Brighton, MA · standard
ZIP Code 02135
Suffolk County, Massachusetts - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 42,780
- 6,271/sq mi High-density area
- $90,829
- Median income Above-median income area
- $681,200
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 72.0%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Brighton pairs an above-median household income with top-decile home values, in a suburban-density, renter-heavy area.
- Top 26%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 7%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 6,271
- people per sq mi
- 23%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 02135 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 02135 (Brighton, MA) rose +8.7% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 274.8 in 2023 to 298.8 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 02135 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Brighton, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, with 42,780 residents across 6.8 square miles, a density of 6,271 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 02135 lands in the middle-income range, with a median household income of $90,829 (21% below the average Massachusetts ZIP), while per-capita income is $55,184. The poverty rate is 18.4%, with unemployment at 3.4%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $681,200 (14% above the average Massachusetts ZIP) and median rent is $2,249; 23.3% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 72.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 30.4, and the average commute is 32 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Suffolk County, so 02135 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 02135
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Brighton, MA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 02135.
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
101 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
83 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
76 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
70 establishments
- Construction
Construction
62 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 02135, Brighton, 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
42,780
Population
6.8
Area (sq mi)
6,271
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 02135?
30.4
Median Age
47.9%
Male
52.1%
Female
27.8%
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?
$90,829
Median Household Income
-21% vs state ZIP avg
$55,184
Per Capita Income
18.4%
Poverty Rate
3.4%
Unemployment Rate
32.1 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 02135 ranks nationally
Brighton, MA household income vs. every US ZIP code
Median household income, the full national distribution, with this ZIP marked
$90,829 Top 26% higher than 74% 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
22,379housing units
22,379
Total Housing Units
21,143
Occupied Units
1,236
Vacant Units
1.97
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$681,200
Median Home Value
+14% vs state ZIP avg
$2,249
Median Rent
1956
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
+8.7%
YoY Change (2024)
299
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+199%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 02135 have increased 8.7% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +199% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +1.5% | 235 |
| 2021 | +0.7% | 236 |
| 2022 | +4.8% | 247 |
| 2023 | +11.1% | 275 |
| 2024 | +8.7% | 299 |
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 652 business establishments in ZIP 02135, employing approximately 16,744 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,662,954,000.
652
Businesses
16,744
Employees
$1.7B
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and food services | 101 | 15.5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 83 | 12.7% |
| Health care and social assistance | 76 | 11.7% |
| Retail trade | 70 | 10.7% |
| Construction | 62 | 9.5% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 59 | 9.1% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 53 | 8.1% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 27 | 4.1% |
| Educational services | 25 | 3.8% |
| Information | 24 | 3.7% |
| Finance and insurance | 20 | 3.1% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 15 | 2.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 14 | 2.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 9 | 1.4% |
| Manufacturing | 6 | 0.9% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 4 | 0.6% |
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 02135 vs 02134 →
ZIP 02135 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 02135
Brighton (02135)
42,780 residents
- 02138
Cambridge (02138)
36,314 residents
- 02472
Watertown (02472)
32,014 residents
- 02446
Brookline (02446)
29,311 residents
- 02215
Boston (02215)
26,125 residents
- 02467
Chestnut Hill (02467)
22,491 residents
- 02134
Allston (02134)
21,503 residents
- 02445
Brookline (02445)
20,679 residents
- 02458 12,131
Newton (02458)
12,131 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 02135 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 02135 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 02460
Newtonville (02460)
$177,837 median income
- 02467
Chestnut Hill (02467)
$169,104 median income
- 02458
Newton (02458)
$153,520 median income
- 02445
Brookline (02445)
$139,747 median income
- 02446
Brookline (02446)
$131,963 median income
- 02472
Watertown (02472)
$126,336 median income
- 02138
Cambridge (02138)
$119,967 median income
- 02135
Brighton (02135)
$90,829 median income
- 02163
Boston (02163)
$84,583 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 02135 ranks #8 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02134 | Allston, MA | 21,503 | 1.4 mi |
| 02458 | Newton, MA | 12,131 | 1.7 mi |
| 02446 | Brookline, MA | 29,311 | 1.7 mi |
| 02467 | Chestnut Hill, MA | 22,491 | 2.3 mi |
| 02472 | Watertown, MA | 32,014 | 1.8 mi |
| 02445 | Brookline, MA | 20,679 | 1.9 mi |
| 02138 | Cambridge, MA | 36,314 | 2.3 mi |
| 02163 | Boston, MA | 2,582 | 2.0 mi |
| 02215 | Boston, MA | 26,125 | 2.6 mi |
| 02460 | Newtonville, MA | 8,742 | 2.8 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 02135, 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 (42,780 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 02135 in?
ZIP code 02135 (Brighton) 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 02135?
ZIP code 02135 in Brighton, MA has a population of 42,780 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 02135?
The median household income in ZIP 02135 is $90,829, which is 19% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 02135?
The median home value in ZIP 02135 is $681,200, which is 145% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 02135?
The largest racial group in ZIP 02135 is White at 60.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 10.6% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 02135?
ZIP code 02135 has 652 business establishments employing approximately 16,744 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 02135?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 02135 are: Accommodation and food services (101), Other services (except public administration) (83), Health care and social assistance (76). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 02135?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 02135 increased by 8.7% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 199%. 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 02135?
In ZIP code 02135, 82.4% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 72.0% 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 02135?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 02135 is 32.1 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 02135?
In ZIP code 02135, approximately 23.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 76.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 02135?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 02135 is 18.4% 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 02135's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 02135 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Brighton, MA ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
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ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.