Residential delivery area · Rhode Island
ZIP Code 02879: Wakefield, RI
ZIP code 02879 uses the postal name Wakefield, Rhode Island and lies entirely in Washington County (Census 2020 ZIP-county file). About 22,000 people live there (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). Median household income is $112,231 (Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024). By Census place, 13% of its land lies in Wakefield-Peace Dale (a census-designated place), and 3% in smaller places; 85% is outside any Census place.
- ACS2020-24
- Census2020
- FHFA2025
- ZBP2023
- IRS2022
- Town
- Wakefield · its only residential ZIP
- County
- Washington County
- Census places
- Wakefield-Peace Dale census-designated place
- Metro area
- Providence-Warwick, RI-MA
- House district
- RI-2 119th Congress
- State
- Rhode Island
- Time zone
- Eastern
- Land area
- 39.5 sq mi · 552 people per sq mi
- PO Box ZIPs
- 02880 also use the name Wakefield
Where is ZIP code 02879?
02879 centers on 41.429°, -71.538° and covers 39.5 square miles of land plus 6.2 of water. It borders 5 ZIP codes: 02882, 02881, 02892, 02874, 02813.
The map draws ZIP code areas only. For the streets inside 02879, open its center on OpenStreetMap.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA cartographic boundaries and the 2023 Gazetteer (2020 ZCTAs); ZIP-to-county shares, Census places and House districts (119th Congress) from the Census 2020 relationship files (shares of land); metro area from the OMB delineation (July 2023); town name and time zone from simplemaps US ZIP Codes (CC BY 4.0).
How does 02879 compare with the rest of Washington County?
| Measure | 02879 | In Washington County | In RI |
|---|---|---|---|
| People (ACS 2020-2024) | 21,802 | 2nd of 20 | 23rd of 81 |
| Median household income | $112k | 4th of 10 | 15th of 55 |
| Median home value | $565k | 3rd of 13 | 10th of 62 |
Its median household income is higher than in 88% of U.S. residential ZIP codes, and it is denser than 73% of all U.S. residential ZIP codes. ZIP codes at the ACS caps ($250,000 or more for household income, $2,000,000 or more for home value) share the top rank.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B19013, B25077); ranks by PlainZIP over residential ZIP codes (ZCTAs).
How many people live in 02879?
The 2020 Census counted 20,982 people in 02879; the ACS, which samples households over 2020-2024, estimates 21,802. Between the 2010 and 2020 censuses its population grew 3.0% (its boundary stayed at least 90% the same).
- People, ACS 2020-2024
- 21,802
- 2020 Census count
- 20,982+3.0% since 2010 (20,371)
- Households
- 9,462
- Median age
- 49.4
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01003, B01002, B11001); 2020 Census (DHC P1); 2010 Census (SF1 P1).
Who lives in 02879?
Of the 21,802 people the ACS estimates in 02879, 15.7% are under 18 and 29.2% are 65 or older. The largest group by race and Hispanic origin is White (not Hispanic) (90.5%).
- Under 1815.7%
- 18 to 6455.1%
- 65 and older29.2%
- White, not Hispanic90.5%
- Hispanic or Latino3.3%
- Other or two or more3.0%
- Black, not Hispanic1.9%
- Asian, not Hispanic1.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B01001 age by sex, B03002 Hispanic or Latino origin by race); shares of the estimated population, small ZIP codes carry wide margins.
What do households in 02879 earn?
Median household income is $112,231 (ACS 2020-2024), the 4th highest of the 10 ranked ZIP codes in Washington County. It is not measurably different from 2015-2019 ($109,555 in 2024 dollars): the change is within the surveys' margins of error.
- Median household income
- $112,231±$11,670
- Income per person
- $59,265
- Below the poverty line
- 8.2%
- Unemployed (of the labor force)
- 5.3%
- Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree
- 59.0%
- Adjusted gross income per tax return, 2022
- $112,78611,330 returns; wages 57% of AGI (IRS)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 and 2015-2019 5-year estimates (B19013, B19301, B17001, B23025, B15003; 2015-2019 dollars converted with the BLS CPI-U, 1.22699); IRS Statistics of Income, ZIP code data, tax year 2022 (adjusted gross income per return, filed under the address on the return).
What are homes worth in 02879?
FHFA's house price index for 02879, built from repeat sales and appraisals of the same homes, rose 109% from 2015 to 2025 and rose 63% from 2020 to 2025, and moved +3.1% in 2025.
- Median home value (owners' estimate)
- $564,700
- Median gross rent
- $1,281
- Homes owned by their occupants
- 78.1%
- Housing units
- 11,934
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (B25077, B25064, B25003, B25001); FHFA House Price Index, annual five-digit ZIP, updated 2026-03-31.
What businesses are in 02879?
657 business establishments had a location in this ZIP code in 2023, 8 more than in 2018; the most are in health care and social assistance (ZIP Code Business Patterns).
- Health care and social assistance88
- Retail trade83
- Construction81
- Accommodation and food services75
- Professional, scientific, and technical services69
- Other services (except public administration)59
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ZIP Code Business Patterns 2023 and 2018 (establishments with paid employees, by the business's ZIP code).
Which ZIP codes are next to 02879?
| ZIP | Town | People | Household income | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 02882 | Narragansett | 13,091 | $96k | 3.5 mi |
| 02881 | Kingston | 7,687 | $57k | 3.8 mi |
| 02892 | West Kingston | 5,768 | $136k | 5.9 mi |
| 02874 | Saunderstown | 6,379 | $160k | 6.5 mi |
| 02813 | Charlestown | 8,051 | $109k | 7.2 mi |
| 02836 | Kenyon | 104 | – | 4.6 mi (near) |
| 02875 | Shannock | 44 | – | 5.6 mi (near) |
| 02812 | Carolina | 1,479 | $105k | 7.1 mi (near) |
Source: PlainZIP from the Census 2020 ZCTA boundaries (shared edges) and internal points; figures ACS 2020-2024.
Which other ZIP codes use the name Wakefield?
1 more ZIP code carries the postal name Wakefield, RI without a residential delivery area: PO boxes at the post office, or a single organization with its own ZIP code. The Census Bureau publishes no figures for it.
| ZIP | County |
|---|---|
| 02880 | Washington County |
Source: GeoNames postal codes (CC BY 4.0), downloaded 2026-10-09; a ZIP code with no Census ZCTA has no residential delivery area.