ZIP Code 02879
standardSource:
Wakefield · Washington County · Rhode Island
- Population
- 20,371
- Median income
- $112,231
- Median home value
- $564,700
- Bachelor's or higher
- 59.0%
- Land area
- 96.8 sq mi
211/sq mi
▲ 47% vs US
higher than 88% of US ZIPs
▲ 103% vs US
higher than 89% of US ZIPs
Median age 49.4
New York
ZIP code 02879 in Wakefield, Rhode Island has a population of 20,371. The median household income is $112,231, which is 47% above the national average. Median home value is $564,700, 103% above the US average. 59.0% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
ZIP code 02879 is classified by USPS as a standard delivery area and covers roughly 96.8 square miles in Wakefield, Washington County, Rhode Island. The area is home to 20,371 residents, producing a population density of 211 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 02879 against Rhode Island and the nation.
On the economic side, the median household income for ZIP 02879 sits at $112,231 (10% above the Rhode Island average), while per-capita income is $59,265. The poverty rate stands at 8.2% and the unemployment rate at 5.2%. On housing, the median home value is $564,700 (24% above the state average) with median rent at $1,281 per month, and 78.1% of occupied units are owner-occupied, a direct signal of whether 02879 behaves more like a homeowner neighborhood or a renter-heavy ZIP.
Education and household profile round out the picture: 59.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 49.4, and the average commute is 26 minutes. We also surface 10 nearby ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 additional ZIPs sharing Washington County, so you can benchmark 02879 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 02879
Top 5 sectors by establishment count
Which industries have the most business establishments in ZIP 02879.
- Health care and social assistance
Health care and social assistance
88 establishments
- Retail trade
Retail trade
83 establishments
- Construction
Construction
81 establishments
- Accommodation and food services
Accommodation and food services
75 establishments
- Professional, scientific, and technical services
Professional, scientific, and technical services
69 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 02879, Wakefield, RI · 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
20,371
Population
96.8
Area (sq mi)
211
People / sq mi
New York
Time Zone
standard
ZIP Type
Who lives in ZIP 02879?
49.4
Median Age
48.8%
Male
51.2%
Female
4.1%
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?
$112,231
Median Household Income
+10% vs state
$59,265
Per Capita Income
8.2%
Poverty Rate
5.2%
Unemployment Rate
26.2 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?
11,934
Total Housing Units
9,462
Occupied Units
2,472
Vacant Units
2.28
Avg Household Size
Occupancy Type
$564,700
Median Home Value
+24% vs state
$1,281
Median Rent
1977
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
+6.0%
YoY Change (2024)
344
HPI Index (2000 = 100)
+244%
Total Change Since 2000
Home values in ZIP 02879 have increased 6.0% over the past year (2024). Since 2000, this ZIP has seen +244% cumulative appreciation.
| Year | Annual Change | HPI Index |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | +4.6% | 215 |
| 2021 | +11.1% | 239 |
| 2022 | +17.8% | 282 |
| 2023 | +15.2% | 324 |
| 2024 | +6.0% | 344 |
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 657 business establishments in ZIP 02879, employing approximately 7,701 people with a combined annual payroll of $411,580,000.
657
Businesses
7,701
Employees
$411.6M
Annual Payroll
15
Industry Sectors
| Industry | Establishments | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Health care and social assistance | 88 | 13.4% |
| Retail trade | 83 | 12.6% |
| Construction | 81 | 12.3% |
| Accommodation and food services | 75 | 11.4% |
| Professional, scientific, and technical services | 69 | 10.5% |
| Other services (except public administration) | 59 | 9.0% |
| Administrative and support and waste management and remediation services | 56 | 8.5% |
| Finance and insurance | 38 | 5.8% |
| Real estate and rental and leasing | 24 | 3.6% |
| Arts, entertainment, and recreation | 22 | 3.4% |
| Wholesale trade | 18 | 2.7% |
| Manufacturing | 13 | 2.0% |
| Information | 12 | 1.8% |
| Educational services | 10 | 1.5% |
| Transportation and warehousing | 4 | 0.6% |
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 02879 vs 02881 →
| ZIP Code | City | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02881 | Kingston, RI | 7,841 | 3.7 mi |
| 02882 | Narragansett, RI | 14,184 | 3.5 mi |
| 02836 | Kenyon, RI | 136 | 4.7 mi |
| 02892 | West Kingston, RI | 4,988 | 5.7 mi |
| 02875 | Shannock, RI | 307 | 5.6 mi |
| 02874 | Saunderstown, RI | 5,860 | 7.1 mi |
| 02813 | Charlestown, RI | 7,831 | 7.2 mi |
| 02812 | Carolina, RI | 1,497 | 7.1 mi |
| 02898 | Wyoming, RI | 1,696 | 9.5 mi |
| 02822 | Exeter, RI | 6,111 | 10.9 mi |
More ZIP Codes in Washington County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 02879 in? ▼
What is the population of ZIP code 02879? ▼
What is the median household income in ZIP 02879? ▼
What is the average home value in ZIP 02879? ▼
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 02879? ▼
How many businesses are in ZIP code 02879? ▼
What are the main industries in ZIP code 02879? ▼
How have home values changed in ZIP code 02879? ▼
What is the education level in ZIP code 02879? ▼
What is the average commute time in ZIP 02879? ▼
What percentage of residents own vs. rent in ZIP 02879? ▼
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 02879? ▼
ZIP Code Research Guides
Official Data Resources for Wakefield, RI
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.