Local business data · Baltimore

Where Baltimore's local businesses are most crowded

We counted 16 kinds of storefront and office businesses per 1,000 households in 102 residential ZIP codes across the Baltimore metro (1,101,525 households). Here's where competition is densest, how the metro compares with Maryland and the U.S., and the big ZIPs where fewer than 3 of a business type are recorded.

Key findings

Annapolis (21401) ranks among the 10 most crowded ZIPs in the metro for 13 of 16 business types, including dentists, chiropractors, veterinarians.
Baltimore has about 45% fewer chiropractic offices per household than the U.S. as a whole (0.14 per 1,000 households, against 0.25).
Towson (21286) has 10 veterinary practices for 9,519 households, about 6 times the metro rate.
Baltimore (21206), with 20,457 households, has fewer than 3 insurance agencies recorded. Counts under 3 aren't published, so it could be one or two.

The metro at a glance

Businesses per 1,000 households across the metro, next to Maryland and the U.S.

Business type	Recorded	Metro	MD	U.S.
Dentists	1,049	0.95	1.06	1.00
Chiropractors	151	0.14	0.13	0.25
Veterinarians	190	0.17	0.17	0.18
Gyms & fitness centers	298	0.27	0.25	0.26
Beauty salons	663	0.60	0.59	0.61
Nail salons	180	0.16	0.20	0.23
Full-service restaurants	1,727	1.57	1.57	1.93
Fast-food & counter-service restaurants	2,613	2.37	2.29	2.04
General auto repair shops	691	0.63	0.63	0.57
Dry cleaners & laundry services	128	0.12	0.11	0.07
Child care centers	619	0.56	0.59	0.56
Pet care (grooming, boarding, training)	148	0.13	0.10	0.13
Law offices	1,331	1.21	1.07	1.22
Insurance agencies	856	0.78	0.72	0.97
CPA offices	432	0.39	0.39	0.37
Investment advisers	160	0.15	0.12	0.14

Dentists

1,049 recorded across the metro, 0.95 per 1,000 households. The most crowded ZIPs:

ZIP	Place	Households	Recorded	Per 1,000
20759	Fulton	2,031	13	6.40
21204	Towson	8,564	41	4.79
21042	Ellicott City	14,958	53	3.54
21093	Lutherville Timonium	15,666	55	3.51
21029	Clarksville	4,072	12	2.95
21401	Annapolis	17,980	49	2.73
21054	Gambrills	5,292	14	2.65
21045	Columbia	15,368	39	2.54
21619	Chester	2,441	6	2.46
21152	Sparks Glencoe	2,532	6	2.37

Large ZIPs with fewer than 3 recorded: Gwynn Oak (21207) – 19,608 households, Baltimore (21217) – 14,952 households, Severn (21144) – 12,942 households, Baltimore (21216) – 11,667 households. Counts under 3 aren't published, so each could have one or two.

Chiropractors

151 recorded across the metro, 0.14 per 1,000 households (below the U.S. rate of 0.25). The most crowded ZIPs:

ZIP	Place	Households	Recorded	Per 1,000
21054	Gambrills	5,292	4	0.76
21401	Annapolis	17,980	12	0.67
21045	Columbia	15,368	10	0.65
21014	Bel Air	14,565	9	0.62
21211	Baltimore	8,394	5	0.60
21093	Lutherville Timonium	15,666	8	0.51
21037	Edgewater	7,906	4	0.51
21146	Severna Park	9,888	5	0.51
21236	Nottingham	15,627	7	0.45
21114	Crofton	9,489	4	0.42

Large ZIPs with fewer than 3 recorded: Dundalk (21222) – 22,385 households, Baltimore (21206) – 20,457 households, Gwynn Oak (21207) – 19,608 households, Baltimore (21218) – 18,344 households, Ellicott City (21043) – 17,246 households, Essex (21221) – 17,143 households. Counts under 3 aren't published, so each could have one or two.

Veterinarians

190 recorded across the metro, 0.17 per 1,000 households. The most crowded ZIPs:

ZIP	Place	Households	Recorded	Per 1,000
21035	Davidsonville	2,717	3	1.10
21286	Towson	9,519	10	1.05
21054	Gambrills	5,292	5	0.94
21401	Annapolis	17,980	15	0.83
21048	Finksburg	3,653	3	0.82
21074	Hampstead	6,052	4	0.66
21030	Cockeysville	10,787	7	0.65
21204	Towson	8,564	5	0.58
21157	Westminster	14,646	8	0.55
21037	Edgewater	7,906	4	0.51

Large ZIPs with fewer than 3 recorded: Dundalk (21222) – 22,385 households, Baltimore (21215) – 21,005 households, Baltimore (21206) – 20,457 households, Gwynn Oak (21207) – 19,608 households, Baltimore (21229) – 18,517 households, Baltimore (21218) – 18,344 households. Counts under 3 aren't published, so each could have one or two.

