Wakefield, RI · standard
ZIP Code 02879
Washington County, Rhode Island - Census ACS demographics, housing tenure, and business patterns, benchmarked against every US ZIP.
- 20,371
- 211/sq mi High-density area
- $112,231
- Median income Above-median income area
- $564,700
- Median home value Above-median home value
- 59.0%
- Bachelor's or higher Above-average bachelor's attainment
National ZIP placement
Wakefield pairs an upper-quartile household income with upper-quartile home values, in a low-density, homeowner-dominated area.
- Top 12%
- household income, US ZIPs
- Top 11%
- home value, US ZIPs
- 211
- people per sq mi
- 78%
- owner-occupied homes
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023). Percentiles rank ZIP 02879 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 02879 (Wakefield, RI) rose +6.0% from 2023 to 2024. The all-transactions index moved from 324.3 in 2023 to 343.8 in 2024 (2000 = 100).
ZIP code 02879 is a densely settled ZIP (a standard USPS delivery area) in Wakefield, Washington County, Rhode Island, with 20,371 residents across 96.8 square miles, a density of 211 people per square mile, in the New York time zone.
ZIP 02879 skews affluent, with a median household income of $112,231 (10% above the average Rhode Island ZIP), while per-capita income is $59,265. The poverty rate is 8.2%, with unemployment at 5.2%; those measures add context to the income figure. Housing is both higher-cost and owner-heavy: median home value is $564,700 (24% above the average Rhode Island ZIP), while 78.1% of occupied homes are owner-occupied and median rent is $1,281.
This is a highly-educated ZIP: 59.0% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, the median age is 49.4, and the average commute is 26 minutes. The page also surfaces 10 ZIP codes within roughly 10 miles and 6 more in Washington County, so 02879 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 02879
Top 5 sectors by establishment count in Wakefield, RI
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 + FHFA HPI ACS demographics and median rent, ZBP business establishments, 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; 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 ZIP avg
$59,265
Per Capita Income
8.2%
Poverty Rate
5.2%
Unemployment Rate
26.2 min
Mean Commute Time
How ZIP 02879 ranks among Rhode Island ZIPs
Wakefield, RI household income vs. every Rhode Island ZIP code
Median household income among 71 reporting Rhode Island ZIPs (this ZIP's population is too small for a reliable national-corpus placement)
$112,231 Top 34% higher than 66% of 71 Rhode Island ZIPs
Each bar is a $20K-wide band; taller bars hold more Rhode Island 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
11,934housing units
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 ZIP avg
$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 02879 vs its nearest neighbors, by population
Resident population of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 02879
Wakefield (02879)
20,371 residents
- 02882
Narragansett (02882)
14,184 residents
- 02881 7,841
Kingston (02881)
7,841 residents
- 02813 7,831
Charlestown (02813)
7,831 residents
- 02822 6,111
Exeter (02822)
6,111 residents
- 02874 5,860
Saunderstown (02874)
5,860 residents
- 02892 4,988
West Kingston (02892)
4,988 residents
- 02898 1,696
Wyoming (02898)
1,696 residents
- 02812 1,497
Carolina (02812)
1,497 residents
What this shows Among its immediate neighbors, ZIP 02879 ranks the most populous - useful context the national average alone can't give.
ZIP 02879 vs its nearest neighbors, by median income
Median household income of this ZIP and the closest reporting ZIP codes within ~10 miles.
- 02874
Saunderstown (02874)
$159,861 median income
- 02892
West Kingston (02892)
$135,809 median income
- 02898
Wyoming (02898)
$119,038 median income
- 02822
Exeter (02822)
$112,813 median income
- 02879
Wakefield (02879)
$112,231 median income
- 02813
Charlestown (02813)
$109,404 median income
- 02812
Carolina (02812)
$104,934 median income
- 02882
Narragansett (02882)
$95,721 median income
- 02881 $56,472
Kingston (02881)
$56,472 median income
What this shows By household income, ZIP 02879 ranks #5 of 9 neighboring ZIPs, local affluence varies block to block, not just metro to metro.
| 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 |
Nationwide ZIPs with similar ACS profiles
Two Census-derived peer sets for ZIP 02879, both outside RI so the neighborhoods are not geographic containment (Nearby and same-county blocks stay local).
Similar population
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by resident population (20,371 here; floor ≥1,000).
Similar median household income
Nearest cross-state ZIPs by ACS median household income.
More ZIP Codes in Washington County
Related Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
What county is ZIP code 02879 in?
ZIP code 02879 (Wakefield) is located in Washington County, Rhode Island. Washington County contains multiple ZIP codes, see the full list at /counties/washington-ri.
What is the population of ZIP code 02879?
ZIP code 02879 in Wakefield, RI has a population of 20,371 according to the Census Bureau ACS 2023 estimates.
What is the median household income in ZIP 02879?
The median household income in ZIP 02879 is $112,231, which is 47% above the national average of $76,288.
What is the average home value in ZIP 02879?
The median home value in ZIP 02879 is $564,700, which is 103% above the national average of $278,155.
What is the demographic makeup of ZIP 02879?
The largest racial group in ZIP 02879 is White at 91.3%. Hispanic or Latino residents make up 3.3% of the population.
How many businesses are in ZIP code 02879?
ZIP code 02879 has 657 business establishments employing approximately 7,701 people, according to Census Bureau ZIP Code Business Patterns (ZBP) 2023 data.
What are the main industries in ZIP code 02879?
The top industries by establishment count in ZIP 02879 are: Health care and social assistance (88), Retail trade (83), Construction (81). There are 15 industry sectors represented in total.
How have home values changed in ZIP code 02879?
According to the FHFA House Price Index, home values in ZIP 02879 increased by 6.0% in 2024. Since 2000, home values in this ZIP have appreciated by approximately 244%. 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 02879?
In ZIP code 02879, 74.3% of residents aged 25+ have a high school diploma or higher, and 59.0% 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 02879?
The mean commute time for workers in ZIP code 02879 is 26.2 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 02879?
In ZIP code 02879, approximately 78.1% of occupied housing units are owner-occupied and 21.9% are renter-occupied, based on Census ACS 2023 data.
What is the poverty rate in ZIP code 02879?
The poverty rate in ZIP code 02879 is 8.2% 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 02879's numbers, next.
- See how ZIP 02879 compares to a neighboring ZIP code on the same Census fields Compare this ZIP
- Check where Wakefield, RI ranks among every U.S. ZIP code on income, education, or homeownership View national rankings
- Save this ZIP to your shortlist to track alongside others you're considering View your shortlist
ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) are Census Bureau approximations of USPS ZIP codes; figures describe the ZCTA area, not any single address within it.