ZIP Code 02122
standardSource:
Dorchester · Suffolk County · Massachusetts
- Population
- 23,479
- Median income
- $86,150
- Median home value
- $669,900
- Bachelor's or higher
- 38.8%
- Land area
- 5.3 sq mi
4,455/sq mi
▲ 13% vs US
higher than 69% of US ZIPs
▲ 141% vs US
higher than 93% of US ZIPs
Median age 37.8
New York
ZIP code 02122 in Dorchester, Massachusetts has a population of 23,479. The median household income is $86,150, which is 13% above the national average. Median home value is $669,900, 141% above the US average. 38.8% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 02122 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 5.3 square miles in Dorchester, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. The area is home to 23,479 residents, producing a population density of 4,455 people per square mile, and falls within the New York time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 02122 against Massachusetts and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 02122 sits at $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 direct signal of whether 02122 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 38.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 37.8, and the average commute is 33 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Suffolk County, so you can benchmark 02122 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →
Top industries in ZIP 02122
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 02122.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
89 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
87 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
81 establishments
- Construction
Construction
76 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
54 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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, 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; HUD FMR + 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
Who lives in ZIP 02122?
37.8
Median Age
49.9%
Male
50.1%
Female
33.1%
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?
$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
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?
10,133
Total Housing Units
9,299
Occupied Units
834
Vacant Units
2.48
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$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 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
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Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 02122 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 02122? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 02122? ▼
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What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 02122? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 02122? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 02122? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 02122? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 02122? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 02122? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 02122? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 02122? ▼
ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Dorchester, MA
Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023). Business data: Source: Census ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023. Home value trends: Source: FHFA House Price Index (HPI), Five-Digit ZIP Codes.
PlainZIP is not affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau or any government agency.
Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.