Population 5,268 · Census ACS 2020–24
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Population and households in ZIP 02738
Household size in ZIP 02738
| Period | ZIP 02738 | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 2.57 | 2.54 | 2.53 | 2.68 |
| 2010–14 | 2.52 | 2.59 | 2.57 | 2.73 |
| 2015–19 | 2.49 | 2.60 | 2.57 | 2.71 |
| 2020–24 | 2.39 | 2.55 | 2.52 | 2.65 |
| Change | −0.18 | +0.01 | −0.01 | −0.03 |
ZIP 02738 is a place of small households, averaging 2.39 people against 2.65 for the U.S., which points to many singles, couples and roommates and relatively few children. Since 2006–10, household size has dropped from 2.57, 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 02738
| Period | ZIP 02738 | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 46.4 | 38.9 | 39.4 | 37.7 |
| 2010–14 | 48.7 | 39.7 | 40.1 | 38.6 |
| 2015–19 | 51.1 | 40.4 | 41.0 | 39.6 |
| 2020–24 | 52.2 | 40.8 | 41.4 | 40.1 |
| Change | +5.8 | +1.9 | +2.0 | +2.3 |
With a median age of 52.2, ZIP 02738 is noticeably older than the country as a whole (40.1), an age mix that tilts toward empty nesters and retirees. Since 2006–10, the median age has climbed from 46.4, in line with the national trend. Only 19 of the 343 Massachusetts ZIP codes with 5,000+ people are older.
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 02738
| Period | ZIP 02738 | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 10.3% | 10.4% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2010–14 | 6.9% | 10.2% | 11.0% | 12.3% |
| 2015–19 | 8.1% | 9.6% | 10.3% | 11.6% |
| 2020–24 | 11.6% | 9.7% | 10.6% | 11.6% |
| Change | +1.4 pts | −0.7 pts | −0.4 pts | −0.6 pts |
Single parents head nearly one in eight households in ZIP 02738 (11.6%), the same as the national share. Single parents are more common here than in the wider Boston area (9.7%). Since 2006–10, the single-parent share has edged up 1.4 points, even as 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 02738
Renters in ZIP 02738
| Period | ZIP 02738 | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 18.2% | 36.8% | 36.0% | 33.3% |
| 2010–14 | 25.4% | 38.5% | 37.7% | 35.6% |
| 2015–19 | 19.6% | 38.3% | 37.6% | 36.0% |
| 2020–24 | 9.1% | 38.4% | 37.5% | 34.8% |
| Change | −9.0 pts | +1.6 pts | +1.5 pts | +1.5 pts |
ZIP 02738 is overwhelmingly a place of homeowners: only 9.1% of households rent, far below the national share of 34.8%. Owner-heavy areas like this tend to see less turnover. Among homeowners, 40.0% have no mortgage at all, about the same as nationally. The renter share is down 9.0 points from 2006–10, 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 02738
| Period | ZIP 02738 | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 16.3% | 8.1% | 9.5% | 11.4% |
| 2010–14 | 26.7% | 7.4% | 9.1% | 11.4% |
| 2015–19 | 24.6% | 7.3% | 8.9% | 11.1% |
| 2020–24 | 22.4% | 6.7% | 7.9% | 9.6% |
| Change | +6.2 pts | −1.4 pts | −1.6 pts | −1.8 pts |
Vacancy is high in ZIP 02738: 22.4% of homes are empty, far above the national rate of 9.6%. In resort and lake areas that usually means seasonal and vacation homes; elsewhere it can point to weak demand. Since 2006–10, vacancy has risen 6.2 points, even as the national rate fell.
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 02738
| Period | ZIP 02738 | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 1964 | 1958 | 1958 | 1974 |
| 2010–14 | 1975 | 1959 | 1959 | 1975 |
| 2015–19 | 1968 | 1961 | 1961 | 1977 |
| 2020–24 | 1960 | 1964 | 1963 | 1980 |
| Change | −4 | +6 | +5 | +6 |
ZIP 02738 is a place of older homes: half were built before 1960, while the national median is 1980. That means established neighborhoods, and more houses that may need updating. Newer construction is concentrated in the northwest, while the center 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 02738
| Period | ZIP 02738 | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | $1,523 | $1,171 | $1,085 | $965 |
| 2010–14 | $1,006 | $1,251 | $1,157 | $1,040 |
| 2015–19 | $1,372 | $1,537 | $1,398 | $1,213 |
| 2020–24 | $1,212 | $2,051 | $1,860 | $1,571 |
| Change | −$311 | +$881 | +$775 | +$606 |
Rent in ZIP 02738 runs $1,212 a month at the median, utilities included, well below the U.S. median of $1,571. Rent has fallen $311 a month since 2006–10, down 20%, even as the national median rose. Rent takes 39.7% of the typical renter's income, well over the 30% mark often used to define affordable rent, so many renters here are stretched.
