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Ocean City, MD
Town in Worcester County, Maryland. ZIP codes: 21842.
Population
6,903
Land area
4.4sq mi
People per sq mi
1,560
ZIP codes
1
Ocean City and its ZIP codes
Ocean City at a glance
- Ocean City is about 2.4 times as dense as Maryland as a whole.
- The median household income is $77,750, 25% below the Maryland median of $103,678.
- A typical owner-occupied home is valued at $429,000 and median rent is $1,353 a month.
Local data for Ocean City, MD
Counts from official public data
Housing and community stats
Ocean City, MD, American Community Survey 2020-2024
Median household income
$77,750
Poverty rate
10.9%
Median home value
$429,000
Median rent
$1,353/mo
Homeownership
74.2%
Bachelor's or higher
41.7%
Median age
55.6
Average commute
19.6 min
Largest reported origins and ancestries: German Americans (1,444), Irish Americans (1,299), Italian Americans (858).
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Worcester County. PPP loans are for Ocean City.
Unemployment rate
3.3%
Sep 2026, -0.9 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$47,233
26,246 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$73,572
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$528M
FY 2026, $10,069 per person
How people get to work
Ocean City, MD, workers 16 and older. American Community Survey 5-year estimates
- Drove alone66.3%
- Carpooled4.1%
- Public transit1.1%
- Walked3.9%
- Bicycle4.8%
- Taxi, ride-hailing, motorcycle or other2.4%
- Worked from home17.4%
Average one-way commute: 19.6 minutes for people who do not work from home.
Environment and hazard risk
Ocean City, MD, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: hurricane
Storm events since 1996
473
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
7,870
23.9% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
84° / 28°F
42.6 inches of rain a year
Hazards, floods and storm historyCheck a flood zone1 historic places
Health statistics
Share of adults in Ocean City, MD, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
32.6%
U.S. 33.3% -0.7 pts
Diabetes
13.8%
U.S. 12.1% +1.7 pts
Smoking
12.1%
U.S. 12.8% -0.7 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
7.0%
U.S. 11.1% -4.1 pts
ZIP codes in Ocean City
1 in or overlapping Ocean City. Population shown
Cities near Ocean City
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| West Ocean CityCensus-designated place | 3.6 mi | 4.2 |
| Ocean PinesCensus-designated place | 3.8 mi | 6.5 |
| Fenwick Island, DETown | 5.1 mi | 0.3 |
| BishopvilleCensus-designated place | 8.1 mi | 2.9 |
| BerlinTown | 8.6 mi | 3.4 |
| South Bethany, DETown | 8.9 mi | 0.5 |
| Selbyville, DETown | 10 mi | 3.9 |
| Ocean View, DETown | 11 mi | 2.8 |
| Bethany Beach, DETown | 11 mi | 1.1 |
| Millville, DETown | 11 mi | 2.5 |
| WhaleyvilleCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 1 |
| Frankford, DETown | 13 mi | 1.2 |
| NewarkCensus-designated place | 13 mi | 9.4 |
| Dagsboro, DETown | 14 mi | 1.4 |
| WillardsTown | 15 mi | 1.1 |
| Long Neck, DECensus-designated place | 17 mi | 2.8 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Ocean City, MD in?
- Ocean City is in Worcester County, Maryland.
- What ZIP codes are in Ocean City, MD?
- ZIP codes in or overlapping Ocean City include 21842.
- What is the population of Ocean City, MD?
- About 6,903 people live in Ocean City, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Ocean City?
- Nearby places include West Ocean City (3.6 mi), Ocean Pines (3.8 mi), Fenwick Island, DE (5.1 mi), Bishopville (8.1 mi), Berlin (8.6 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023