Worcester, MA · standard
ZIP Code 01603
Worcester County, Massachusetts - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 19,916
- 1,704/sq mi High-density area
- $66,049
- Median income Near-median income area
- $331,300
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 24.1%
- Bachelor's or higher Near-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Worcester pairs a below-median household income with above-median home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- 40th pct
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 29%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,704
- people per sq mi
- 50%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 01603 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 01603 (Worcester, MA) rose +3.5% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 296.6 in 2023 to 306.9 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 01603 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, home to 19,916 residents across 11.7 square miles, a density of 1,704 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 01603 reports a modest median household income of $66,049 (43% below the average Massachusetts ZIP), while per-capita income is $33,873. The poverty rate is 17.8%, with unemployment at 7.1%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $331,300 (45% below the average Massachusetts ZIP), and median rent is $1,372; owner occupancy is 49.5%.
Educational attainment sits below the national norm: 24.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 35.1, and the average commute is 25 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Worcester County, so 01603 can be compared with both its immediate and county-level context.
Every figure on this page is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (including median rent) and the FHFA House Price Index, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with Census →
Top industries in ZIP 01603
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Worcester, MA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 01603.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
82 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
61 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
56 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
46 establishments
- Construction
Construction
41 establishments
What this shows Establishment counts come from the Census ZIP Code Business Patterns program, which counts physical business locations rather than employees or revenue.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates + ZIP Code Business Patterns + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, FHFA HPI for ZIP 01603, Worcester, MA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
19,916
Population
11.7
Area (sq mi)
1,704
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 01603?
35.1
Median Age
50.6%
Male
49.4%
Female
26.0%
Foreign-Born
Hispanic or Latino is an ethnicity category from the Census Bureau and may overlap with other categories above.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How much do residents earn?
$66,049
Median Household Income
-43% vs state ZIP avg
$33,873
Per Capita Income
17.8%
Poverty Rate
7.1%
Unemployment Rate
25.2 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 01603 ranks among Massachusetts ZIPs
Worcester, MA household income vs. every Massachusetts ZIP code
Median household income among 505 reporting Massachusetts ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$66,049 9th percentile higher than 9% of 505 Massachusetts ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Massachusetts ZIPs. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count, share, and where it sits relative to this entry.
Source U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates · 2019–2023
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What is the education profile here?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
8,441housing units
8,441
Total Housing Units
8,010
Occupied Units
431
Vacant Units
2.53
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$331,300
Median Home Value
-45% vs state ZIP avg
$1,372
Median Rent
1942
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
How have home values changed over time?
FHFA House Price Index, annual appreciation data based on repeat sales and appraisals
+3.5%
YoY Change (2024)
307
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+207%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 01603 have increased 3.5% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +207% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +10.3% | 201 |
| 2021 | +16.0% | 233 |
| 2022 | +11.1% | 259 |
| 2023 | +14.5% | 297 |
| 2024 | +3.5% | 307 |
Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index, All-Transactions, Five-Digit ZIP Codes (Developmental Index). Index base = 100 in year 2000. Data through 2024. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 430 business establishments in ZIP 01603, employing approximately 7,333 people with a combined annual payroll of $333,513,000.
430
Businesses
7,333
Employees
$333.5M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 82 | 19.1% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 61 | 14.2% |
| Health care and social assistance | 56 | 13.0% |
| Accommodation and food services | 46 | 10.7% |
| Construction | 41 | 9.5% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 27 | 6.3% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 24 | 5.6% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 22 | 5.1% |
| Manufacturing | 19 | 4.4% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 15 | 3.5% |
| Wholesale trade | 11 | 2.6% |
| Finance and insurance | 9 | 2.1% |
| Educational services | 8 | 1.9% |
| Information | 4 | 0.9% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 3 | 0.7% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP), 2023. Employment figures may include noise for disclosure avoidance.
Nearby ZIP Codes
Want a side-by-side? Compare 01603 vs 01602 →
ZIP 01603 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 01604
Worcester (01604)
34,677 residents
- 01610
Worcester (01610)
23,945 residents
- 01602
Worcester (01602)
22,819 residents
- 01609
Worcester (01609)
22,421 residents
- 01603
Worcester (01603)
19,916 residents
- 01501
Auburn (01501)
16,075 residents
- 01520
Holden (01520)
13,997 residents
- 01607 8,351
Worcester (01607)
8,351 residents
- 01524 6,696
Leicester (01524)
6,696 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 01603 ranks #5 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 01603 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 01520
Holden (01520)
$148,125 median income
- 01501
Auburn (01501)
$116,762 median income
- 01611
Cherry Valley (01611)
$109,868 median income
- 01524
Leicester (01524)
$102,099 median income
- 01602
Worcester (01602)
$91,764 median income
- 01607
Worcester (01607)
$78,727 median income
- 01604
Worcester (01604)
$73,505 median income
- 01609
Worcester (01609)
$68,381 median income
- 01603
Worcester (01603)
$66,049 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 01603 ranks #9 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01602 | Worcester, MA | 22,819 | 2.0 mi |
| 01610 | Worcester, MA | 23,945 | 1.8 mi |
| 01611 | Cherry Valley, MA | 2,242 | 1.7 mi |
| 01501 | Auburn, MA | 16,075 | 3.2 mi |
| 01609 | Worcester, MA | 22,421 | 3.0 mi |
| 01608 | Worcester, MA | 3,888 | 2.5 mi |
| 01607 | Worcester, MA | 8,351 | 3.1 mi |
| 01524 | Leicester, MA | 6,696 | 3.9 mi |
| 01604 | Worcester, MA | 34,677 | 4.0 mi |
| 01520 | Holden, MA | 13,997 | 6.3 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 01603, both outside MA so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (19,916 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Worcester County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 01603 in?
ZIP code 01603 (Worcester) is located in Worcester County, Massachusetts. Worcester County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/worcester-ma.
What is the population of ZIP code 01603?
ZIP code 01603 in Worcester, MA has a population of 19,916 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 01603?
The median household income in ZIP 01603 is $66,049, which is 13% below the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 01603?
The median home value in ZIP 01603 is $331,300, which is 19% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 01603?
The largest racial group in ZIP 01603 is White at 50.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 25.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 01603?
ZIP code 01603 has 430 business establishments employing approximately 7,333 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 01603?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 01603 are: Retail trade (82), Other services (except public administration) (61), Health care and social assistance (56). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 01603?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 01603 increased by 3.5% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 207%. This is a developmental index based on repeat sales and appraisal data from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
What is the education level in ZIP code 01603?
In ZIP code 01603, 53.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 24.1% hold a bachelor's degree or higher. These figures come from the Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023).
What is the average commute time in ZIP 01603?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 01603 is 25.2 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 01603?
In ZIP code 01603, approximately 49.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 50.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 01603?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 01603 is 17.8% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.
Related
Take this with you
What to do with ZIP 01603's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 01603 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Worcester, MA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.