Somerville, MA · standard
ZIP Code 02144
Middlesex County, Massachusetts - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 23,891
- 8,523/sq mi High-density area
- $150,313
- Median income Above-median income area
- $988,800
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 75.5%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Somerville pairs a top-decile household income with top-decile home values, in a densely urban, renter-heavy area.
- Top 4%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 3%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 8,523
- people per sq mi
- 37%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 02144 against every reporting US ZIP.
ZIP code 02144 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Somerville, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with 23,891 residents across 2.8 square miles, a density of 8,523 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 02144 skews affluent, with a median household income of $150,313 (30% above the average Massachusetts ZIP), while per-capita income is $83,033. The poverty rate is 10.7%, with unemployment at 2.7%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing costs run above the statewide ZIP benchmark while renting is common: median home value is $988,800 (65% above the average Massachusetts ZIP), with only 36.6% owner-occupied homes and median rent of $2,702.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 75.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 31.8, and the average commute is 32 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Middlesex County, so 02144 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 02144
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Somerville, MA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 02144.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
81 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
75 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
61 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
44 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
40 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 02144, Somerville, 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
23,891
Population
2.8
Area (sq mi)
8,523
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 02144?
31.8
Median Age
48.5%
Male
51.5%
Female
15.9%
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?
$150,313
Median Household Income
+30% vs state ZIP avg
$83,033
Per Capita Income
10.7%
Poverty Rate
2.7%
Unemployment Rate
31.6 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 02144 ranks among Massachusetts ZIPs
Somerville, MA household income vs. every Massachusetts ZIP code
Median household income among 505 reporting Massachusetts ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$150,313 Top 17% higher than 83% of 505 Massachusetts ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Massachusetts 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
12,034housing units
12,034
Total Housing Units
11,357
Occupied Units
677
Vacant Units
2.21
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$988,800
Median Home Value
+65% vs state ZIP avg
$2,702
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
-2.6%
YoY Change (2021)
287
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+187%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 02144 have decreased 2.6% over the past year (2021). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +187% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | +1.0% | 252 |
| 2018 | +12.6% | 284 |
| 2019 | +7.9% | 307 |
| 2020 | -3.9% | 295 |
| 2021 | -2.6% | 287 |
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 417 business establishments in ZIP 02144, employing approximately 5,471 people with a combined annual payroll of $431,764,000.
417
Businesses
5,471
Employees
$431.8M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 81 | 19.4% |
| Accommodation and food services | 75 | 18.0% |
| Health care and social assistance | 61 | 14.6% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 44 | 10.6% |
| Retail trade | 40 | 9.6% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 24 | 5.8% |
| Construction | 21 | 5.0% |
| Finance and insurance | 17 | 4.1% |
| Information | 14 | 3.4% |
| Manufacturing | 7 | 1.7% |
| Wholesale trade | 7 | 1.7% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 7 | 1.7% |
| Educational services | 7 | 1.7% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 7 | 1.7% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 3 | 0.7% |
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 02144 vs 02140 →
ZIP 02144 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 02155
Medford (02155)
57,964 residents
- 02139
Cambridge (02139)
36,349 residents
- 02138
Cambridge (02138)
36,314 residents
- 02446
Brookline (02446)
29,311 residents
- 02474
Arlington (02474)
26,312 residents
- 02145
Somerville (02145)
25,439 residents
- 02143
Somerville (02143)
24,514 residents
- 02144
Somerville (02144)
23,891 residents
- 02134 21,503
Allston (02134)
21,503 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 02144 ranks #8 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 02144 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 02474
Arlington (02474)
$150,560 median income
- 02144
Somerville (02144)
$150,313 median income
- 02140
Cambridge (02140)
$135,286 median income
- 02139
Cambridge (02139)
$134,586 median income
- 02446
Brookline (02446)
$131,963 median income
- 02143
Somerville (02143)
$130,753 median income
- 02155
Medford (02155)
$129,700 median income
- 02145
Somerville (02145)
$123,755 median income
- 02138
Cambridge (02138)
$119,967 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 02144 ranks #2 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02140 | Cambridge, MA | 17,607 | 0.8 mi |
| 02138 | Cambridge, MA | 36,314 | 1.6 mi |
| 02163 | Boston, MA | 2,582 | 2.4 mi |
| 02155 | Medford, MA | 57,964 | 1.7 mi |
| 02145 | Somerville, MA | 25,439 | 1.8 mi |
| 02143 | Somerville, MA | 24,514 | 1.8 mi |
| 02134 | Allston, MA | 21,503 | 3.0 mi |
| 02474 | Arlington, MA | 26,312 | 2.2 mi |
| 02139 | Cambridge, MA | 36,349 | 2.8 mi |
| 02446 | Brookline, MA | 29,311 | 4.0 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 02144, 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 (23,891 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Middlesex County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 02144 in?
ZIP code 02144 (Somerville) 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 02144?
ZIP code 02144 in Somerville, MA has a population of 23,891 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 02144?
The median household income in ZIP 02144 is $150,313, which is 97% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 02144?
The median home value in ZIP 02144 is $988,800, which is 255% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 02144?
The largest racial group in ZIP 02144 is White at 76.0%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 6.9% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 02144?
ZIP code 02144 has 417 business establishments employing approximately 5,471 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 02144?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 02144 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (81), Accommodation and food services (75), Health care and social assistance (61). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 02144?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 02144 decreased by 2.6% in 2021. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 187%. 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 02144?
In ZIP code 02144, 86.7% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 75.5% 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 02144?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 02144 is 31.6 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 02144?
In ZIP code 02144, approximately 36.6% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 63.4% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 02144?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 02144 is 10.7% 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 02144's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 02144 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Somerville, 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.