02138 Zip Code Population and Demographics

In this article, we'll explore the population statistics for the zip code 02138, including popular demographics data like median age, number of households, household income, gender, employment and unemployment rates, occupations, religion, and more.

02138 is a zip code in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, which covers Belmont, Cambridge, and Somerville, with a total population of 39,370 people.

We are using the latest American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year survey data from the US Census Bureau, which is accurate up to 2021.

Table of Contents

Population

There is a lot of data that lets us see how many people live in the 02138 zip code. The most basic data is the total population, which is the total number of people living in 02138.

The estimated population of people living in 02138 is 39,370, with a median age of 28.6.

We can look back at data from previous years to see how the population in the 02138 area has changed over the last 5 years.

Year Population Change 5-Year Change
2021
39,370
+0.59%
+4.52%
2020
39,139
+1.65%
-
2019
38,504
 -0.85% -
2018
38,835
+3.1%
-
2017
37,668
 - -

Population of 02138 by Race and Ethnicity

How much has the race and ethnicity of the population in the 02138 zip code changed? The US Census Bureau gives us a few defined types that the population is broken down into.

Let's look at the total numbers and also the change over the last 5 years.

Race 2021 2017 Change
White
62.4%
67%
 -6.87%
Black/African American
5.3%
4.7%
 +12.77%
Native
0.1%
0.1%
 0.00%
Hispanic
9.3%
8.2%
 +13.41%
Asian
16.6%
15.8%
 +5.06%
Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
0%
0.1%
 -100.00%
Two Or More Races
5.1%
3.7%
 +37.84%
Other
1%
0.4%
 +150.00%

This data can be very important for anybody studying the 02138 zip for a number of reasons, including social and economic research, planning and development, and marketing to a multi-cultural population.

Note that the Native group includes both Native American and Alaskan Native people.

Population of 02138 by Age and Gender

We can also monitor the change of the age and gender in the 02138 zip code to track track trends in the population over time.

We can see how the population in 02138 has changed over the last 5 years by median age as a total, and also by male and female.

Year Total Male Female
2021 28.6 -1.72% 28.1 -3.44% 28.9 -0.34%
2020 29.1 -1.02% 29.1 -0.68% 29 -1.36%
2019 29.4 +2.8% 29.3 +3.9% 29.4 +1.73%
2018 28.6 +1.42% 28.2 +1.08% 28.9 +1.05%
2017 28.2 - 27.9 - 28.6 -

The median age of the 02138 zip gives you an idea of the age distribution, with half of the population being older than the median age and half being younger.

This can then be used to infer and compare against birth rates, parent ages, and more metrics to understand the population. For example, an increasing median age indicates an aging population in the 02138 area, which can be a sign of a declining population in terms of birth rates and workforce participation.

Age 2021 2017
(Years) Male Female Male Female
0 to 9 1,379 +12.96% 1,305 +13.22% 1,554 1,476
10 to 19 2,726 +22.78% 3,143 -3.38% 3,377 3,021
20 to 29 5,808 -3.18% 5,909 +3.12% 5,589 6,091
30 to 39 2,862 +13.26% 2,848 +10.67% 3,242 3,155
40 to 49 1,497 +7.48% 1,579 +13.98% 1,611 1,802
50 to 59 1,274 -13.8% 1,313 -22.39% 1,101 1,029
60 to 69 1,172 -1.59% 1,629 +4.16% 1,150 1,690
70+ 1,341 +16.42% 1,883 +3.08% 1,550 1,932

Median Household Income

The latest median household income for the 02138 zip code is $108,692.00.

In simple terms, the median income is the middle income of a group of people. Half of the people in the group make more than the median income, and half make less.

The median income is a good indicator of the overall income of a group of people, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more.

Median Income by Age

We can also look at the median income by age to see how the median income varies by age, and how it compares to the overall median income for 02138.

