ZIP Code 02538
standardSource:
East Wareham · Plymouth County · Massachusetts
- Population
- 3,603
- Median income
- $123,750
- Median home value
- $392,000
- Bachelor's or higher
- 24.6%
- Land area
- 11.8 sq mi
306/sq mi
▲ 62% vs US
higher than 92% of US ZIPs
▲ 41% vs US
higher than 79% of US ZIPs
Median age 41.1
New York
ZIP code 02538 in East Wareham, Massachusetts has a population of 3,603. The median household income is $123,750, which is 62% above the national average. Median home value is $392,000, 41% above the US average. 24.6% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 02538 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 11.8 square miles in East Wareham, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. The area is home to 3,603 residents, producing a population density of 306 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 02538 against Massachusetts and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 02538 sits at $123,750 (7% above the Massachusetts average), while per-capita income is $44,053. The poverty rate stands at 3.3% and the unemployment rate at 0.6%. On housing, the median home value is $392,000 (35% below the state average) with median rent at $1,407 per month, and 82.2% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 02538 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 24.6% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 41.1, and the average commute is 33 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Plymouth County, so you can benchmark 02538 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 02538
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 02538.
- Retail trade
Retail trade
35 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
22 establishments
- Construction 13
Construction
13 establishments
- Other services (except public administration) 12
Other services (except public administration)
12 establishments
- Health care and social assistance 7
Health care and social assistance
7 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 02538, East Wareham, 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
3,603
Population
11.8
Area (sq mi)
306
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 02538?
41.1
Median Age
51.6%
Male
48.4%
Female
0.9%
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?
$123,750
Median Household Income
+7% vs state
$44,053
Per Capita Income
3.3%
Poverty Rate
0.6%
Unemployment Rate
32.9 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?
1,649
Total Housing Units
1,548
Occupied Units
101
Vacant Units
2.62
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$392,000
Median Home Value
-35% vs state
$1,407
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
+11.8%
YoY Change (2024)
329
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+229%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 02538 have increased 11.8% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +229% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +2.2% | 213 |
| 2021 | +17.9% | 251 |
| 2022 | +15.5% | 289 |
| 2023 | +1.8% | 294 |
| 2024 | +11.8% | 329 |
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 118 business establishments in ZIP 02538, employing approximately 1,215 people with a combined annual payroll of $49,559,000.
118
Businesses
1,215
Employees
$49.6M
Annual Payroll
11
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Retail trade | 35 | 29.7% |
| Accommodation and food services | 22 | 18.6% |
| Construction | 13 | 11.0% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 12 | 10.2% |
| Health care and social assistance | 7 | 5.9% |
| Finance and insurance | 6 | 5.1% |
| Manufacturing | 4 | 3.4% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 4 | 3.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 3 | 2.5% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 3 | 2.5% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 3 | 2.5% |
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 02538 vs 02558 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02558 | Onset, MA | 2,156 | 2.2 mi |
| 02571 | Wareham, MA | 10,481 | 2.7 mi |
| 02532 | Buzzards Bay, MA | 12,690 | 3.2 mi |
| 02366 | South Carver, MA | 197 | 5.1 mi |
| 02553 | Monument Beach, MA | 226 | 4.7 mi |
| 02576 | West Wareham, MA | 3,754 | 5.9 mi |
| 02559 | Pocasset, MA | 3,376 | 6.2 mi |
| 02360 | Plymouth, MA | 56,271 | 7.1 mi |
| 02561 | Sagamore, MA | 539 | 6.0 mi |
| 02562 | Sagamore Beach, MA | 2,977 | 6.3 mi |
More ZIP Codes in Plymouth County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 02538? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 02538? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 02538? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 02538? ▼
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What is the average commute time in ZIP 02538? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 02538? ▼
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ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for East Wareham, 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.