Waltham, MA · standard
ZIP Code 02451
Middlesex County, Massachusetts - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 17,426
- 1,218/sq mi High-density area
- $122,335
- Median income Above-median income area
- $753,000
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 56.0%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Waltham pairs a top-decile household income with top-decile home values, in a low-density, mixed-tenure area.
- Top 9%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 5%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,218
- people per sq mi
- 59%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 02451 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 02451 (Waltham, MA) rose +5.3% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 256.4 in 2023 to 270.1 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 02451 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Waltham, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, home to 17,426 residents across 14.3 square miles, a density of 1,218 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 02451 skews affluent, with a median household income of $122,335 (6% above the average Massachusetts ZIP), while per-capita income is $67,455. The poverty rate is 8.3%, with unemployment at 3.4%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $753,000 (26% above the average Massachusetts ZIP) and median rent is $2,677; 59.3% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 56.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 40.3, and the average commute is 26 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Middlesex County, so 02451 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 02451
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Waltham, MA
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 + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, 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; 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 ZIP avg
$67,455
Per Capita Income
8.3%
Poverty Rate
3.4%
Unemployment Rate
26.1 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 02451 ranks among Massachusetts ZIPs
Waltham, 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)
$122,335 Top 37% higher than 63% 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
7,748housing units
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 ZIP avg
$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 02451 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 02453
Waltham (02453)
28,968 residents
- 02478
Belmont (02478)
24,664 residents
- 02451
Waltham (02451)
17,426 residents
- 02421
Lexington (02421)
17,342 residents
- 02452
Waltham (02452)
14,238 residents
- 02465
West Newton (02465)
11,710 residents
- 02493 11,261
Weston (02493)
11,261 residents
- 02466 8,096
Auburndale (02466)
8,096 residents
- 01773 5,112
Lincoln (01773)
5,112 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 02451 ranks #3 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 02451 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 02493
Weston (02493)
$250,000 median income
- 02421
Lexington (02421)
$227,813 median income
- 02462
Newton Lower Falls (02462)
$216,339 median income
- 01773
Lincoln (01773)
$209,327 median income
- 02465
West Newton (02465)
$194,265 median income
- 02478
Belmont (02478)
$183,137 median income
- 02466
Auburndale (02466)
$170,089 median income
- 02451
Waltham (02451)
$122,335 median income
- 02452
Waltham (02452)
$118,431 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 02451 ranks #8 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| 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 |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 02451, 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 (17,426 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 02451 in?
ZIP code 02451 (Waltham) 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 02451?
ZIP code 02451 in Waltham, MA has a population of 17,426 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 02451?
The median household income in ZIP 02451 is $122,335, which is 60% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 02451?
The median home value in ZIP 02451 is $753,000, which is 171% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 02451?
The largest racial group in ZIP 02451 is White at 56.7%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 15.2% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 02451?
ZIP code 02451 has 1,195 business establishments employing approximately 59,760 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 02451?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 02451 are: Professional, scientific, and technical services (226), Accommodation and food services (169), Health care and social assistance (133). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 02451?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 02451 increased by 5.3% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 170%. 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 02451?
In ZIP code 02451, 77.1% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 56.0% 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 02451?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 02451 is 26.1 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 02451?
In ZIP code 02451, approximately 59.3% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 40.7% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 02451?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 02451 is 8.3% 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 02451's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 02451 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Waltham, 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.