Population 30,271 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in ZIP 01821
Household size in ZIP 01821
| Period | ZIP 01821 | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.89 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.80 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.89 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.72 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.17 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in ZIP 01821 average 2.72 people, about the same as the country as a whole (2.65). The typical household here is bigger than in the Boston area overall, where it has 2.55 people. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.89, a much bigger shift than nationally.
Household size: the average number of people living in each occupied home. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25010).
Median age in ZIP 01821
| Period | ZIP 01821 | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 38.2 | 38.9 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 40.4 | 39.7 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 42.0 | 40.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 44.1 | 40.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.9 | +1.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
ZIP 01821 skews older: half of its residents are older than 44.1, well above the national median of 40.1. That usually means more empty nesters and retirees, and fewer young families. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 38.2, in line with the national trend.
Median age: the age that splits residents into two equal halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B01002).
Single-parent households in ZIP 01821
| Period | ZIP 01821 | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.5% | 10.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 7.6% | 10.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.2% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.0% | 9.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.5 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single-parent households are relatively rare in ZIP 01821: 8.0% of households, against 11.6% nationally. The single-parent share has barely moved since 2006–10, while the national share fell.
Single-parent households: households where one adult with no spouse present lives with children under 18. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B11003).
Housing in ZIP 01821
Renters in ZIP 01821
| Period | ZIP 01821 | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 13.7% | 36.8% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 17.8% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 20.8% | 38.3% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 17.5% | 38.4% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | +3.8 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
ZIP 01821 is largely a place of homeowners: only 17.5% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Just over a third of owners (35.6%) have paid off their mortgages, below the national share of 39.8%. The renter share has risen 3.8 points since 2006–10, as it has nationally.
Renters: occupied homes that are rented rather than owned. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25003).
Vacant homes in ZIP 01821
| Period | ZIP 01821 | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 6.6% | 8.1% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 3.3% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.0% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 1.8% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | −4.8 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Only 1.8% of homes in ZIP 01821 are vacant, far below the national rate of 9.6%, which usually means strong demand for housing. Since 2006–10, vacancy has fallen 4.8 points, as it has nationally. Only 11 of the 343 Massachusetts ZIP codes with 5,000+ people have a lower vacancy rate.
Vacant homes: homes with no one living in them, including vacation homes and homes for sale or rent. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25002).
Age of homes in ZIP 01821
| Period | ZIP 01821 | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1969 | 1958 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1970 | 1959 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1971 | 1961 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1974 | 1964 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +5 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
Homes in ZIP 01821 run a bit older than the national norm, with a median build year of 1974 against 1980. Locally, though, homes here are newer than in the Boston area as a whole, where the median home dates to 1964. The median year built has moved up from 1969 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. The newest homes are mostly in the southwest, the oldest in the northeast.
Age of homes: the year that splits the housing stock into older and newer halves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25035).
Rent in ZIP 01821
| Period | ZIP 01821 | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,375 | $1,171 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,282 | $1,251 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,706 | $1,537 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,269 | $2,051 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$895 | +$881 | +$775 | +$606 |
Rent in ZIP 01821 runs $2,269 a month at the median, utilities included, well above the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has climbed $895 a month since 2006–10, up 65%, roughly in step with the nation. Rent takes 24.9% of the typical renter's income, comfortably under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent. The priciest rents are in the southwest; the most affordable are in the southeast.
Rent: monthly rent plus the utilities renters pay themselves. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B25064).
Education in ZIP 01821
Bachelor's degrees in ZIP 01821
| Period | ZIP 01821 | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.5% | 42.2% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 32.7% | 44.1% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 36.9% | 48.2% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 39.7% | 51.9% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +8.2 pts | +9.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
About four in ten adults 25 and older in ZIP 01821 (39.7%) have a bachelor's degree or higher, a bit above the national share of 35.6%. Locally, though, the share is lower than in the Boston area overall (51.9%). The share with a degree is up 8.2 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
Bachelor's degrees: adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
High school graduates in ZIP 01821
| Period | ZIP 01821 | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.1% | 89.8% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.7% | 90.6% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.3% | 91.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 94.2% | 91.8% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | +2.1 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion in ZIP 01821 is above the national rate: 94.2% of adults have a diploma, against 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 1.1 points from 2006–10, a smaller shift than nationally.
High school graduates: adults 25 and older with a high school diploma, GED or more. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B15003).
Jobs in ZIP 01821
| Period | ZIP 01821 | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.3% | 7.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.4% | 8.0% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.3% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 2.9% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −2.4 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in ZIP 01821 has been low: just 2.9% of the labor force was out of work and looking, well below the national rate of 5.4%. Unemployment has fallen 2.4 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend. Because the Census pools five years of responses (2020–24), these rates smooth over short swings and lag the current job market.
Unemployment: people looking for work as a share of everyone working or looking. Source: BestNeighborhood calculations from U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year block-group estimates (table B23025).
ZIP 01821 compared with nearby ZIP codes
| ZIP code | Household size | Median age | Single parents | Renters | Vacant homes | Median year built | Median rent | Bachelor's degree | High school diploma | Unemployment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZIP 01821 | 2.72 | 44.1 | 8.0% | 17.5% | 1.8% | 1974 | $2,269 | 39.7% | 94.2% | 2.9% |
| ZIP 01862 | 2.59 | 40.0 | 11.7% | 28.6% | 1.0% | 1982 | $2,122 | 40.7% | 92.2% | 5.7% |
| ZIP 01730 | 2.51 | 45.0 | 4.0% | 31.2% | 2.9% | 1973 | $2,392 | 68.8% | 96.1% | 5.1% |
| ZIP 01803 | 2.63 | 45.4 | 5.8% | 25.8% | 4.4% | 1974 | $2,558 | 58.5% | 95.7% | 4.5% |
| ZIP 01887 | 2.92 | 41.9 | 7.9% | 11.9% | 3.1% | 1978 | $2,660 | 50.6% | 96.9% | 4.9% |
| ZIP 01876 | 2.66 | 45.6 | 6.2% | 15.5% | 3.0% | 1978 | $2,085 | 40.1% | 92.9% | 3.3% |
| ZIP 01741 | 2.97 | 45.1 | 5.4% | 7.7% | 2.2% | 1977 | $2,374 | 86.6% | 98.8% | 4.2% |
| ZIP 01824 | 2.74 | 42.8 | 5.9% | 17.8% | 6.7% | 1969 | $2,253 | 55.5% | 93.8% | 6.6% |
| ZIP 01852 | 2.57 | 37.7 | 15.8% | 56.2% | 4.6% | 1958 | $1,580 | 31.6% | 84.0% | 5.2% |
| ZIP 01801 | 2.57 | 40.1 | 7.6% | 44.3% | 5.7% | 1968 | $2,202 | 46.5% | 94.7% | 7.4% |
| ZIP 02420 | 2.85 | 46.3 | 5.8% | 12.5% | 4.3% | 1964 | $3,033 | 85.5% | 98.0% | 3.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Zip codes with similar populations: 11731, NY · 02893, RI · 60134, IL · 56401, MN · 33573, FL · 91356, CA · 91792, CA · 76016, TX · 15401, PA · 40701, KY
About these numbers
Every figure on this page is a BestNeighborhood calculation from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), built up from the Census block groups that make up ZIP 01821. Each ACS 5-year release pools five years of responses; this page shows the last 15 releases, 2006–10 through 2020–24. Neighboring releases share four of their five years, so they move gradually and small changes between them are within the survey's margin of error; in small places the lines can jump from one release to the next for the same reason. The maps show the same measures for each neighborhood, ranked against the whole country.
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