Dorchester Center, MA · standard
ZIP Code 02124
Suffolk County, Massachusetts - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 47,783
- 6,159/sq mi High-density area
- $81,923
- Median income Near-median income area
- $650,700
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 31.6%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Dorchester Center pairs an above-median household income with top-decile home values, in a suburban-density, mixed-tenure area.
- Top 36%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 8%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 6,159
- people per sq mi
- 41%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 02124 against every reporting US ZIP.
FHFA HPI release change
What changed in the latest House Price Index year
- FHFA House Price Index values in ZIP 02124 (Dorchester Center, MA) rose +7.3% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 327.8 in 2023 to 351.6 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 02124 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Dorchester Center, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, with 47,783 residents across 7.8 square miles, a density of 6,159 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 02124 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $81,923 (29% below the average Massachusetts ZIP), while per-capita income is $41,235. The poverty rate is 17.0%, with unemployment at 8.0%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $650,700 (9% above the average Massachusetts ZIP) and median rent is $1,684; 41.4% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
A solid share of residents have a four-year degree: 31.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 36.9, and the average commute is 35 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Suffolk County, so 02124 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 02124
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Dorchester Center, MA
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 + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, 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; 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 ZIP avg
$41,235
Per Capita Income
17.0%
Poverty Rate
8.0%
Unemployment Rate
35.2 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 02124 ranks nationally
Dorchester Center, MA household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$81,923 Top 36% higher than 64% of 30,318 US ZIPs
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?
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023)
What does housing look like?
Housing stock: occupied vs vacant
21,365housing units
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 ZIP avg
$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 02124 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 02124
Dorchester Center (02124)
47,783 residents
- 02130
Jamaica Plain (02130)
35,401 residents
- 02125
Dorchester (02125)
33,295 residents
- 02131
Roslindale (02131)
29,826 residents
- 02186
Milton (02186)
27,003 residents
- 02118
Boston (02118)
26,498 residents
- 02121
Dorchester (02121)
25,978 residents
- 02126
Mattapan (02126)
25,562 residents
- 02119
Roxbury (02119)
25,346 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 02124 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 02124 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 02186
Milton (02186)
$188,033 median income
- 02130
Jamaica Plain (02130)
$131,551 median income
- 02131
Roslindale (02131)
$111,006 median income
- 02171
Quincy (02171)
$106,885 median income
- 02118
Boston (02118)
$98,224 median income
- 02122
Dorchester (02122)
$86,150 median income
- 02125
Dorchester (02125)
$82,953 median income
- 02124
Dorchester Center (02124)
$81,923 median income
- 02126 $65,709
Mattapan (02126)
$65,709 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 02124 ranks #8 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| 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 |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 02124, 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 (47,783 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 02124 in?
ZIP code 02124 (Dorchester Center) 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 02124?
ZIP code 02124 in Dorchester Center, MA has a population of 47,783 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 02124?
The median household income in ZIP 02124 is $81,923, which is 7% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 02124?
The median home value in ZIP 02124 is $650,700, which is 134% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 02124?
The largest racial group in ZIP 02124 is African American at 45.9%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 19.5% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 02124?
ZIP code 02124 has 597 business establishments employing approximately 5,592 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 02124?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 02124 are: Other services (except public administration) (111), Health care and social assistance (107), Retail trade (91). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 02124?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 02124 increased by 7.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 252%. 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 02124?
In ZIP code 02124, 57.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 31.6% 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 02124?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 02124 is 35.2 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 02124?
In ZIP code 02124, approximately 41.4% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 58.6% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 02124?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 02124 is 17.0% 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 02124's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 02124 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Dorchester Center, 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.