PlainZIP

Cambridge, MA · standard

ZIP Code 02140

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

17,607
5,888/sq mi
$135,286
Median income
$1,149,800
Median home value
79.1%
Bachelor's or higher

The verdict

Cambridge pairs a top-decile household income with top-decile home values, in a suburban-density, renter-heavy area.

Top 6%
household income, US ZIPs
Top 2%
home value, US ZIPs
5,888
people per sq mi
35%
owner-occupied homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 02140 against every reporting US ZIP.

ZIP code 02140 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Cambridge, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, home to 17,607 residents across 3.0 square miles, a density of 5,888 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.

ZIP 02140 skews affluent, with a median household income of $135,286 (17% above the Massachusetts average), while per-capita income is $86,528. Local economic indicators show a 11.1% poverty rate alongside 2.6% unemployment. Housing costs here run $1,149,800 for a typical home value (92% above the state average), with rent averaging $2,615 a month; 34.9% of homes are owner-occupied.

This is a highly-educated ZIP: 79.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 33.9, and the average commute is 32 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Middlesex County, so you can benchmark 02140 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone.

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 02140

Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Cambridge, MA

Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 02140.

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 02140, Cambridge, 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

17,607

Population

3.0

Area (sq mi)

5,888

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 02140?

33.9

Median Age

51.8%

Male

48.2%

Female

31.9%

Foreign-Born

White 54.4%
African American 16.1%
Asian 18.4%
American Indian or Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0.0%
Two or More Ethnicities 9.5%
Hispanic or Latino 6.2%

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?

$135,286

Median Household Income

+17% vs state

$86,528

Per Capita Income

11.1%

Poverty Rate

2.6%

Unemployment Rate

31.9 min

Mean Commute Time

How ZIP 02140 ranks nationally

Cambridge, MA household income vs. every US ZIP code

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

$135,286 Top 6% higher than 94% 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%). Below this entry. $100,000–$120,000: 2,855 US ZIPs (9%). Below this entry. $120,000–$140,000: 1,362 US ZIPs (4%). This entry sits in this band. $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 86.0%
Bachelor's Degree or Higher 79.1%

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

What does housing look like?

11,066

Total Housing Units

9,944

Occupied Units

1,122

Vacant Units

2.13

Avg Household Size

Occupancy Type

Owner 34.9%
Renter 65.1%

$1,149,800

Median Home Value

+92% vs state

$2,615

Median Rent

1955

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

-3.0%

YoY Change (2021)

273

HPI Index (2000 = 100)

+173%

Total Change Since 2000

Home values in ZIP 02140 have decreased 3.0% over the past year (2021). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +173% cumulative appreciation.

Year Annual Change HPI Index
2017 +7.7% 238
2018 +28.9% 307
2019 -8.9% 279
2020 +0.9% 282
2021 -3.0% 273

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 2021. ZIP codes with few transactions may show missing values.

What businesses operate in this ZIP?

Census Bureau data shows 522 business establishments in ZIP 02140, employing approximately 9,129 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,014,848,000.

522

Businesses

9,129

Employees

$1.0B

Annual Payroll

15

Industry Sectors

Industry Establishments % of Total
Professional, scientific, and technical services 148 28.4%
Health care and social assistance 64 12.3%
Accommodation and food services 64 12.3%
Other services (except public administration) 55 10.5%
Retail trade 42 8.1%
Educational services 26 5.0%
Real estate and rental and leasing 23 4.4%
Information 20 3.8%
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services 16 3.1%
Finance and insurance 15 2.9%
Wholesale trade 13 2.5%
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 12 2.3%
Construction 11 2.1%
Manufacturing 5 1.0%
Transportation and warehousing 5 1.0%

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 02140 vs 02138 →

ZIP 02140 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 02140 ranks #0 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 02140 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 02140 ranks #4 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
02138 Cambridge, MA 36,314 0.9 mi
02144 Somerville, MA 23,891 0.8 mi
02134 Allston, MA 21,503 2.5 mi
02163 Boston, MA 2,582 2.0 mi
02145 Somerville, MA 25,439 2.2 mi
02143 Somerville, MA 24,514 2.0 mi
02478 Belmont, MA 24,664 2.4 mi
02474 Arlington, MA 26,312 2.2 mi
02155 Medford, MA 57,964 2.4 mi
02139 Cambridge, MA 36,349 2.6 mi

More ZIP Codes in Middlesex County

02148 standard
Malden, MA
Pop: 59,503
02155 standard
Medford, MA
Pop: 57,964
02149 standard
Everett, MA
Pop: 41,550
01801 standard
Woburn, MA
Pop: 38,903
01752 standard
Marlborough, MA
Pop: 38,499
01702 standard
Framingham, MA
Pop: 37,206

Related Areas

Middlesex County Cambridge, MA Massachusetts

Frequently Asked Questions

What county is ZIP code 02140 in? ▼
ZIP code 02140 (Cambridge) is located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Middlesex County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/middlesex-ma.
What is the population of ZIP code 02140? ▼
ZIP code 02140 in Cambridge, MA has a population of 17,607 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 02140? ▼
The median household income in ZIP 02140 is $135,286, which is 77% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 02140? ▼
The median home value in ZIP 02140 is $1,149,800, which is 313% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 02140? ▼
The largest racial group in ZIP 02140 is White at 54.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 6.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 02140? ▼
ZIP code 02140 has 522 business establishments employing approximately 9,129 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 02140? ▼
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 02140 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (148), Health care and social assistance (64), Accommodation and food services (64). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 02140? ▼
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 02140 decreased by 3.0% in 2021. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 173%. 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 02140? ▼
In ZIP code 02140, 86.0% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 79.1% 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 02140? ▼
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 02140 is 31.9 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 02140? ▼
In ZIP code 02140, approximately 34.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 65.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 02140? ▼
The poverty rate in ZIP code 02140 is 11.1% 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.