Worcester, MA · standard
ZIP Code 01606
Worcester County, Massachusetts - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 19,077
- 1,243/sq mi High-density area
- $92,105
- Median income Above-median income area
- $370,800
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 44.5%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Worcester pairs an upper-quartile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 25%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 24%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,243
- people per sq mi
- 68%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 01606 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 01606 (Worcester, MA) rose +7.6% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 265.6 in 2023 to 285.8 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 01606 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts, home to 19,077 residents across 15.4 square miles, a density of 1,243 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 01606 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $92,105 (20% below the average Massachusetts ZIP), while per-capita income is $46,282. The poverty rate is 9.2%, with unemployment at 3.4%; those measures add context to the income figure. Home values sit below the statewide ZIP benchmark: the median is $370,800 (38% below the average Massachusetts ZIP), and median rent is $1,584; owner occupancy is 67.8%.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 44.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.2, 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 01606 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 01606
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Worcester, MA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 01606.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
72 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
62 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
52 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
39 establishments
- Construction
Construction
38 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 01606, 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
19,077
Population
15.4
Area (sq mi)
1,243
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 01606?
39.2
Median Age
48.2%
Male
51.8%
Female
18.1%
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?
$92,105
Median Household Income
-20% vs state ZIP avg
$46,282
Per Capita Income
9.2%
Poverty Rate
3.4%
Unemployment Rate
24.9 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 01606 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)
$92,105 31st percentile higher than 31% 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
9,563housing units
9,563
Total Housing Units
9,192
Occupied Units
371
Vacant Units
2.44
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$370,800
Median Home Value
-38% vs state ZIP avg
$1,584
Median Rent
1954
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
+7.6%
YoY Change (2024)
286
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+186%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 01606 have increased 7.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +186% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +6.7% | 187 |
| 2021 | +14.7% | 214 |
| 2022 | +12.7% | 241 |
| 2023 | +10.0% | 266 |
| 2024 | +7.6% | 286 |
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 456 business establishments in ZIP 01606, employing approximately 9,380 people with a combined annual payroll of $533,383,000.
456
Businesses
9,380
Employees
$533.4M
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 72 | 15.8% |
| Retail trade | 62 | 13.6% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 52 | 11.4% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 39 | 8.6% |
| Construction | 38 | 8.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 36 | 7.9% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 29 | 6.4% |
| Finance and insurance | 22 | 4.8% |
| Wholesale trade | 20 | 4.4% |
| Manufacturing | 19 | 4.2% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 18 | 4.0% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 14 | 3.1% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 12 | 2.6% |
| Information | 11 | 2.4% |
| Educational services | 8 | 1.8% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 4 | 0.9% |
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 01606 vs 01605 →
ZIP 01606 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 01545
Shrewsbury (01545)
35,299 residents
- 01604
Worcester (01604)
34,677 residents
- 01605
Worcester (01605)
26,221 residents
- 01610
Worcester (01610)
23,945 residents
- 01602
Worcester (01602)
22,819 residents
- 01609
Worcester (01609)
22,421 residents
- 01606
Worcester (01606)
19,077 residents
- 01520 13,997
Holden (01520)
13,997 residents
- 01607 8,351
Worcester (01607)
8,351 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 01606 ranks #7 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 01606 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
- 01545
Shrewsbury (01545)
$139,302 median income
- 01583
West Boylston (01583)
$106,094 median income
- 01606
Worcester (01606)
$92,105 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
- 01605 $54,642
Worcester (01605)
$54,642 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 01606 ranks #4 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01605 | Worcester, MA | 26,221 | 1.8 mi |
| 01608 | Worcester, MA | 3,888 | 3.6 mi |
| 01609 | Worcester, MA | 22,421 | 2.6 mi |
| 01583 | West Boylston, MA | 7,591 | 3.9 mi |
| 01520 | Holden, MA | 13,997 | 3.3 mi |
| 01610 | Worcester, MA | 23,945 | 4.7 mi |
| 01604 | Worcester, MA | 34,677 | 4.6 mi |
| 01607 | Worcester, MA | 8,351 | 6.0 mi |
| 01602 | Worcester, MA | 22,819 | 4.0 mi |
| 01545 | Shrewsbury, MA | 35,299 | 4.6 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 01606, 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 (19,077 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 01606 in?
ZIP code 01606 (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 01606?
ZIP code 01606 in Worcester, MA has a population of 19,077 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 01606?
The median household income in ZIP 01606 is $92,105, which is 21% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 01606?
The median home value in ZIP 01606 is $370,800, which is 33% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 01606?
The largest racial group in ZIP 01606 is White at 62.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 15.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 01606?
ZIP code 01606 has 456 business establishments employing approximately 9,380 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 01606?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 01606 are: Health care and social assistance (72), Retail trade (62), Other services (except public administration) (52). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 01606?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 01606 increased by 7.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 186%. 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 01606?
In ZIP code 01606, 65.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 44.5% 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 01606?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 01606 is 24.9 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 01606?
In ZIP code 01606, approximately 67.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 32.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 01606?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 01606 is 9.2% 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 01606's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 01606 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.