Population 39,641 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in ZIP 02139
Household size in ZIP 02139
| Period | ZIP 02139 | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.17 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.27 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.28 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.14 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.04 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
Households in ZIP 02139 are small: just 2.14 people on average, compared with 2.65 nationally. That is typical of places where many people live alone or as couples, and fewer have children at home. Since 2006–10, household size has edged down from 2.17, mirroring the country. Of the 343 Massachusetts ZIP codes with 5,000+ people, only 31 have smaller households.
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 02139
| Period | ZIP 02139 | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 31.1 | 38.9 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 30.6 | 39.7 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 30.5 | 40.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 30.7 | 40.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | −0.5 | +1.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
ZIP 02139 is young: half of its residents are under 30.7, compared with a national median of 40.1. The population tilts toward young adults, many of them living alone or as couples. Since 2006–10, the median age has edged down from 31.1, even as the national median rose. Of the 343 Massachusetts ZIP codes with 5,000+ people, only eight are younger.
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 02139
| Period | ZIP 02139 | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 8.6% | 10.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.5% | 10.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 6.9% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 8.7% | 9.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +0.1 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head about one in twelve households in ZIP 02139 (8.7%), below the national share of 11.6%. The Boston area as a whole looks much the same.
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 02139
Renters in ZIP 02139
| Period | ZIP 02139 | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 68.7% | 36.8% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 66.3% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 65.0% | 38.3% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 67.8% | 38.4% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | −0.9 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
Most households in ZIP 02139 rent: 67.8% of occupied homes are rented, far above the national share of 34.8%. Expect more apartments, and more turnover, than in owner-heavy areas. About four in ten owners (39.2%) have paid off their mortgages, about the same as nationally. Since 2006–10, the renter share has edged down 0.9 points, even as the national share rose.
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 02139
| Period | ZIP 02139 | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 7.0% | 8.1% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 8.3% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 13.9% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 7.3% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +0.3 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is on the low side in ZIP 02139: 7.3% of homes sit empty, against 9.6% nationally, which points to steady demand for housing. The picture is much the same across the Boston area.
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 02139
| Period | ZIP 02139 | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1949 | 1958 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1950 | 1959 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1952 | 1961 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1958 | 1964 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | +9 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
ZIP 02139 is a place of older homes: half were built before 1958, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. The median year built has moved up from 1949 in 2006–10, a sign of steady new building. Newer construction is concentrated in the southeast, while the north has the oldest housing.
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 02139
| Period | ZIP 02139 | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,422 | $1,171 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,662 | $1,251 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $2,284 | $1,537 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $2,656 | $2,051 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | +$1,234 | +$881 | +$775 | +$606 |
The median renter in ZIP 02139 pays $2,656 a month for rent and utilities, well above the national median of $1,571. Rents are up $1,234 a month from 2006–10, an 87% jump, faster than rents rose nationally. The typical renter here spends 29.5% of household income on rent, just under the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, and a smaller share than renters pay nationally. Only 22 of the 343 Massachusetts ZIP codes with 5,000+ people have higher rents.
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 02139
Bachelor's degrees in ZIP 02139
| Period | ZIP 02139 | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 70.7% | 42.2% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 74.7% | 44.1% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 76.8% | 48.2% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 80.8% | 51.9% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +10.1 pts | +9.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
ZIP 02139 is highly educated: about eight in ten adults 25 and older (80.8%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The share with a degree has risen 10.1 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Only 25 of the 343 Massachusetts ZIP codes with 5,000+ people have a higher share of college graduates.
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 02139
| Period | ZIP 02139 | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.1% | 89.8% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 93.5% | 90.6% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 95.2% | 91.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 95.6% | 91.8% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +2.5 pts | +2.1 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in ZIP 02139: 95.6% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma is up 2.5 points from 2006–10, mirroring the country.
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 02139
| Period | ZIP 02139 | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 5.3% | 7.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 6.3% | 8.0% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.1% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 3.8% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | −1.4 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Jobs have been easier to find in ZIP 02139 than nationally: unemployment was 3.8%, against 5.4%. Unemployment has edged down 1.4 points since 2006–10, mirroring the country. Each figure pools five years of surveys (2020–24), so it describes that whole stretch rather than today's 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 02139 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 02139 | 2.14 | 30.7 | 8.7% | 67.8% | 7.3% | 1958 | $2,656 | 80.8% | 95.6% | 3.8% |
| ZIP 02163 | 1.79 | 26.2 | 9.8% | 100.0% | 19.6% | 2006 | $3,501 | 95.6% | 100.0% | 6.6% |
| ZIP 02142 | 1.78 | 30.2 | 4.9% | 91.6% | 11.8% | 1991 | $3,318 | 91.4% | 99.3% | 2.4% |
| ZIP 02141 | 1.93 | 31.1 | 5.6% | 74.9% | 13.2% | 1969 | $2,970 | 76.0% | 94.4% | 3.5% |
| ZIP 02215 | 1.55 | 25.0 | 2.8% | 90.7% | 20.5% | 1955 | $2,621 | 83.2% | 98.4% | 7.5% |
| ZIP 02143 | 2.09 | 33.0 | 2.8% | 68.4% | 7.1% | 1945 | $2,448 | 74.9% | 94.1% | 3.2% |
| ZIP 02138 | 2.03 | 32.7 | 4.2% | 58.0% | 14.1% | 1951 | $2,786 | 84.8% | 98.7% | 3.3% |
| ZIP 02199 | 1.67 | 42.5 | 12.5% | 99.2% | 33.2% | 1974 | $3,501 | 93.9% | 97.0% | 0.6% |
| ZIP 02134 | 2.22 | 28.5 | 6.5% | 87.3% | 10.5% | 1957 | $2,485 | 72.8% | 95.1% | 5.9% |
| ZIP 02115 | 1.75 | 26.0 | 9.0% | 85.4% | 17.4% | 1958 | $1,883 | 60.7% | 89.6% | 9.2% |
| ZIP 02446 | 2.17 | 35.4 | 3.8% | 62.1% | 5.7% | 1948 | $2,840 | 85.1% | 97.5% | 4.4% |
All figures 2020–24.
Zip codes with similar populations: 27295, NC · 28562, NC · 30005, GA · 01702, MA · 11378, NY · 21045, MD · 98584, WA · 93012, CA · 30087, GA · 48430, MI
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 02139. 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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