Residential delivery area · Massachusetts
ZIP Code 01603: Worcester, MA
ZIP code 01603 is in Worcester, Massachusetts, entirely in Worcester County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 21,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024), the 7th most populous of Worcester's 9 residential ZIP codes. Median household income is $66,049 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024).
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Worcester · 9 residential ZIPs
- County
- Worcester County
- Census places
- Worcester
- Metro area
- Worcester, MA
- House district
- MA-2 119th Congress
- State
- Massachusetts
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 4.5 sq mi · 4,608 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 01603?
01603 centers on 42.244°, -71.844° and covers 4.5 square miles of land plus 0.1 of water. It borders 5 ZIP codes: 01611, 01602, 01610, 01501, 01524.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 01603, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 01603 compare with the rest of Worcester?
| Measure | 01603 | In Worcester | In Worcester County | In MA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 20,868 | 7th of 9 | 13th of 87 | 123rd of 539 |
| Median household income | $66k | 5th of 8 | 64th of 67 | 370th of 406 |
| Median home value | $331k | 7th of 8 | 69th of 77 | 401st of 449 |
Its median household income is higher than in 40% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 93% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 01603?
The 2020 Census counted 22,417 people in 01603; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 20,868. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 12.6% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 20,868
- 2020 Census count
- 22,417+12.6% since 2010 (19,916)
- Households
- 8,010
- Median age
- 35.1
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 01603?
Of the 20,868 people the ACS estimates in 01603, 19.0% are under 18 and 13.0% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (46.4%), then Hispanic or Latino (25.3%).
- Under 1819.0%
- 18 to 6468.0%
- 65 and older13.0%
- White, not Hispanic46.4%
- Hispanic or Latino25.3%
- Asian, not Hispanic12.5%
- Black, not Hispanic9.9%
- Other or two or more5.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 01603 earn?
Median household income is $66,049 (ACS 2020-2024), the 64th highest of the 67 ranked ZIP codes in Worcester County. It rose from $52,643 in 2015-2019 (in 2024 dollars), a change larger than the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $66,049±$7,456
- Income per person
- $33,873
- Below the poverty line
- 17.8%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 7.1%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 24.1%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $52,15510,080 returns; wages 85% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 01603?
FHFA's house price index for 01603, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 144% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 66% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +8.0% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $331,300
- Median gross rent
- $1,372
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 49.5%
- Housing units
- 8,441
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 01603?
430 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 22 more than in 2018; the most are in retail trade (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Retail trade82
- Other services (except public administration)61
- Health care and social assistance56
- Accommodation and food services46
- Construction41
- Professional, scientific, and technical services27
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 01603?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01611 | Cherry Valley | 2,299 | $110k | 1.7 mi |
| 01602 | Worcester | 27,092 | $92k | 1.8 mi |
| 01610 | Worcester | 30,444 | $52k | 1.8 mi |
| 01501 | Auburn | 16,877 | $117k | 3.1 mi |
| 01524 | Leicester | 6,327 | $102k | 3.8 mi |
| 01608 | Worcester | 4,932 | $46k | 2.5 mi (near) |
| 01609 | Worcester | 22,047 | $68k | 2.9 mi (near) |
| 01607 | Worcester | 8,706 | $79k | 3.1 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.