PlainZIP

North Chelmsford, MA · standard

ZIP Code 01863

Middlesex County, Massachusetts - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.

8,891
743/sq mi
$144,875
Median income
$491,600
Median home value
45.1%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

North Chelmsford pairs a top-decile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.

Top 4%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 13%
home value, US ZIPs
743
people per sq mi
82%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 01863 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 01863 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in North Chelmsford, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, home to 8,891 residents across 12.0 square miles, a density of 743 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 01863 skews affluent, with a median household income of $144,875 (25% above the Massachusetts average), while per-capita income is $54,220. Poverty here runs at 3.0%, with unemployment measured at 2.3%. Median home value sits at $491,600 (18% below the state average), median rent at $1,875 a month, and owner-occupancy at 81.8%.

A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 45.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41.2, and the average commute is 28 minutes. To put 01863 in local context, 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Middlesex County, for a geography-aware comparison.

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 01863

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in North Chelmsford, MA

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 01863.

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 · ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) As of 2023

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 01863, North Chelmsford, 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

8,891

Population

12.0

Area (sq mi)

743

People / sq mi

New York

Time Zone

standard

ZIP Type

Neighborhood Scorecard
Get an A-F grade across income, safety, housing, rent, education, commute, and childcare for this ZIP code.
View Scorecard →

Who lives in ZIP 01863?

41.2

Median Age

50.2%

Male

49.8%

Female

13.1%

Foreign-Born

White 77.7%
African American 2.0%
Asian 10.7%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 7.5%
Hispanic or Latino 6.9%

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?

$144,875

Median Household Income

+25% vs state

$54,220

Per Capita Income

3.0%

Poverty Rate

2.3%

Unemployment Rate

27.9 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 01863 ranks nationally

North Chelmsford, MA household income vs. every US ZIP code

Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked

$144,875 Top 4% higher than 96% of 30,318 US ZIPs

$0–$20,000: 118 US ZIPs (0%). Below this entry. $20,000–$40,000: 1,573 US ZIPs (5%). Below this entry. $40,000–$60,000: 7,092 US ZIPs (23%). Below this entry. $60,000–$80,000: 9,980 US ZIPs (33%). Below this entry. $80,000–$100,000: 5,778 US ZIPs (19%). Below this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Below this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Below this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). This entry sits in this band. $160,000–$180,000: 364 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $180,000–$200,000: 186 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. $200,000–$220,000: 324 US ZIPs (1%). Above this entry. This ZIP $0 $200K+ every reporting US ZIP, bucketed by value

Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more US 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?

High School Graduate or Higher 64.0%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 45.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)

What does housing look like?

3,615

Total Housing Units

3,573

Occupied Units

42

Vacant Units

2.71

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 81.8%
Renter 18.2%

$491,600

Median Home Value

-18% vs state

$1,875

Median Rent

1971

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

+8.6%

YoY Change (2024)

279

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+179%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 01863 have increased 8.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +179% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +4.2% 194
2021 +9.3% 212
2022 +13.0% 239
2023 +7.6% 257
2024 +8.6% 279

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 231 business establishments in ZIP 01863, employing approximately 2,960 people with a combined annual payroll of $224,724,000.

231

Businesses

2,960

Employees

$224.7M

Annual Payroll

15

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Health care and social assistance 44 19.1%
Construction 28 12.1%
Other services (except public administration) 25 10.8%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 24 10.4%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 20 8.7%
Retail trade 17 7.4%
Wholesale trade 12 5.2%
Accommodation and food services 12 5.2%
Real estate and rental and leasing 9 3.9%
Educational services 9 3.9%
Manufacturing 7 3.0%
Transportation and warehousing 7 3.0%
Finance and insurance 6 2.6%
Information 4 1.7%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 4 1.7%

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 01863 vs 01854 →

ZIP 01863 vs its nearest neighbors, by population

Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

residents

What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 01863 ranks #0 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023

ZIP 01863 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income

Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.

median income

What this shows By household income, ZIP 01863 ranks #3 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.

Source U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 5-Year Estimates As of 2019–2023
ZIP Code City Population Distance
01854 Lowell, MA 27,606 2.4 mi
01851 Lowell, MA 30,190 2.8 mi
01879 Tyngsboro, MA 11,305 3.0 mi
01824 Chelmsford, MA 24,911 3.4 mi
01852 Lowell, MA 33,508 4.8 mi
01886 Westford, MA 21,951 4.1 mi
01850 Lowell, MA 15,237 4.7 mi
01826 Dracut, MA 29,422 5.8 mi
01741 Carlisle, MA 4,852 7.4 mi
03051 Hudson, NH 24,480 9.1 mi

More ZIP Codes in Middlesex County

02148 standard
Malden, MA
Pop: 59,503
02155 standard
Medford, MA
Pop: 57,964
02149 standard
Everett, MA
Pop: 41,550
01801 standard
Woburn, MA
Pop: 38,903
01752 standard
Marlborough, MA
Pop: 38,499
01702 standard
Framingham, MA
Pop: 37,206

Related Areas

Middlesex County North Chelmsford, MA Massachusetts

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 01863 in? ▼
ZIP code 01863 (North Chelmsford) is located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Middlesex County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/middlesex-ma.
What is the population of ZIP code 01863? ▼
ZIP code 01863 in North Chelmsford, MA has a population of 8,891 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 01863? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 01863 is $144,875, which is 90% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 01863? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 01863 is $491,600, which is 77% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 01863? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 01863 is White at 77.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 6.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 01863? ▼
ZIP code 01863 has 231 business establishments employing approximately 2,960 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 01863? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 01863 are: Health care and social assistance (44), Construction (28), Other services (except public administration) (25). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 01863? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 01863 increased by 8.6% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 179%. 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 01863? ▼
In ZIP code 01863, 64.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 45.1% 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 01863? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 01863 is 27.9 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend more time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 01863? ▼
In ZIP code 01863, approximately 81.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 18.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 01863? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 01863 is 3.0% according to Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates. This measures the percentage of the population living below the federal poverty threshold.

Read our methodology to see how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.