Boston, MA · standard
ZIP Code 02118
Suffolk County, Massachusetts - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 26,498
- 9,331/sq mi High-density area
- $98,224
- Median income Above-median income area
- $1,058,200
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 60.8%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Boston pairs an upper-quartile household income with top-decile home values, in a densely urban, renter-heavy area.
- Top 20%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 2%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 9,331
- people per sq mi
- 33%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 02118 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 02118 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, with 26,498 residents across 2.8 square miles, a density of 9,331 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 02118 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $98,224 (15% below the average Massachusetts ZIP), while per-capita income is $89,715. The poverty rate is 23.2%, so the area-level income figures should not be treated as typical household experience. Housing costs run above the statewide ZIP benchmark while renting is common: median home value is $1,058,200 (77% above the average Massachusetts ZIP), with only 32.5% owner-occupied homes and median rent of $1,968.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 60.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 36.9, and the average commute is 27 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Suffolk County, so 02118 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 02118
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Boston, MA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 02118.
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
187 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
141 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
114 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
89 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
85 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 02118, Boston, 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
26,498
Population
2.8
Area (sq mi)
9,331
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 02118?
36.9
Median Age
50.5%
Male
49.5%
Female
26.1%
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?
$98,224
Median Household Income
-15% vs state ZIP avg
$89,715
Per Capita Income
23.2%
Poverty Rate
6.3%
Unemployment Rate
26.5 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 02118 ranks among Massachusetts ZIPs
Boston, 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)
$98,224 38th percentile higher than 38% 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
15,828housing units
15,828
Total Housing Units
14,497
Occupied Units
1,331
Vacant Units
1.87
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$1,058,200
Median Home Value
+77% vs state ZIP avg
$1,968
Median Rent
1947
Median Year Built
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What businesses operate in this ZIP?
Census Bureau data shows 888 business establishments in ZIP 02118, employing approximately 22,438 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,757,699,000.
888
Businesses
22,438
Employees
$1.8B
Annual Payroll
17
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 187 | 21.1% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 141 | 15.9% |
| Health care and social assistance | 114 | 12.8% |
| Retail trade | 89 | 10.0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 85 | 9.6% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 76 | 8.6% |
| Wholesale trade | 42 | 4.7% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 29 | 3.3% |
| Finance and insurance | 28 | 3.1% |
| Construction | 21 | 2.4% |
| Manufacturing | 17 | 1.9% |
| Educational services | 15 | 1.7% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 14 | 1.6% |
| Information | 12 | 1.4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 9 | 1.0% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 5 | 0.6% |
| Industries not classified | 4 | 0.5% |
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 02118 vs 02116 →
ZIP 02118 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 02115
Boston (02115)
28,441 residents
- 02118
Boston (02118)
26,498 residents
- 02119
Roxbury (02119)
25,346 residents
- 02116
Boston (02116)
20,628 residents
- 02120
Roxbury Crossing (02120)
15,181 residents
- 02114
Boston (02114)
11,999 residents
- 02111 7,383
Boston (02111)
7,383 residents
- 02108 3,825
Boston (02108)
3,825 residents
- 02142 3,141
Cambridge (02142)
3,141 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 02118 ranks #2 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 02118 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 02108
Boston (02108)
$212,928 median income
- 02142
Cambridge (02142)
$147,723 median income
- 02114
Boston (02114)
$132,210 median income
- 02116
Boston (02116)
$126,496 median income
- 02199
Boston (02199)
$122,285 median income
- 02118
Boston (02118)
$98,224 median income
- 02111
Boston (02111)
$87,404 median income
- 02120 $64,289
Roxbury Crossing (02120)
$64,289 median income
- 02115 $54,991
Boston (02115)
$54,991 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 02118 ranks #6 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02116 | Boston, MA | 20,628 | 0.9 mi |
| 02199 | Boston, MA | 1,146 | 0.9 mi |
| 02111 | Boston, MA | 7,383 | 1.0 mi |
| 02108 | Boston, MA | 3,825 | 1.4 mi |
| 02115 | Boston, MA | 28,441 | 1.2 mi |
| 02119 | Roxbury, MA | 25,346 | 1.2 mi |
| 02114 | Boston, MA | 11,999 | 1.7 mi |
| 02120 | Roxbury Crossing, MA | 15,181 | 1.4 mi |
| 02203 | Boston, MA | 0 | 1.7 mi |
| 02142 | Cambridge, MA | 3,141 | 1.7 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 02118, 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 (26,498 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Suffolk County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 02118 in?
ZIP code 02118 (Boston) is located in Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Suffolk County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/suffolk-ma.
What is the population of ZIP code 02118?
ZIP code 02118 in Boston, MA has a population of 26,498 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 02118?
The median household income in ZIP 02118 is $98,224, which is 29% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 02118?
The median home value in ZIP 02118 is $1,058,200, which is 280% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 02118?
The largest racial group in ZIP 02118 is White at 51.1%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 14.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 02118?
ZIP code 02118 has 888 business establishments employing approximately 22,438 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 02118?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 02118 are: Accommodation and food services (187), Professional, scientific, and technical services (141), Health care and social assistance (114). There are 17 industry sectors represented in total.
What is the education level in ZIP code 02118?
In ZIP code 02118, 76.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 60.8% 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 02118?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 02118 is 26.5 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 02118?
In ZIP code 02118, approximately 32.5% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 67.5% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 02118?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 02118 is 23.2% 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 02118's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 02118 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Boston, 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.