The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 21821 sells for about $261,339, or $158 per square foot.
Prices are up +4.5% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 58 days to sell. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $1,615 a month.
ZIP 21821 — Deal Island
The housing market in 21821 is characterized by low inventory and a slow pace of sales, reflecting its rural, coastal nature. Prices have seen modest growth, but the market remains stable with limited development activity. Buyers are primarily focused on lifestyle properties rather than investment or commuter-driven demand.
This ZIP is best suited for those seeking a quiet, rural, waterfront lifestyle, including retirees and those who enjoy outdoor recreation, rather than urban commuters.
Median prices moved up 4.5% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 58 days on market with 3.9 months of supply — a fast-moving market.
16% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 98.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 4.0% · poverty 19.2% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 6.8%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 4.9%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
in-migration and out-migration balanced
ZCTA 21821, Somerset County MD
ACS 2024 5-year estimates. Aggregate published statistics for this ZIP — never individual records, and never an attribute of any individual property or resident.
The area is located in a coastal region of Somerset County, making it susceptible to flood risks and storm surge events.
Economic momentum is largely tied to the broader Salisbury metro area, with limited new development activity within the rural 21821 ZIP code.
Property taxes are assessed at the county level in Somerset County, with rates determined by local and state levies; no specific special district data is available for this ZIP.
Residents face a significant commute to the Salisbury employment core, with a mean travel time to work of approximately 30.9 minutes.
The area is defined by its proximity to the Chesapeake Bay and Tangier Sound, offering significant opportunities for boating, fishing, and water-based recreation.
The rental market is limited in depth due to the rural nature of the ZIP, with demand primarily driven by local residents and seasonal visitors.
The local economy is heavily reliant on agriculture, commercial fishing, and tourism, with the broader Salisbury metro area serving as the primary employment hub.
Transportation is primarily via private vehicle, with limited public transit options available in this rural coastal area.
There are no major large-scale commercial or residential developments currently reported for this ZIP code.
Parcels are subject to standard county and state property tax levies; no specific special districts are identified.
Property insurance premiums are elevated due to the high risk of coastal flooding and storm damage in this low-lying area.
Data retrieved from Census Reporter for ZCTA 21821.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
- Janes Island State Park4.711.3 mi
- Bordeleau Vineyards & Winery4.612.8 mi
- Cove Beach Park4.68.5 mi
- Roaring Point Park4.67 mi
- Somerset County Recreation and Parks4.511.6 mi
- Delmarva Discovery Museum4.719.6 mi
- Cove Beach Park4.68.5 mi
- Roaring Point Park4.67 mi
- Somerset County Recreation and Parks4.511.6 mi
- Somers Cove Marina4.613.3 mi
- Crisfield City Dock4.613.3 mi
- Cedar Hill Marina4.610.1 mi
- Great Hope Golf Course4.611.4 mi
- Linton's Seafood4.312.1 mi
- Salisbury Regional Airport4.325 mi
Theme parks, venues, golf, airports, museums, water and shopping across the area ranked by popularity within the radius shown.
Extensive marshland and trails for birdwatching and outdoor recreation.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.