  • Under 25
    $44,875.00
  • 25 to 44
    $106,059.00
  • 45 to 64
    $177,691.00
  • 65 and over
    $95,703.00

Average Household Income

Whenever we ask what is the average household income in the 02138 zip code, we are actually talking about the mean household income.

This is calculated by adding up all the incomes of all the households in 02138, and then dividing that number by the total number of households.

This is a good way to get a general idea of the average income of a group of people, but it can be skewed by a very high or very low incomes.

The average household income of 02138 is currently $160,750.00.

In terms of accurately summarizing income at a geographic level, the median income is a better metric than the average income because it isn't affected by a small number of very high or very low incomes.

If you had an area where the average income was greater than the median, it can mean that there is significant income inequality, with income being concentrated in a small number of wealthy households.

24.46% of households in 02138 are classed as high income households (making $200,000+ per year).

Household Income Tiers

The US Census Bureau divides households into income tiers based on the median income for the area. This is a good way to compare the income of 02138 against other zip codes.

  • Less than $24,999
    13.15%
  • $25,000 to $49,999
    11.02%
  • $50,000 to $74,999
    11.18%
  • $75,000 to $99,999
    11.78%
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    17.30%
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    11.12%
  • $200,000 or more
    24.46%

Per Capita Income

The per capita income in 02138 is $61,910.00.

Per capita income is the average income of a person in a given area. It is calculated by dividing the total income of 02138 by the total population of 02138.

This is different from the average or mean income because it includes and accounts for all people living in the 02138 area, including people like children, the elderly, unemployed people, retired people, and more.

Education Levels

We can also look at the education levels in 02138 to see how many people have a high school degree, a bachelor's degree, or a graduate degree.

Educational attainment is a good indicator of the overall education level of a population, and can be used to compare against other metrics such as the average income, per capita income, and more to see how education levels affect income, unemployment rates, and more.

  • Master's degree or higher
    48.15%
  • Bachelor's degree
    43.97%
  • Some college or associate's degree
    2.43%
  • High school diploma or equivalent
    4.96%
  • Less than high school diploma
    0.49%

Employment

Employment rates are all based around the total population in 02138 that are over the age of 16.

Currently, the total population of the 02138 zip over the age of 16 is 34,919.

Of those people, a total of 61.90% are working or actively looking for work. This is called the labor force participation rate.

The participation rate is a useful market measure because it shows the relative amount of labor resources available to the economy.

The employment to total population rate in 02138 is 59.80%.

Employment by Age

We can look at the employment rates by age to see how it compares to the overall employment rate. Here's how that breaks down for the 02138 zip code.

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
16 to 19 years 4,977 29.10% 14.70%
20 to 24 years 6,550 58.90% 3.00%
25 to 29 years 5,130 64.90% 1.60%
30 to 34 years 3,483 82.90% 2.10%
35 to 44 years 4,736 86.40% 3.10%
45 to 54 years 2,789 86.60% 4.30%
55 to 59 years 932 76.50% 1.10%
60 to 64 years 1,190 67.60% 1.40%
65 to 74 years 3,310 52.10% 0.70%
75 years and over 1,822 18.50% 0.00%

Employment by Race

Another very interesting employment statistic we can look at is the employment and unemployment rates by race in 02138. The table below shows the rates for each of the ethnicity groups types defined by the US Census Bureau (which we mentioned earlier in this article).

Age Population Participation Unemployment Rate
White 23,711 63.10% 1.80%
Black or African American 2,120 57.30% 8.10%
American Indian and Alaska Native 67 56.70% 50.00%
Asian 6,087 57.10% 6.10%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 14 100.00% 0.00%
Other 771 71.30% 0.00%
Two or more races 2,149 62.90% 7.50%
Hispanic or Latino 3,074 68.20% 3.50%
Not Hispanic or Latino 22,276 63.10% 1.70%

Occupations

In this section we can look at the most common occupations for people living in the 02138 area as well as the gender breakdown and earnings of them.

