Waltham, MA · standard
ZIP Code 02452
Middlesex County, Massachusetts - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 14,238
- 1,485/sq mi High-density area
- $118,431
- Median income Above-median income area
- $808,300
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 53.8%
- 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 10%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 4%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 1,485
- people per sq mi
- 51%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 02452 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 02452 (Waltham, MA) rose +5.8% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 249.3 in 2023 to 263.7 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 02452 is a mid-sized community (a standard USPS delivery area) in Waltham, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, home to 14,238 residents across 9.6 square miles, a density of 1,485 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 02452 skews affluent, with a median household income of $118,431 (2% above the average Massachusetts ZIP), while per-capita income is $52,042. The poverty rate is 11.7%, with unemployment at 3.7%; those measures add context to the income figure. Median home value is $808,300 (35% above the average Massachusetts ZIP) and median rent is $2,322; 51.1% of occupied homes are owner-occupied.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 53.8% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 31.6, 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 02452 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 02452
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Waltham, MA
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 02452.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
60 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
53 establishments
- Construction
Construction
47 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
44 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
43 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 02452, 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
14,238
Population
9.6
Area (sq mi)
1,485
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 02452?
31.6
Median Age
48.1%
Male
51.9%
Female
27.1%
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?
$118,431
Median Household Income
+2% vs state ZIP avg
$52,042
Per Capita Income
11.7%
Poverty Rate
3.7%
Unemployment Rate
25.9 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 02452 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)
$118,431 Top 42% higher than 58% 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
5,609housing units
5,609
Total Housing Units
5,362
Occupied Units
247
Vacant Units
2.22
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$808,300
Median Home Value
+35% vs state ZIP avg
$2,322
Median Rent
1971
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
+5.8%
YoY Change (2024)
264
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+164%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 02452 have increased 5.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +164% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +5.0% | 207 |
| 2021 | +4.2% | 216 |
| 2022 | +4.6% | 226 |
| 2023 | +10.5% | 249 |
| 2024 | +5.8% | 264 |
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 417 business establishments in ZIP 02452, employing approximately 8,200 people with a combined annual payroll of $652,444,000.
417
Businesses
8,200
Employees
$652.4M
Annual Payroll
16
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 60 | 14.4% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 53 | 12.7% |
| Construction | 47 | 11.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 44 | 10.6% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 43 | 10.3% |
| Retail trade | 40 | 9.6% |
| Finance and insurance | 24 | 5.8% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 23 | 5.5% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 17 | 4.1% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 15 | 3.6% |
| Wholesale trade | 13 | 3.1% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 12 | 2.9% |
| Information | 8 | 1.9% |
| Manufacturing | 7 | 1.7% |
| Educational services | 6 | 1.4% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 5 | 1.2% |
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 02452 vs 02451 →
ZIP 02452 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 02472
Watertown (02472)
32,014 residents
- 02453
Waltham (02453)
28,968 residents
- 02478
Belmont (02478)
24,664 residents
- 02451
Waltham (02451)
17,426 residents
- 02421
Lexington (02421)
17,342 residents
- 02476
Arlington (02476)
16,532 residents
- 02452
Waltham (02452)
14,238 residents
- 02420
Lexington (02420)
14,052 residents
- 02458 12,131
Newton (02458)
12,131 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 02452 ranks #7 by population - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 02452 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 02420
Lexington (02420)
$245,031 median income
- 02421
Lexington (02421)
$227,813 median income
- 02465
West Newton (02465)
$194,265 median income
- 02478
Belmont (02478)
$183,137 median income
- 02460
Newtonville (02460)
$177,837 median income
- 02458
Newton (02458)
$153,520 median income
- 02476
Arlington (02476)
$151,131 median income
- 02472
Watertown (02472)
$126,336 median income
- 02451
Waltham (02451)
$122,335 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 02452 ranks #null of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02451 | Waltham, MA | 17,426 | 1.9 mi |
| 02478 | Belmont, MA | 24,664 | 2.1 mi |
| 02453 | Waltham, MA | 28,968 | 2.0 mi |
| 02465 | West Newton, MA | 11,710 | 3.1 mi |
| 02460 | Newtonville, MA | 8,742 | 2.9 mi |
| 02421 | Lexington, MA | 17,342 | 3.3 mi |
| 02420 | Lexington, MA | 14,052 | 4.3 mi |
| 02472 | Watertown, MA | 32,014 | 2.7 mi |
| 02476 | Arlington, MA | 16,532 | 2.8 mi |
| 02458 | Newton, MA | 12,131 | 3.3 mi |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 02452, 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 (14,238 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 02452 in?
ZIP code 02452 (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 02452?
ZIP code 02452 in Waltham, MA has a population of 14,238 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 02452?
The median household income in ZIP 02452 is $118,431, which is 55% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 02452?
The median home value in ZIP 02452 is $808,300, which is 191% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 02452?
The largest racial group in ZIP 02452 is White at 64.5%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 12.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 02452?
ZIP code 02452 has 417 business establishments employing approximately 8,200 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 02452?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 02452 are: Health care and social assistance (60), Professional, scientific, and technical services (53), Construction (47). There are 16 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 02452?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 02452 increased by 5.8% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 164%. 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 02452?
In ZIP code 02452, 70.8% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 53.8% 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 02452?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 02452 is 25.9 minutes according to Census ACS data. The national average is roughly 26 minutes, so commuters here spend less time traveling to work than typical.
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 02452?
In ZIP code 02452, approximately 51.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 48.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 02452?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 02452 is 11.7% 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 02452's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 02452 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.