We have obtained ~2.5x2.5 arcminute maps toward L1521E using the IRAM-30m telescope in transitions of various species, including C^17^O, CH_3_OH c-C_3_H_2_, CN, SO, H_2_CS, and CH_3_CCH. We derived abundances for the observed species and compared them to those obtained toward L1544. We estimated CO depletion factors using the C^17^O IRAM-30m map, an N(H2) map derived from Herschel/ SPIRE data and a 1.2 mm dust continuum emission map obtained with the IRAM-30m telescope. Similarly to L1544, c-C_3_H_2_ and CH_3_OH peak at different positions. Most species peak toward the c-C_3_H_2_ peak: C_2_S, C_3_S, HCS^+^, HC_3_N, H_2_CS, CH_3_CCH, C^34^S. C^17^O and SO peak close to both the c-C_3_H_2_ and the CH_3_OH peaks. CN and N_2_H^+^ peak close to the Herschel dust peak. We found evidence of CO depletion toward L1521E. The lower limit of the CO depletion factor derived toward the Herschel dust peak is 4.3+/-1.6, which is about a factor of three lower than toward L1544. We derived abundances for several species toward the dust peaks of L1521E and L1544. The abundances of most sulfur-bearing molecules such as C_2_S, HCS^+^, C^34^S, C^33^S, and HCS^+^ are higher toward L1521E than toward L1544 by factors of ~2-20, compared to the abundance of A-CH_3_OH. The abundance of methanol is very similar toward the two cores.