The total population of civilian employees that are 16 years old or older in 02138 is 20,895, with median earnings of $58,358.00.

Women in 02138 are earning approximately 69.80% of the men's earnings.

Population Earnings
Total 20,895 $58,358.00
Male 10,416 $70,244.00
Female 10,479 $49,021.00

Occupations by Category

In the table below, we can break down the population and earnings for 02138 even further by occupation. The list of occupation categories below will show you how many people are employed in each category and the median earnings of each profession.

Occupation Employed Earnings
Management 3,102 $99,886.00
Business and Financial 2,116 $86,494.00
Computer and Mathematical 1,408 $112,283.00
Architecture and Engineering 650 $74,750.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 1,885 $66,549.00
Community and Social Service 336 $38,269.00
Legal 453 $74,531.00
Educational and Library 4,530 $41,829.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 1,379 $27,075.00
Healthcare Practitioners 995 $88,688.00
Healthcare Support 190 $17,778.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 47 $83,352.00
Law Enforcement 12 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 447 $12,703.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 118 $28,158.00
Personal Care and Service 448 $7,639.00
Sales 859 $18,838.00
Office and Administrative Support 1,287 $15,625.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 10 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 121 $16,867.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 106 $2,499.00
Production 129 $23,125.00
Transportation and Material Moving 177 $36,083.00

Occupations by Gender

Now we can also look at the occupations by category for 02138 when it is broken down by male and female.

This lets us see how many male and females work in each occupation, the median earnings, and the male to female ratio of earnings for 02138.

That last metric is important because it can be used to look at the gender pay gap between men and women.

Occupation Male Female
Population Earnings Population Earnings
Management 1,724 $105,743.00 1,378 $91,029.00
Business and Financial 1,041 $115,051.00 1,075 $67,243.00
Computer and Mathematical 978 $114,677.00 430 $106,512.00
Architecture and Engineering 447 $82,031.00 203 $57,440.00
Life, Physical, and Social Science 871 $64,652.00 1,014 $67,011.00
Community and Social Service 136 $38,594.00 200 $37,750.00
Legal 280 $72,143.00 173 $75,536.00
Educational and Library 2,203 $47,684.00 2,327 $34,916.00
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media 659 $9,824.00 720 $54,000.00
Healthcare Practitioners 376 $75,333.00 619 $92,625.00
Healthcare Support 64 $4,583.00 126 $18,241.00
Firefighters and Protective Service 9 $0.00 38 $82,841.00
Law Enforcement 12 $0.00 0 $0.00
Food Preparation and Serving 107 $7,650.00 340 $13,205.00
Building and Grounds Cleaning 78 $28,421.00 40 $12,188.00
Personal Care and Service 134 $10,109.00 314 $7,316.00
Sales 446 $60,375.00 413 $15,284.00
Office and Administrative Support 311 $35,898.00 976 $12,381.00
Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 10 $0.00 0 $0.00
Construction and Extraction 121 $16,867.00 0 $0.00
Installation, Maintenance, and Repair 93 $2,499.00 13 $0.00
Production 66 $72,500.00 63 $8,625.00
Transportation and Material Moving 160 $41,250.00 17 $0.00

Households and Family Size

A household is defined by the US Census Bureau as a group of people who occupy a housing unit. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, group of rooms, or single room occupied as separate living quarters.

There are currently 14,377 households in 02138, with an average household size of 2.03 people.

A family is defined as a group of two or more people related by birth, marriage, or adoption who live together in the same household.

There are 6,181 families living in the 02138 zip code with an average family size of 2.82 people.

Households by Marital Status

The four categories of household by marital status are:

  • Married-couple family
  • Male householder with no spouse present
  • Female household with no spouse present
  • Nonfamily household

The table below shows the total number of households and families, with the average sizes of each, that live in 02138:

Married Male Female Nonfamily
Total Households 5,375 181 625 8,196
Average Household Size 2.92 2.8 2.37 1.41
Total Families 5,375 181 625 0
Average Household Size 2.88 2.72 2.33 0

Poverty

Of the 6,181 families living in 02138, 6.30% are considered to be below the poverty threshold.

