ZIP Code 02124
standardSource:
Dorchester Center · Suffolk County · Massachusetts
- Population
- 47,783
- Median income
- $81,923
- Median home value
- $650,700
- Bachelor's or higher
- 31.6%
- Land area
- 7.8 sq mi
6,159/sq mi
▲ 7% vs US
higher than 64% of US ZIPs
▲ 134% vs US
higher than 92% of US ZIPs
Median age 36.9
New York
ZIP code 02124 in Dorchester Center, Massachusetts has a population of 47,783. The median household income is $81,923, which is 7% above the national average. Median home value is $650,700, 134% above the US average. 31.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 02124 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 7.8 square miles in Dorchester Center, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. The area is home to 47,783 residents, producing a population density of 6,159 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 02124 against Massachusetts and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 02124 sits at $81,923 (29% below the Massachusetts average), while per-capita income is $41,235. The poverty rate stands at 17.0% and the unemployment rate at 8.0%. On housing, the median home value is $650,700 (9% above the state average) with median rent at $1,684 per month, and 41.4% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 02124 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 31.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 36.9, and the average commute is 35 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Suffolk County, so you can benchmark 02124 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 02124
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 02124.
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
111 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
107 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
91 establishments
- Construction
Construction
56 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
49 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 02124, Dorchester Center, 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
47,783
Population
7.8
Area (sq mi)
6,159
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 02124?
36.9
Median Age
47.5%
Male
52.5%
Female
33.2%
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?
$81,923
Median Household Income
-29% vs state
$41,235
Per Capita Income
17.0%
Poverty Rate
8.0%
Unemployment Rate
35.2 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?
21,365
Total Housing Units
20,287
Occupied Units
1,078
Vacant Units
2.74
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$650,700
Median Home Value
+9% vs state
$1,684
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
+7.3%
YoY Change (2024)
352
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+252%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 02124 have increased 7.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +252% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3.0% | 283 |
| 2021 | +5.6% | 299 |
| 2022 | +15.5% | 345 |
| 2023 | -5.1% | 328 |
| 2024 | +7.3% | 352 |
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 597 business establishments in ZIP 02124, employing approximately 5,592 people with a combined annual payroll of $267,906,000.
597
Businesses
5,592
Employees
$267.9M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Other services (except public administration) | 111 | 18.6% |
| Health care and social assistance | 107 | 17.9% |
| Retail trade | 91 | 15.2% |
| Construction | 56 | 9.4% |
| Accommodation and food services | 49 | 8.2% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 41 | 6.9% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 31 | 5.2% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 30 | 5.0% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 19 | 3.2% |
| Finance and insurance | 19 | 3.2% |
| Educational services | 18 | 3.0% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 10 | 1.7% |
| Manufacturing | 6 | 1.0% |
| Wholesale trade | 4 | 0.7% |
| Information | 3 | 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 02124 vs 02126 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02126 | Mattapan, MA | 25,562 | 1.4 mi |
| 02121 | Dorchester, MA | 25,978 | 1.6 mi |
| 02125 | Dorchester, MA | 33,295 | 2.2 mi |
| 02171 | Quincy, MA | 17,711 | 2.4 mi |
| 02122 | Dorchester, MA | 23,479 | 2.2 mi |
| 02119 | Roxbury, MA | 25,346 | 2.7 mi |
| 02118 | Boston, MA | 26,498 | 3.6 mi |
| 02131 | Roslindale, MA | 29,826 | 2.8 mi |
| 02186 | Milton, MA | 27,003 | 3.1 mi |
| 02130 | Jamaica Plain, MA | 35,401 | 2.8 mi |
More ZIP Codes in Suffolk County
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Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 02124 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 02124? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 02124? ▼
What is the average home value in ZIP 02124? ▼
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 02124? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 02124? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 02124? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 02124? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 02124? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 02124? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 02124? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 02124? ▼
ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Dorchester Center, 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.