freddie Mac PMMS (national)

Schools

Total schools
1
Elementary schools
1
Middle schools
0
High schools
0
Schools include
Ocean City Elementary

Source: NCES school directory, 2022-23 (school-address-based)

Natural hazards & flood risk

Overall hazard risk (county)
Relatively Low
Top hazards (county)
coastalFlooding, coldWave, drought, hurricane, winterWeather
Notable hazard ratings (county)
coastalFlooding: Relatively High · coldWave: Relatively Moderate · drought: Relatively Moderate · heatWave: Relatively Low · hurricane: Relatively Moderate · iceStorm: Relatively Low
Wildfire risk to homes (county)
Higher than 56% of US counties
Buildings in wildfire direct-exposure zone
44.3%
Radon potential (county)
Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3
EPA Superfund (NPL) sites within 5 mi
None
Nearest Superfund site
NCR Corp. (Millsboro Plant) (16.4 mi)
EPA recommends radon testing for every home regardless of zone.

Sources: FEMA National Risk Index (county-level) · FEMA flood data (ZIP-level) · USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities (county-level) · EPA radon zones + Superfund NPL

Climate (30-year normals)

Annual precipitation
53.9 in
USDA plant hardiness zone
8a (extreme annual low 10 to 15°F)

Sources: NOAA Climate Normals (30-year, nearest-station) · USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)

Amenities

National parks within ~60 mi
2
Nearest national park
Assateague Island National Seashore (24 mi)
National parks include
Assateague Island National Seashore, Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park
Airports within 30 mi
14
Nearest airport
Carey Field (5 mi)
Nearest major airport
Ocean City Municipal Airport (OCE) (5 mi)
Hospitals nearby (~15 mi)
1,090
Hospitals include
MIZELL MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, CRENSHAW COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, CRENSHAW COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
Avg hospital rating (CMS)
3.1 / 5
Best hospital rating nearby (CMS)
5.0 / 5
EV charging stations (within 10 mi)
50
Solar radiation rating
Fair (4.2 kWh/m²/day)

Sources: National Park Service · FAA airport data · CMS hospital data · DOE/NREL (proximity-based)

Migration

Net migration (county)
+237 tax filers

Source: IRS county-to-county migration data (county-level, ~12-month lag)

Housing stock

Median year housing built
1,983
Housing built before 1970
10.7%
Housing built 2000 or later
15.4%
Median annual property tax
$3,667
Mean commute to work
17 min
Households with broadband internet
83.0%

Source: Census ACS 5-year estimates (ZIP-level)

Employment & development

Total county employment
21,611
Average weekly wage
$801
Top industries (by employment)
Accommodation & Food, Health Care, Construction
Annual residential building permits (county)
337

Sources: BLS QCEW (county-level) · Census Building Permits (county-level)

How it compares

ZIP 21842State medianUS median
Median home value$446,397$452,533$289,727
Typical rent$2,013/mo$2,002/mo$1,808/mo
Median annual property tax$3,667$3,862$2,006

State and US medians are computed across all US ZIP codes with sufficient public-data coverage, from the same sources as the figures above.

Area data compiled from public government, academic, and industry research feeds. Data sources →

Common questions

What is the median home value in ZIP 21842?
$446,397.
What is typical rent in ZIP 21842?
Typical rent: $2,013/month.
What is the natural-hazard risk in ZIP 21842?
Overall risk: Relatively Low (FEMA NRI, county-level). Top hazards: coastalFlooding, coldWave, drought, hurricane, winterWeather.
What is the wildfire risk in ZIP 21842?
Risk to homes is higher than 56% of US counties (USDA Forest Service Wildfire Risk to Communities, county-level).
What is the radon potential in ZIP 21842?
Low radon potential — EPA Zone 3 of 3, county-level. EPA recommends testing every home regardless of zone.
Are there Superfund sites near ZIP 21842?
No current or proposed National Priorities List sites within 5 miles (EPA).
How many schools serve ZIP 21842?
1 schools (1 elementary) (NCES, 2022-23).
What is the cost of living in ZIP 21842?
Regional Price Parity: 108.0 (100 = US average) (Above Average) (BEA RPP, metro/state-level).

Nearby ZIP codes

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Data last updated

Most recent source refresh: Sep 2026. See all data sources →

Data compiled by REAIGENT7 — AI listing platform for real estate agents