Gyms & fitness centers

298 recorded across the metro, 0.27 per 1,000 households. The most crowded ZIPs:

ZIP	Place	Households	Recorded	Per 1,000
21054	Gambrills	5,292	7	1.32
21401	Annapolis	17,980	21	1.17
21093	Lutherville Timonium	15,666	17	1.09
21146	Severna Park	9,888	10	1.01
21045	Columbia	15,368	15	0.98
21046	Columbia	6,100	5	0.82
21108	Millersville	6,339	5	0.79
21030	Cockeysville	10,787	8	0.74
21204	Towson	8,564	6	0.70
21784	Sykesville	13,216	9	0.68

Large ZIPs with fewer than 3 recorded: Baltimore (21206) – 20,457 households, Gwynn Oak (21207) – 19,608 households, Baltimore (21229) – 18,517 households, Columbia (21044) – 18,391 households, Baltimore (21218) – 18,344 households, Essex (21221) – 17,143 households. Counts under 3 aren't published, so each could have one or two.

Note: Independent personal trainers without employees aren't counted.

Beauty salons

663 recorded across the metro, 0.60 per 1,000 households. The most crowded ZIPs:

ZIP	Place	Households	Recorded	Per 1,000
21093	Lutherville Timonium	15,666	36	2.30
21401	Annapolis	17,980	40	2.22
21029	Clarksville	4,072	9	2.21
20759	Fulton	2,031	4	1.97
21042	Ellicott City	14,958	27	1.81
21054	Gambrills	5,292	9	1.70
21120	Parkton	2,560	4	1.56
21211	Baltimore	8,394	13	1.55
21014	Bel Air	14,565	22	1.51
21128	Perry Hall	5,428	8	1.47

Large ZIPs with fewer than 3 recorded: Baltimore (21217) – 14,952 households, Brooklyn (21225) – 12,917 households, Rosedale (21237) – 12,291 households, Baltimore (21239) – 11,796 households, Baltimore (21216) – 11,667 households, Baltimore (21213) – 11,563 households. Counts under 3 aren't published, so each could have one or two.

Note: Booth renters and self-employed stylists aren't counted, so the real number of stylists is much higher than the number of salons.

Nail salons

180 recorded across the metro, 0.16 per 1,000 households (below the U.S. rate of 0.23). The most crowded ZIPs:

ZIP	Place	Households	Recorded	Per 1,000
21054	Gambrills	5,292	6	1.13
21029	Clarksville	4,072	4	0.98
21014	Bel Air	14,565	12	0.82
21037	Edgewater	7,906	6	0.76
21030	Cockeysville	10,787	7	0.65
21236	Nottingham	15,627	10	0.64
21401	Annapolis	17,980	11	0.61
21128	Perry Hall	5,428	3	0.55
21061	Glen Burnie	22,181	12	0.54
21146	Severna Park	9,888	5	0.51

Large ZIPs with fewer than 3 recorded: Gwynn Oak (21207) – 19,608 households, Baltimore (21229) – 18,517 households, Baltimore (21218) – 18,344 households, Middle River (21220) – 16,220 households, Glen Burnie (21060) – 15,696 households, Baltimore (21217) – 14,952 households. Counts under 3 aren't published, so each could have one or two.

Note: Self-employed nail technicians aren't counted.

Full-service restaurants

1,727 recorded across the metro, 1.57 per 1,000 households (below the U.S. rate of 1.93). The most crowded ZIPs:

ZIP	Place	Households	Recorded	Per 1,000
21231	Baltimore	7,789	56	7.19
21202	Baltimore	10,932	62	5.67
21401	Annapolis	17,980	96	5.34
21054	Gambrills	5,292	25	4.72
21211	Baltimore	8,394	37	4.41
21230	Baltimore	16,003	62	3.87
21201	Baltimore	10,703	40	3.74
21204	Towson	8,564	30	3.50
21224	Baltimore	20,320	70	3.44
21037	Edgewater	7,906	27	3.42

Large ZIPs with fewer than 3 recorded: Baltimore (21239) – 11,796 households, Baltimore (21216) – 11,667 households, Baltimore (21213) – 11,563 households. Counts under 3 aren't published, so each could have one or two.

