Milton, MA · standard
ZIP Code 02186
Norfolk County, Massachusetts - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 27,003
- 801/sq mi High-density area
- $188,033
- Median income Above-median income area
- $933,200
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 71.9%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Milton pairs a top-decile household income with top-decile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 1%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 3%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 801
- people per sq mi
- 85%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 02186 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 02186 (Milton, MA) rose +8.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 272.1 in 2023 to 294.0 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 02186 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Milton, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with 27,003 residents across 33.7 square miles, a density of 801 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 02186 skews affluent, with a median household income of $188,033 (63% above the average Massachusetts ZIP), while per-capita income is $74,509. The poverty rate is 5.2%, with unemployment at 4.8%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $933,200 (56% above the average Massachusetts ZIP), while 84.9% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,486.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 71.9% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41, and the average commute is 31 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Norfolk County, so 02186 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 02186
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Milton, MA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 02186.
- Construction
Construction
96 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
83 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
77 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
52 establishments
- Retail trade 26
Retail trade
26 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 02186, Milton, 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
27,003
Population
33.7
Area (sq mi)
801
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 02186?
41.0
Median Age
47.0%
Male
53.0%
Female
14.2%
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?
$188,033
Median Household Income
+63% vs state ZIP avg
$74,509
Per Capita Income
5.2%
Poverty Rate
4.8%
Unemployment Rate
31.2 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 02186 ranks among Massachusetts ZIPs
Milton, 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)
$188,033 Top 8% higher than 92% 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
9,362housing units
9,362
Total Housing Units
9,121
Occupied Units
241
Vacant Units
2.97
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$933,200
Median Home Value
+56% vs state ZIP avg
$1,486
Median Rent
1945
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
+8.0%
YoY Change (2024)
294
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+194%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 02186 have increased 8.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +194% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +3.1% | 219 |
| 2021 | +7.4% | 235 |
| 2022 | +7.6% | 253 |
| 2023 | +7.6% | 272 |
| 2024 | +8.0% | 294 |
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 482 business establishments in ZIP 02186, employing approximately 5,544 people with a combined annual payroll of $316,357,000.
482
Businesses
5,544
Employees
$316.4M
Annual Payroll
14
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | 96 | 19.9% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 83 | 17.2% |
| Health care and social assistance | 77 | 16.0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 52 | 10.8% |
| Retail trade | 26 | 5.4% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 26 | 5.4% |
| Accommodation and food services | 26 | 5.4% |
| Finance and insurance | 19 | 3.9% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 19 | 3.9% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 17 | 3.5% |
| Educational services | 14 | 2.9% |
| Information | 10 | 2.1% |
| Wholesale trade | 9 | 1.9% |
| Manufacturing | 4 | 0.8% |
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 02186 vs 02126 →
ZIP 02186 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 02169
Quincy (02169)
55,055 residents
- 02124
Dorchester Center (02124)
47,783 residents
- 02368
Randolph (02368)
32,158 residents
- 02131
Roslindale (02131)
29,826 residents
- 02136
Hyde Park (02136)
28,488 residents
- 02186
Milton (02186)
27,003 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 02186 ranks #6 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 02186 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
- 02026
Dedham (02026)
$128,955 median income
- 02131
Roslindale (02131)
$111,006 median income
- 02368
Randolph (02368)
$109,665 median income
- 02170
Quincy (02170)
$103,627 median income
- 02136
Hyde Park (02136)
$96,737 median income
- 02169
Quincy (02169)
$96,290 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 02186 ranks the highest 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 | 2.3 mi |
| 02124 | Dorchester Center, MA | 47,783 | 3.1 mi |
| 02136 | Hyde Park, MA | 28,488 | 2.5 mi |
| 02121 | Dorchester, MA | 25,978 | 4.5 mi |
| 02119 | Roxbury, MA | 25,346 | 5.7 mi |
| 02131 | Roslindale, MA | 29,826 | 3.7 mi |
| 02169 | Quincy, MA | 55,055 | 4.2 mi |
| 02170 | Quincy, MA | 19,505 | 3.9 mi |
| 02368 | Randolph, MA | 32,158 | 4.7 mi |
| 02026 | Dedham, MA | 24,711 | 4.8 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 02186, 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 (27,003 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Norfolk County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 02186 in?
ZIP code 02186 (Milton) is located in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. Norfolk County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/norfolk-ma.
What is the population of ZIP code 02186?
ZIP code 02186 in Milton, MA has a population of 27,003 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 02186?
The median household income in ZIP 02186 is $188,033, which is 146% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 02186?
The median home value in ZIP 02186 is $933,200, which is 235% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 02186?
The largest racial group in ZIP 02186 is White at 70.4%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 02186?
ZIP code 02186 has 482 business establishments employing approximately 5,544 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 02186?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 02186 are: Construction (96), Professional, scientific, and technical services (83), Health care and social assistance (77). There are 14 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 02186?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 02186 increased by 8.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 194%. 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 02186?
In ZIP code 02186, 84.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 71.9% 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 02186?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 02186 is 31.2 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 02186?
In ZIP code 02186, approximately 84.9% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 15.1% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 02186?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 02186 is 5.2% 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 02186's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 02186 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Milton, 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.