ZIP Code 02472
standardSource:
Watertown · Middlesex County · Massachusetts
- Population
- 32,014
- Median income
- $126,336
- Median home value
- $784,600
- Bachelor's or higher
- 66.5%
- Land area
- 10.5 sq mi
3,062/sq mi
▲ 66% vs US
higher than 92% of US ZIPs
▲ 182% vs US
higher than 95% of US ZIPs
Median age 39.3
New York
ZIP code 02472 in Watertown, Massachusetts has a population of 32,014. The median household income is $126,336, which is 66% above the national average. Median home value is $784,600, 182% above the US average. 66.5% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 02472 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 10.5 square miles in Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The area is home to 32,014 residents, producing a population density of 3,062 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 02472 against Massachusetts and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 02472 sits at $126,336 (9% above the Massachusetts average), while per-capita income is $73,788. The poverty rate stands at 7.5% and the unemployment rate at 5.3%. On housing, the median home value is $784,600 (31% above the state average) with median rent at $2,498 per month, and 47.6% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 02472 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 66.5% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 39.3, and the average commute is 28 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Middlesex County, so you can benchmark 02472 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 02472
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 02472.
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
175 establishments
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
127 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
118 establishments
- Other services (except public administration)
Other services (except public administration)
114 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
113 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 02472, Watertown, 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
32,014
Population
10.5
Area (sq mi)
3,062
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 02472?
39.3
Median Age
45.5%
Male
54.5%
Female
25.6%
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?
$126,336
Median Household Income
+9% vs state
$73,788
Per Capita Income
7.5%
Poverty Rate
5.3%
Unemployment Rate
27.6 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?
17,234
Total Housing Units
16,399
Occupied Units
835
Vacant Units
2.15
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$784,600
Median Home Value
+31% vs state
$2,498
Median Rent
1947
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
+3.6%
YoY Change (2024)
285
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+185%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 02472 have increased 3.6% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +185% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.5% | 215 |
| 2021 | +6.0% | 228 |
| 2022 | +7.8% | 246 |
| 2023 | +11.9% | 275 |
| 2024 | +3.6% | 285 |
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 1,052 business establishments in ZIP 02472, employing approximately 17,292 people with a combined annual payroll of $1,768,141,000.
1,052
Businesses
17,292
Employees
$1.8B
Annual Payroll
17
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 175 | 16.6% |
| Health care and social assistance | 127 | 12.1% |
| Retail trade | 118 | 11.2% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 114 | 10.8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 113 | 10.7% |
| Construction | 94 | 8.9% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 50 | 4.8% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 47 | 4.5% |
| Information | 45 | 4.3% |
| Finance and insurance | 36 | 3.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 32 | 3.0% |
| Manufacturing | 30 | 2.9% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 26 | 2.5% |
| Educational services | 23 | 2.2% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 15 | 1.4% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 4 | 0.4% |
| Industries not classified | 3 | 0.3% |
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 02472 vs 02458 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02458 | Newton, MA | 12,131 | 1.3 mi |
| 02478 | Belmont, MA | 24,664 | 1.8 mi |
| 02135 | Brighton, MA | 42,780 | 1.8 mi |
| 02476 | Arlington, MA | 16,532 | 3.2 mi |
| 02460 | Newtonville, MA | 8,742 | 2.0 mi |
| 02138 | Cambridge, MA | 36,314 | 2.3 mi |
| 02134 | Allston, MA | 21,503 | 2.6 mi |
| 02163 | Boston, MA | 2,582 | 2.9 mi |
| 02453 | Waltham, MA | 28,968 | 3.2 mi |
| 02452 | Waltham, MA | 14,238 | 2.7 mi |
More ZIP Codes in Middlesex County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 02472 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 02472? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 02472? ▼
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What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 02472? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 02472? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 02472? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 02472? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 02472? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 02472? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 02472? ▼
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ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Watertown, 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.
PlainZIP is not affiliated with the U.S. Census Bureau or any government agency.
Read our methodology , how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.