Residential delivery area · Massachusetts
ZIP Code 02121: Dorchester, MA
ZIP code 02121 uses the postal name Dorchester, Massachusetts and lies entirely in Suffolk County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 29,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024), the 2nd most populous of Dorchester's 3 residential ZIP codes. Median household income is $43,136 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Most of its land (100%) lies in the city of Boston.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2024
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Dorchester · 3 residential ZIPs
- County
- Suffolk County
- Census places
- Boston
- Metro area
- Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
- House district
- MA-7 119th Congress
- State
- Massachusetts
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 1.9 sq mi · 15,398 people per sq mi
Where is ZIP code 02121?
02121 centers on 42.305°, -71.087° and covers 1.9 square miles of land plus 0.0 of water. It borders 6 ZIP codes: 02119, 02130, 02124, 02125, 02122, 02131.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 02121, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 02121 compare with the rest of Dorchester?
| Measure | 02121 | In Dorchester | In Suffolk County | In MA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 29,040 | 2nd of 3 | 12th of 37 | 67th of 539 |
| Median household income | $43k | 3rd of 3 | 29th of 29 | 401st of 406 |
| Median home value | $590k | 3rd of 3 | 27th of 30 | 194th of 449 |
Its median household income is higher than in 8% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 99% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 02121?
The 2020 Census counted 28,766 people in 02121; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 29,040. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 10.7% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 29,040
- 2020 Census count
- 28,766+10.7% since 2010 (25,978)
- Households
- 10,760
- Median age
- 34.3
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 02121?
Of the 29,040 people the ACS estimates in 02121, 26.9% are under 18 and 12.1% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is Hispanic or Latino (40.9%), then Black (not Hispanic) (40.9%).
- Under 1826.9%
- 18 to 6461.0%
- 65 and older12.1%
- Hispanic or Latino40.9%
- Black, not Hispanic40.9%
- Other or two or more10.9%
- White, not Hispanic5.3%
- Asian, not Hispanic1.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 02121 earn?
Median household income is $43,136 (ACS 2020-2024), the 29th highest of the 29 ranked ZIP codes in Suffolk County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($39,877 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $43,136±$9,773
- Income per person
- $29,051
- Below the poverty line
- 25.0%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 11.1%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 19.9%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $43,49913,050 returns; wages 87% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 02121?
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $590,200
- Median gross rent
- $1,325
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 23.2%
- Housing units
- 11,429
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 02121?
275 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 76 more than in 2018; the most are in health care and social assistance (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Health care and social assistance50
- Other services (except public administration)49
- Retail trade41
- Accommodation and food services35
- Real estate and rental and leasing34
- Construction16
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 02121?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02119 | Roxbury | 27,377 | $49k | 1.3 mi |
| 02130 | Jamaica Plain | 40,055 | $132k | 1.4 mi |
| 02124 | Dorchester Center | 56,216 | $82k | 1.5 mi |
| 02125 | Dorchester | 33,662 | $83k | 1.8 mi |
| 02122 | Dorchester | 23,479 | $86k | 1.9 mi |
| 02131 | Roslindale | 31,151 | $111k | 2.5 mi |
| 02120 | Roxbury Crossing | 15,283 | $64k | 1.9 mi (near) |
| 02126 | Mattapan | 26,583 | $66k | 1.9 mi (near) |
| 02115 | Boston | 29,705 | $55k | 2.4 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.