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 02738
Bachelor's degrees in ZIP 02738
| Period | ZIP 02738 | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 47.3% | 42.2% | 38.5% | 28.4% |
| 2010–14 | 45.9% | 44.1% | 40.1% | 29.6% |
| 2015–19 | 52.2% | 48.2% | 43.6% | 32.1% |
| 2020–24 | 49.1% | 51.9% | 47.2% | 35.6% |
| Change | +1.7 pts | +9.7 pts | +8.7 pts | +7.2 pts |
ZIP 02738 is highly educated: about half of adults 25 and older (49.1%) hold at least a bachelor's degree, far above the national share of 35.6%. The picture is much the same across the Boston area. Since 2006–10, the share with a degree has risen 1.7 points, a smaller shift than nationally.
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 02738
| Period | ZIP 02738 | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 93.1% | 89.8% | 88.4% | 84.9% |
| 2010–14 | 94.1% | 90.6% | 89.3% | 86.1% |
| 2015–19 | 93.9% | 91.5% | 90.5% | 87.7% |
| 2020–24 | 97.0% | 91.8% | 91.0% | 89.3% |
| Change | +3.9 pts | +2.1 pts | +2.6 pts | +4.3 pts |
High school completion is high in ZIP 02738: 97.0% of adults 25 and older have a diploma or equivalent, well above the national rate of 89.3%. The share with a diploma has risen 3.9 points since 2006–10, in line with the national trend.
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 02738
| Period | ZIP 02738 | Boston area | Massachusetts | U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006–10 | 4.4% | 7.0% | 7.5% | 8.1% |
| 2010–14 | 10.8% | 8.0% | 8.7% | 9.4% |
| 2015–19 | 4.3% | 4.6% | 5.0% | 5.6% |
| 2020–24 | 5.5% | 4.9% | 5.2% | 5.4% |
| Change | +1.1 pts | −2.1 pts | −2.3 pts | −2.7 pts |
Unemployment in ZIP 02738 is close to the national rate: 5.5% of the labor force, against 5.4%. Since 2006–10, unemployment has edged up 1.1 points, even as the national rate fell. 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 02738 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 02738 | 2.39 | 52.2 | 11.6% | 9.1% | 22.4% | 1960 | $1,212 | 49.1% | 97.0% | 5.5% |
| ZIP 02571 | 2.22 | 50.0 | 11.2% | 19.5% | 14.8% | 1962 | $1,511 | 28.3% | 93.1% | 4.6% |
| ZIP 02739 | 2.28 | 55.4 | 6.4% | 14.7% | 25.3% | 1974 | $1,586 | 57.4% | 94.1% | 1.0% |
| ZIP 02576 | 2.48 | 53.3 | 19.1% | 13.4% | 9.3% | 1984 | $1,382 | 19.9% | 93.8% | 5.7% |
| ZIP 02770 | 2.61 | 45.3 | 10.7% | 12.1% | 1.1% | 1980 | $1,438 | 43.9% | 93.6% | 2.8% |
| ZIP 02558 | 2.17 | 43.5 | 10.9% | 9.9% | 38.8% | 1943 | $1,643 | 25.2% | 97.2% | 9.6% |
| ZIP 02538 | 2.55 | 41.9 | 13.2% | 16.6% | 9.3% | 1961 | $1,524 | 25.9% | 95.3% | 1.9% |
| ZIP 02743 | 2.60 | 46.4 | 11.8% | 14.8% | 1.3% | 1972 | $1,270 | 26.5% | 87.3% | 2.8% |
| ZIP 02553 | 2.58 | 37.7 | 2.9% | 8.4% | 29.0% | 1973 | $1,629 | 41.7% | 99.4% | 6.8% |
| ZIP 02559 | 2.34 | 52.3 | 7.8% | 22.3% | 36.3% | 1974 | $1,036 | 49.5% | 98.2% | 5.4% |
| ZIP 02719 | 2.31 | 48.2 | 8.6% | 25.6% | 8.9% | 1957 | $1,254 | 32.1% | 92.8% | 5.9% |
All figures 2020–24.
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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 02738. 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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