Salem, MA · standard
ZIP Code 01970
Essex County, Massachusetts - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 41,109
- 1,957/sq mi High-density area
- $85,041
- Median income Above-median income area
- $542,900
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 47.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Salem pairs an above-median household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- Top 32%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 11%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,957
- people per sq mi
- 50%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 01970 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 01970 (Salem, MA) rose +7.1% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 266.2 in 2023 to 285.2 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 01970 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Salem, Essex County, Massachusetts, with 41,109 residents across 21.0 square miles, a density of 1,957 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 01970 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $85,041 (26% below the average Massachusetts ZIP), while per-capita income is $50,314. The poverty rate is 12.1%, with unemployment at 5.1%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $542,900 (9% below the average Massachusetts ZIP) and median rent is $1,836; 49.6% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 47.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.3, and the average commute is 29 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Essex County, so 01970 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 01970
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Salem, MA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 01970.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
183 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
163 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
144 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
141 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
126 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 01970, Salem, 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
41,109
Population
21.0
Area (sq mi)
1,957
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 01970?
39.3
Median Age
45.5%
Male
54.5%
Female
16.3%
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?
$85,041
Median Household Income
-26% vs state ZIP avg
$50,314
Per Capita Income
12.1%
Poverty Rate
5.1%
Unemployment Rate
28.5 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 01970 ranks nationally
Salem, MA household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$85,041 Top 32% higher than 68% of 30,318 US ZIPs
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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
21,447housing units
21,447
Total Housing Units
20,222
Occupied Units
1,225
Vacant Units
2.14
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$542,900
Median Home Value
-9% vs state ZIP avg
$1,836
Median Rent
1938
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
+7.1%
YoY Change (2024)
285
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+185%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 01970 have increased 7.1% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +185% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3.5% | 200 |
| 2021 | +11.6% | 223 |
| 2022 | +14.5% | 255 |
| 2023 | +4.5% | 266 |
| 2024 | +7.1% | 285 |
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 1,168 business establishments in ZIP 01970, employing approximately 16,559 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,121,834,000.
1,168
Businesses
16,559
Employees
$1.1B
Annual Payroll
17
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 183 | 15.7% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 163 | 14.0% |
| Accommodation and food services | 144 | 12.3% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 141 | 12.1% |
| Health care and social assistance | 126 | 10.8% |
| Construction | 95 | 8.1% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 54 | 4.6% |
| Finance and insurance | 48 | 4.1% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 38 | 3.3% |
| Manufacturing | 37 | 3.2% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 35 | 3.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 31 | 2.6% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 29 | 2.5% |
| Educational services | 19 | 1.6% |
| Information | 15 | 1.3% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 4 | 0.3% |
| Industries not classified | 4 | 0.3% |
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 01970 vs 01907 →
ZIP 01970 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 01960
Peabody (01960)
50,944 residents
- 01902
Lynn (01902)
45,139 residents
- 01970
Salem (01970)
41,109 residents
- 01915
Beverly (01915)
39,502 residents
- 01923
Danvers (01923)
26,342 residents
- 01945 19,808
Marblehead (01945)
19,808 residents
- 01904 18,203
Lynn (01904)
18,203 residents
- 01907 14,027
Swampscott (01907)
14,027 residents
- 01984 4,875
Wenham (01984)
4,875 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 01970 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 01970 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 01984
Wenham (01984)
$194,781 median income
- 01945
Marblehead (01945)
$179,583 median income
- 01907
Swampscott (01907)
$134,386 median income
- 01923
Danvers (01923)
$125,395 median income
- 01908
Nahant (01908)
$112,762 median income
- 01915
Beverly (01915)
$104,918 median income
- 01904
Lynn (01904)
$99,614 median income
- 01960
Peabody (01960)
$96,501 median income
- 01970
Salem (01970)
$85,041 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 01970 ranks #9 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01907 | Swampscott, MA | 14,027 | 2.5 mi |
| 01945 | Marblehead, MA | 19,808 | 2.2 mi |
| 01902 | Lynn, MA | 45,139 | 3.4 mi |
| 01960 | Peabody, MA | 50,944 | 3.8 mi |
| 01904 | Lynn, MA | 18,203 | 3.8 mi |
| 01901 | Lynn, MA | 1,689 | 4.2 mi |
| 01915 | Beverly, MA | 39,502 | 4.4 mi |
| 01908 | Nahant, MA | 3,410 | 5.8 mi |
| 01923 | Danvers, MA | 26,342 | 4.8 mi |
| 01984 | Wenham, MA | 4,875 | 6.2 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 01970, 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 (41,109 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Essex County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 01970 in?
ZIP code 01970 (Salem) is located in Essex County, Massachusetts. Essex County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/essex-ma.
What is the population of ZIP code 01970?
ZIP code 01970 in Salem, MA has a population of 41,109 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 01970?
The median household income in ZIP 01970 is $85,041, which is 11% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 01970?
The median home value in ZIP 01970 is $542,900, which is 95% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 01970?
The largest racial group in ZIP 01970 is White at 72.8%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 20.8% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 01970?
ZIP code 01970 has 1,168 business establishments employing approximately 16,559 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 01970?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 01970 are: Retail trade (183), Professional, scientific, and technical services (163), Accommodation and food services (144). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 01970?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 01970 increased by 7.1% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 185%. 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 01970?
In ZIP code 01970, 69.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 47.8% 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 01970?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 01970 is 28.5 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 01970?
In ZIP code 01970, approximately 49.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 50.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 01970?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 01970 is 12.1% 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 01970's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 01970 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Salem, MA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.