ZIP Code 02451
standardSource:
Waltham · Middlesex County · Massachusetts
- Population
- 17,426
- Median income
- $122,335
- Median home value
- $753,000
- Bachelor's or higher
- 56.0%
- Land area
- 14.3 sq mi
1,218/sq mi
▲ 60% vs US
higher than 91% of US ZIPs
▲ 171% vs US
higher than 95% of US ZIPs
Median age 40.3
New York
ZIP code 02451 in Waltham, Massachusetts has a population of 17,426. The median household income is $122,335, which is 60% above the national average. Median home value is $753,000, 171% above the US average. 56.0% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 02451 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 14.3 square miles in Waltham, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The area is home to 17,426 residents, producing a population density of 1,218 people per square mile, and falls within the New York time zone. These USPS and Census boundary values drive every downstream statistic on this page, including the benchmarks that compare 02451 against Massachusetts and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 02451 sits at $122,335 (6% above the Massachusetts average), while per-capita income is $67,455. The poverty rate stands at 8.3% and the unemployment rate at 3.4%. On housing, the median home value is $753,000 (26% above the state average) with median rent at $2,677 per month, and 59.3% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 02451 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 56.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.3, and the average commute is 26 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Middlesex County, so you can benchmark 02451 against its immediate geography rather than a national average alone. Every figure is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, HUD Fair Market Rents, and FHFA Home Price Index data, no estimates, no proprietary scoring. Verify with HUD →
Top industries in ZIP 02451
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 02451.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
226 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
169 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
133 establishments
- Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services
97 establishments
- Finance and insurance 85
Finance and insurance
85 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 + HUD FMR + FHFA HPI ACS demographics, ZBP business establishments, HUD Fair Market Rents, FHFA HPI for ZIP 02451, Waltham, MA · 2023 Census ACS 5-Year Estimates use a rolling 60-month sample for stable small-geography estimates; ZBP updated annually; HUD FMR + FHFA HPI updated quarterly/annually.
Quick Facts
17,426
Population
14.3
Area (sq mi)
1,218
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 02451?
40.3
Median Age
50.1%
Male
49.9%
Female
29.4%
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?
$122,335
Median Household Income
+6% vs state
$67,455
Per Capita Income
8.3%
Poverty Rate
3.4%
Unemployment Rate
26.1 min
Mean Commute Time
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?
7,748
Total Housing Units
7,481
Occupied Units
267
Vacant Units
2.30
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$753,000
Median Home Value
+26% vs state
$2,677
Median Rent
1965
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
+5.3%
YoY Change (2024)
270
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+170%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 02451 have increased 5.3% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +170% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.6% | 209 |
| 2021 | +6.7% | 223 |
| 2022 | +10.1% | 246 |
| 2023 | +4.4% | 256 |
| 2024 | +5.3% | 270 |
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 1,195 business establishments in ZIP 02451, employing approximately 59,760 people with a combined annual payroll of $8,176,869,000.
1,195
Businesses
59,760
Employees
$8.2B
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 226 | 18.9% |
| Accommodation and food services | 169 | 14.1% |
| Health care and social assistance | 133 | 11.1% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 97 | 8.1% |
| Finance and insurance | 85 | 7.1% |
| Construction | 75 | 6.3% |
| Information | 67 | 5.6% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 65 | 5.4% |
| Retail trade | 64 | 5.4% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 50 | 4.2% |
| Wholesale trade | 49 | 4.1% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 46 | 3.9% |
| Manufacturing | 23 | 1.9% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 18 | 1.5% |
| Educational services | 16 | 1.3% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 9 | 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 02451 vs 02452 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02452 | Waltham, MA | 14,238 | 1.9 mi |
| 02453 | Waltham, MA | 28,968 | 2.2 mi |
| 02421 | Lexington, MA | 17,342 | 2.9 mi |
| 02466 | Auburndale, MA | 8,096 | 3.8 mi |
| 02462 | Newton Lower Falls, MA | 1,554 | 4.7 mi |
| 02465 | West Newton, MA | 11,710 | 3.7 mi |
| 02478 | Belmont, MA | 24,664 | 4.0 mi |
| 01773 | Lincoln, MA | 5,112 | 3.3 mi |
| 01731 | Hanscom Afb, MA | 1,396 | 4.2 mi |
| 02493 | Weston, MA | 11,261 | 3.5 mi |
More ZIP Codes in Middlesex County
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Frequently Asked Questions
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How many businesses are in ZIP code 02451? ▼
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How have home values changed in ZIP code 02451? ▼
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What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 02451? ▼
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ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Waltham, MA
Verify and explore additional data for this area using these official government sources.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year Estimates (2023). Business data: Source: Census ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023. Home value trends: Source: FHFA House Price Index (HPI), Five-Digit ZIP Codes.
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Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.