The table below shows the latest poverty thresholds in 02138:

Household Size Poverty Threshold
1 Person $14,580.00
2 People $19,720.00
3 People $24,860.00
4 People $30,000.00
5 People $35,140.00
6 People $40,280.00
7 People $45,420.00
8 People $50,560.00

Housing

There are 15,981 housing units in 02138.

The table below shows the split between occupied and vacant units:

Total Percentage
Occupied 14,377 89.96%
Vacant 1,604 10.04%

54.83% of the total 15,981 housing units in 02138 are rental units. This is approximately 8,762 properties.

For owner-occupied housing units, a total of 5,299 are occupied by the owner - or 33.16% of the total.

Rental Rates

The median rent for a property in 02138 is $2,424.00.

In the chart below, we can look at the number of rental properties in 02138 that fall into a particular rent range. These can then be used to compare with other areas, or to see how they have changed over time.

  • No rent paid
    316
  • Less than $500
    239
  • $500 to $999
    251
  • $1,000 to $1,499
    625
  • $1,500 to $1,999
    1,150
  • $2,000 to $2,499
    2,493
  • $2,500 to $2,999
    1,994
  • $3,000 or more
    2,010

Property Value

The median value of a property in 02138 is $938,100.00.

Just like with rental rates, we can look at the number of properties in 02138 that fall into a particular value range.

  • Less than $50,000
    21
  • $50,000 to $99,999
    15
  • $100,000 to $149,999
    43
  • $150,000 to $199,999
    4
  • $200,000 to $299,999
    78
  • $300,000 to $499,999
    458
  • $500,000 to $999,999
    2,283
  • $1,000,000 or more
    2,397

Property Age

We can also look at the age of properties in 02138. The chart below shows the number of properties in 02138 that fall into a particular age range.

  • 1939 or earlier
    9,187
  • 1940 to 1949
    566
  • 1950 to 1959
    741
  • 1960 to 1969
    1,464
  • 1970 to 1979
    1,381
  • 1980 to 1989
    563
  • 1990 to 1999
    593
  • 2000 to 2009
    703
  • 2010 to 2013
    744
  • 2014 or later
    39

Vehicles per Household

The number of vehicles available per household can be a good indicator of the level of affluence in an area. The chart below shows the number of households in 02138 that have a particular number of vehicles available.

  • No vehicles available
    4,836
  • 1 vehicle available
    6,678
  • 2 vehicles available
    2,365
  • 3 or more vehicles available
    498

Commuting to Work

In this section, we can also look at how people in 02138 get to work. The chart below shows the number of people in 02138 that commute to work in a particular way.

24.4 minutes is the average travel time to work for people in 02138.

These commute times can be compared to other date like income and educational levels to see how they relate to each other and if there are any trends in the data that might suggest a correlation.

  • Less than 5 minutes
    649
  • 5 to 9 minutes
    1,445
  • 10 to 14 minutes
    2,216
  • 15 to 19 minutes
    2,576
  • 20 to 24 minutes
    1,908
  • 25 to 29 minutes
    1,006
  • 30 to 34 minutes
    2,221
  • 35 to 39 minutes
    824
  • 40 to 44 minutes
    1,109
  • 45 to 59 minutes
    1,329
  • 60 to 89 minutes
    761
  • 90 or more minutes
    66

Summary

We've covered a LOT of demographic and population data for 02138 in this article! Hopefully you have found it very useful in your research of the area.

If you use any of the data found on this page, please consider linking back to USPopulation.org as the source and if you have any feedback or data requests, click here to contact us.

States in 02138

If you want to see how the population and demographics of 02138 compare to other zip codes in Massachusetts, check out the list of all Massachusetts zip codes below: