ZIP 21042 vs ZIP 21104

21042 is one of 20 ZIP codes that lie mostly in Howard County, MD.

Shaded by typical home value, it ranks 10 of the 19 with a value.

13 school locations in 21042: 6 elementary, 3 middle, 3 high, 1 other.

In alphabetical order: Applications and Research Laboratory, Burleigh Manor Middle School, Centennial High, Centennial Lane Elementary, and more on the ZIP page. Locations only — no ratings are shown here.

21104 is one of 20 ZIP codes that lie mostly in Howard County, MD — 53% of its own area is in the county.

Shaded by typical home value, it ranks 11 of the 19 with a value.

2 school locations in 21104: 1 middle, 1 high.

In alphabetical order: Marriotts Ridge High, Mount View Middle. Locations only — no ratings are shown here.

In January 2000 the typical home in 21042 was worth $262,165.

Values peaked at $806,532 in August 2026. The latest reading is the peak.

As of August 2026: $806,532, +1.1% over twelve months.

Start with the typical home: $806,532. Put 20% down and borrow $645,226 at 7.40%, the 30-year fixed average as of October 8, 2026.

That is $4,467 a month in principal and interest.

The median household here earns $190,504 a year, $15,875 a month. So the payment takes 28.1% of income — rated “stretched” (Lotvox ZIP bands: under 28% affordable · 28–36% stretched · 36%+ severe).

The line holds today's rate fixed and moves only the price: at that rate, the same share was 9.1% in 2000.

Take the typical home's price each month, borrow 80% at that month's actual 30-year average rate: in January 2000 (8.21%) the payment was $1,570.

In December 2020, with rates at 2.68%, it was $2,043.

By August 2026, at 6.67%, it was $4,149 — +103% since December 2020, while the home's value moved +28%.

Reported values rose +208% since January 2000.

General prices (CPI-U) rose +97% over the same span.

Divide one by the other: in August 2026 dollars, the 2000 home was worth $517,410. So the real change is +56%, not +208%.

21042: +208% since January 2000.

Howard County: +206% since January 2000.

Maryland: +180% since January 2000 — 21042 ran ahead of it by 27 points.

Owning the typical home costs about $5,274 a month once taxes and insurance (estimated at 1.2% of price a year) are added. Renting runs about $3,021 a month.

Price divided by a year's rent: 22.2. Lotvox reads under 15 as favoring buying and 20 or more as favoring renting.

In January 2000 the typical home in 21104 was worth $255,600.

Values peaked at $724,853 in August 2026. The latest reading is the peak.

As of August 2026: $724,853, +0.9% over twelve months.

Start with the typical home: $724,853. Put 20% down and borrow $579,882 at 7.40%, the 30-year fixed average as of October 8, 2026.

That is $4,015 a month in principal and interest.

The median household here earns $199,803 a year, $16,650 a month. So the payment takes 24.1% of income — rated “affordable” (Lotvox ZIP bands: under 28% affordable · 28–36% stretched · 36%+ severe).

The line holds today's rate fixed and moves only the price: at that rate, the same share was 8.5% in 2000.

Take the typical home's price each month, borrow 80% at that month's actual 30-year average rate: in January 2000 (8.21%) the payment was $1,530.

In December 2020, with rates at 2.68%, it was $1,843.

By August 2026, at 6.67%, it was $3,729 — +102% since December 2020, while the home's value moved +27%.

Reported values rose +184% since January 2000.

General prices (CPI-U) rose +97% over the same span.

Divide one by the other: in August 2026 dollars, the 2000 home was worth $504,453. So the real change is +44%, not +184%.

21104: +184% since January 2000.

Howard County: +206% since January 2000.

Maryland: +180% since January 2000 — 21104 ran ahead of it by 3 points.

Owning the typical home costs about $4,740 a month once taxes and insurance (estimated at 1.2% of price a year) are added. Renting runs about $2,099 a month.

Price divided by a year's rent: 28.8. Lotvox reads under 15 as favoring buying and 20 or more as favoring renting.

Picture the Listings Flow Ladder as a basin: new listings pour in from the faucet, the homes for sale are the water, and closed sales run out the drain. Coming in — new listings: about 53 a month (Redfin, 3-month rolling data through August 2026). That is 88% of the 2015–2019 level for the same months.

On the shelf — homes for sale at the end of the period: 68. That is 42% of the 2015–2019 level for the same months.

Going out — closed sales: about 56 a month. That is 88% of the 2015–2019 level for the same months.

The ladder: homes for sale ÷ monthly sales = 1.2 months of supply — below the 4–6 month range Lotvox treats as balanced. In the basin, that is the water level against the shaded balanced band.

The net reading: about 3 more homes sold than came on each month, so inventory is shrinking. The basin is draining.

Homes sold: about 56 a month in August 2026 (Redfin).

The 2015–2019 level for the same month was 48 — so sales ran at 117% of it, and below it in 13 of the last 24 months.

Across Howard County, builders pulled permits for 728 new homes in 2025.

Of those, 45% were in 1-unit buildings (the Census Bureau's category for detached and attached single homes).

Homes sold: about 7 a month in August 2026 (Redfin).

The 2015–2019 level for the same month was 8 — so sales ran at 88% of it, and below it in 14 of the last 24 months.

Across Howard County, builders pulled permits for 728 new homes in 2025.

Of those, 45% were in 1-unit buildings (the Census Bureau's category for detached and attached single homes).

This ZIP sits in Howard County. IRS tax returns for 2022-2023: among the ten counties sending the most households, 7,060 moved in. Among the ten receiving the most, 7,033 moved out.

Net across those counties: +27 households. Beside it, homes for sale in this ZIP: 68 in June 2026.

Most arrivals came from Anne Arundel, MD (1,379 households); most departures went to Anne Arundel, MD (1,615).

This ZIP sits in Howard County. IRS tax returns for 2022-2023: among the ten counties sending the most households, 7,060 moved in. Among the ten receiving the most, 7,033 moved out.

Net across those counties: +27 households. Beside it, homes for sale in this ZIP: 15 in June 2026.

Most arrivals came from Anne Arundel, MD (1,379 households); most departures went to Anne Arundel, MD (1,615).