PlainZIP

Dorchester, MA · standard

ZIP Code 02122

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

23,479
4,455/sq mi
$86,150
Median income
$669,900
Median home value
38.8%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Dorchester pairs an above-median household income with top-decile home values, in a suburban-density, mixed-tenure area.

Top 31%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 7%
home value, US ZIPs
4,455
people per sq mi
45%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 02122 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 02122 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Dorchester, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, with 23,479 residents across 5.3 square miles, a density of 4,455 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 02122 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $86,150 (26% below the Massachusetts average), while per-capita income is $45,990. The poverty rate stands at 12.8% and the unemployment rate at 8.9%. On housing, the median home value is $669,900 (12% above the state average) with median rent at $2,209 per month, and 44.8% of occupied units are owner-occupied.

A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 38.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 37.8, and the average commute is 33 minutes. To put 02122 in local context, 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles appear further down this page alongside 6 additional ZIPs in Suffolk 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 02122

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Dorchester, MA

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 02122.

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 02122, Dorchester, 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

23,479

Population

5.3

Area (sq mi)

4,455

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 02122?

37.8

Median Age

49.9%

Male

50.1%

Female

33.1%

Foreign-Born

White 36.0%
African American 25.2%
Asian 13.4%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 18.2%
Hispanic or Latino 15.7%

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?

$86,150

Median Household Income

-26% vs state

$45,990

Per Capita Income

12.8%

Poverty Rate

8.9%

Unemployment Rate

33.1 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 02122 ranks nationally

Dorchester, MA household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$86,150 Top 31% higher than 69% 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%). This entry sits in this band. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Above this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). Above this entry. $140,000–$160,000: 686 US ZIPs (2%). Above this entry. $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 62.4%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 38.8%

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

What does housing look like?

10,133

Total Housing Units

9,299

Occupied Units

834

Vacant Units

2.48

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 44.8%
Renter 55.2%

$669,900

Median Home Value

+12% vs state

$2,209

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

+3.3%

YoY Change (2024)

364

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+264%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 02122 have increased 3.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +264% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2020 +2.5% 291
2021 +8.9% 317
2022 +14.2% 362
2023 -2.5% 353
2024 +3.3% 364

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 558 business establishments in ZIP 02122, employing approximately 8,147 people with a combined annual payroll of $517,526,000.

558

Businesses

8,147

Employees

$517.5M

Annual Payroll

14

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Retail trade 89 15.9%
Health care and social assistance 87 15.6%
Other services (except public administration) 81 14.5%
Construction 76 13.6%
Accommodation and food services 54 9.7%
Professional, scientific, and technical services 36 6.5%
Real estate and rental and leasing 30 5.4%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 25 4.5%
Finance and insurance 24 4.3%
Wholesale trade 12 2.1%
Transportation and warehousing 10 1.8%
Educational services 10 1.8%
Manufacturing 9 1.6%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 8 1.4%

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 02122 vs 02171 →

ZIP 02122 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 02122 ranks #7 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 02122 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 02122 ranks #7 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
02171 Quincy, MA 17,711 0.9 mi
02125 Dorchester, MA 33,295 1.6 mi
02127 South Boston, MA 31,799 2.4 mi
02170 Quincy, MA 19,505 2.5 mi
02124 Dorchester Center, MA 47,783 2.2 mi
02210 Boston, MA 2,090 3.3 mi
02121 Dorchester, MA 25,978 2.7 mi
02118 Boston, MA 26,498 3.2 mi
02119 Roxbury, MA 25,346 3.1 mi
02111 Boston, MA 7,383 3.7 mi

More ZIP Codes in Suffolk County

02151 standard
Revere, MA
Pop: 51,808
02124 standard
Dorchester Center, MA
Pop: 47,783
02135 standard
Brighton, MA
Pop: 42,780
02128 standard
East Boston, MA
Pop: 40,508
02130 standard
Jamaica Plain, MA
Pop: 35,401
02150 standard
Chelsea, MA
Pop: 35,124

Related Areas

Suffolk County Dorchester, MA Massachusetts

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 02122 in? ▼
ZIP code 02122 (Dorchester) 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 02122? ▼
ZIP code 02122 in Dorchester, MA has a population of 23,479 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 02122? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 02122 is $86,150, which is 13% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 02122? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 02122 is $669,900, which is 141% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 02122? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 02122 is White at 36.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 15.7% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 02122? ▼
ZIP code 02122 has 558 business establishments employing approximately 8,147 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 02122? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 02122 are: Retail trade (89), Health care and social assistance (87), Other services (except public administration) (81). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 02122? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 02122 increased by 3.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 264%. 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 02122? ▼
In ZIP code 02122, 62.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 38.8% 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 02122? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 02122 is 33.1 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 02122? ▼
In ZIP code 02122, approximately 44.8% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 55.2% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 02122? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 02122 is 12.8% 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.