Fast-food & counter-service restaurants

2,613 recorded across the metro, 2.37 per 1,000 households (1.2 times the U.S. rate). The most crowded ZIPs:

ZIP	Place	Households	Recorded	Per 1,000
21090	Linthicum Heights	3,852	30	7.79
21054	Gambrills	5,292	38	7.18
21205	Baltimore	5,227	31	5.93
21619	Chester	2,441	14	5.74
21201	Baltimore	10,703	60	5.61
21076	Hanover	9,297	50	5.38
21204	Towson	8,564	46	5.37
21401	Annapolis	17,980	90	5.01
21202	Baltimore	10,932	49	4.48
21236	Nottingham	15,627	69	4.42

General auto repair shops

691 recorded across the metro, 0.63 per 1,000 households (1.1 times the U.S. rate). The most crowded ZIPs:

ZIP	Place	Households	Recorded	Per 1,000
20794	Jessup	4,060	14	3.45
21048	Finksburg	3,653	12	3.28
21226	Curtis Bay	2,829	8	2.83
21047	Fallston	4,852	11	2.27
21084	Jarrettsville	2,798	6	2.14
21030	Cockeysville	10,787	21	1.95
21054	Gambrills	5,292	10	1.89
21090	Linthicum Heights	3,852	7	1.82
21157	Westminster	14,646	25	1.71
21102	Manchester	4,448	7	1.57

Large ZIPs with fewer than 3 recorded: Columbia (21044) – 18,391 households, Ellicott City (21043) – 17,246 households, Baltimore (21217) – 14,952 households, Annapolis (21403) – 14,408 households, Severn (21144) – 12,942 households, Baltimore (21239) – 11,796 households. Counts under 3 aren't published, so each could have one or two.

Note: Specialty shops (body, transmission, oil change) and car washes are counted separately and aren't included; solo mechanics without employees aren't counted.

Dry cleaners & laundry services

128 recorded across the metro, 0.12 per 1,000 households (1.7 times the U.S. rate). The most crowded ZIPs:

ZIP	Place	Households	Recorded	Per 1,000
21030	Cockeysville	10,787	6	0.56
21211	Baltimore	8,394	4	0.48
21208	Pikesville	15,561	7	0.45
21401	Annapolis	17,980	8	0.44
21042	Ellicott City	14,958	6	0.40
21045	Columbia	15,368	6	0.39
21037	Edgewater	7,906	3	0.38
21012	Arnold	8,112	3	0.37
21204	Towson	8,564	3	0.35
21043	Ellicott City	17,246	6	0.35

Large ZIPs with fewer than 3 recorded: Parkville (21234) – 27,258 households, Pasadena (21122) – 22,733 households, Dundalk (21222) – 22,385 households, Baltimore (21206) – 20,457 households, Baltimore (21224) – 20,320 households, Baltimore (21229) – 18,517 households. Counts under 3 aren't published, so each could have one or two.

Note: Coin-operated laundromats are a separate category and aren't included.

Child care centers

619 recorded across the metro, 0.56 per 1,000 households. The most crowded ZIPs:

ZIP	Place	Households	Recorded	Per 1,000
21054	Gambrills	5,292	12	2.27
21046	Columbia	6,100	13	2.13
20759	Fulton	2,031	4	1.97
21045	Columbia	15,368	27	1.76
21074	Hampstead	6,052	9	1.49
21029	Clarksville	4,072	6	1.47
21797	Woodbine	2,936	4	1.36
21784	Sykesville	13,216	17	1.29
21666	Stevensville	5,520	7	1.27
21050	Forest Hill	6,400	8	1.25

Large ZIPs with fewer than 3 recorded: Annapolis (21403) – 14,408 households, Brooklyn (21225) – 12,917 households, Baltimore (21216) – 11,667 households. Counts under 3 aren't published, so each could have one or two.

Note: Home-based child care run without employees isn't counted.

Pet care (grooming, boarding, training)

148 recorded across the metro, 0.13 per 1,000 households. The most crowded ZIPs:

ZIP	Place	Households	Recorded	Per 1,000
21032	Crownsville	3,065	5	1.63
21131	Phoenix	2,467	3	1.22
21046	Columbia	6,100	5	0.82
21074	Hampstead	6,052	4	0.66
21108	Millersville	6,339	4	0.63
21146	Severna Park	9,888	6	0.61
21409	Annapolis	7,260	4	0.55
21211	Baltimore	8,394	4	0.48
21050	Forest Hill	6,400	3	0.47
21085	Joppa	6,560	3	0.46

Large ZIPs with fewer than 3 recorded: Dundalk (21222) – 22,385 households, Glen Burnie (21061) – 22,181 households, Baltimore (21215) – 21,005 households, Catonsville (21228) – 19,614 households, Gwynn Oak (21207) – 19,608 households, Baltimore (21229) – 18,517 households. Counts under 3 aren't published, so each could have one or two.

Note: Veterinarians are a separate category; mobile and solo groomers without employees aren't counted.

Law offices

1,331 recorded across the metro, 1.21 per 1,000 households. The most crowded ZIPs:

ZIP	Place	Households	Recorded	Per 1,000
21204	Towson	8,564	162	18.9
21202	Baltimore	10,932	158	14.4
21201	Baltimore	10,703	131	12.2
21401	Annapolis	17,980	114	6.34
20759	Fulton	2,031	11	5.42
21208	Pikesville	15,561	80	5.14
21286	Towson	9,519	42	4.41
21046	Columbia	6,100	22	3.61
21093	Lutherville Timonium	15,666	55	3.51
21014	Bel Air	14,565	48	3.30

Large ZIPs with fewer than 3 recorded: Baltimore (21206) – 20,457 households, Baltimore (21229) – 18,517 households, Baltimore (21217) – 14,952 households, Windsor Mill (21244) – 14,376 households, Severn (21144) – 12,942 households, Brooklyn (21225) – 12,917 households. Counts under 3 aren't published, so each could have one or two.

Insurance agencies

856 recorded across the metro, 0.78 per 1,000 households (below the U.S. rate of 0.97). The most crowded ZIPs:

ZIP	Place	Households	Recorded	Per 1,000
21152	Sparks Glencoe	2,532	10	3.95
21204	Towson	8,564	27	3.15
21093	Lutherville Timonium	15,666	49	3.13
21046	Columbia	6,100	19	3.11
21131	Phoenix	2,467	7	2.84
21619	Chester	2,441	6	2.46
21401	Annapolis	17,980	44	2.45
21286	Towson	9,519	23	2.42
21030	Cockeysville	10,787	25	2.32
21014	Bel Air	14,565	32	2.20

Large ZIPs with fewer than 3 recorded: Baltimore (21206) – 20,457 households, Baltimore (21229) – 18,517 households, Glen Burnie (21060) – 15,696 households, Baltimore (21217) – 14,952 households, Severn (21144) – 12,942 households, Brooklyn (21225) – 12,917 households. Counts under 3 aren't published, so each could have one or two.

CPA offices

432 recorded across the metro, 0.39 per 1,000 households. The most crowded ZIPs:

ZIP	Place	Households	Recorded	Per 1,000
21204	Towson	8,564	21	2.45
21093	Lutherville Timonium	15,666	36	2.30
21014	Bel Air	14,565	24	1.65
21152	Sparks Glencoe	2,532	4	1.58
21202	Baltimore	10,932	17	1.56
21401	Annapolis	17,980	27	1.50
21117	Owings Mills	24,363	31	1.27
21208	Pikesville	15,561	19	1.22
21114	Crofton	9,489	11	1.16
21286	Towson	9,519	10	1.05

Large ZIPs with fewer than 3 recorded: Dundalk (21222) – 22,385 households, Baltimore (21215) – 21,005 households, Baltimore (21206) – 20,457 households, Baltimore (21229) – 18,517 households, Middle River (21220) – 16,220 households, Glen Burnie (21060) – 15,696 households. Counts under 3 aren't published, so each could have one or two.

Note: Tax-prep-only offices are a separate category and aren't included.

Investment advisers

160 recorded across the metro, 0.15 per 1,000 households. The most crowded ZIPs:

ZIP	Place	Households	Recorded	Per 1,000
21030	Cockeysville	10,787	21	1.95
21093	Lutherville Timonium	15,666	21	1.34
21401	Annapolis	17,980	22	1.22
21131	Phoenix	2,467	3	1.22
21202	Baltimore	10,932	13	1.19
21152	Sparks Glencoe	2,532	3	1.18
21204	Towson	8,564	10	1.17
21048	Finksburg	3,653	4	1.09
21146	Severna Park	9,888	8	0.81
21286	Towson	9,519	7	0.74

Large ZIPs with fewer than 3 recorded: Parkville (21234) – 27,258 households, Dundalk (21222) – 22,385 households, Glen Burnie (21061) – 22,181 households, Baltimore (21215) – 21,005 households, Baltimore (21206) – 20,457 households, Baltimore (21224) – 20,320 households. Counts under 3 aren't published, so each could have one or two.

How to read the numbers

Counts cover business locations with paid employees, in 2023. Self-employed owners aren't included, so every count is a minimum.
Counts under 3 aren't published for a ZIP and business type, so "fewer than 3 recorded" can mean one, two, or none.
"Most crowded" ranks ZIPs with at least 2,000 households by businesses per 1,000 households. Downtowns and shopping districts rank high because they serve workers and visitors as well as residents.
The metro is the Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD metropolitan area. A ZIP counts toward it when most of its land is in one of the metro's counties.
Free to quote or chart with credit to Good Mail Co and a link to this page.

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