Zip code 02121: Dorchester, Massachusetts

Q: What city is zip code 02121?

02121 is assigned to Dorchester, Massachusetts. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 02121 in?

02121 is in Suffolk County, Massachusetts.

Q: What is the population of 02121?

About 29,040 people live in 02121, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 02121?

The median household income in 02121 is $43,136.

Q: What zip codes are near 02121?

The closest zip codes to 02121 are 02119, 02130, 02124, 02125, 02120.

Residential delivery areaSuffolk CountyEastern Time

Population

29,040

Median household income

$43K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$590K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,325/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

34.3

U.S. 38.9

Land area

1.9 sq mi

15,398 people/sq mi

Boundary is the Census Bureau's ZIP Code Tabulation Area, which closely tracks the postal delivery area.

About 02121

02121 is a dense urban zip code in Dorchester, Massachusetts (Suffolk County), covering 1.9 sq mi of land. About 29,040 people live here, or 15,398 per square mile. The median resident is 34.3 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $43,136 a year, about 53% of the national median of $80,734. 25% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $590,200, or 13.7 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively expensive for local earners. 23% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,325 a month.

20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 36.5 minutes each way, and 8% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in healthcare; office and administrative support; and cleaning and personal care. 49% of households speak a language other than English at home, most often Spanish.

How 02121 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Unemployment rate11.1%
96th
WeaknessU.S. 5.2% · MA 5.2%14th of 520 in MA
Income inequality (Gini)0.542
96th
WeaknessU.S. 0.483 · MA 0.48928th of 517 in MA
Population density15,398/sq mi
95th
U.S. 95/sq mi · MA 903/sq mi29th of 522 in MA
Average commute36.5 min
94th
WeaknessU.S. 26.4 min · MA 29.1 min35th of 504 in MA
Foreign-born residents39.3%
94th
U.S. 14.1% · MA 18%17th of 522 in MA
Poverty rate25%
92nd
WeaknessU.S. 12.5% · MA 10%19th of 519 in MA
Healthcare workers13.8%
92nd
U.S. 9.7% · MA 10.3%73rd of 520 in MA
Residents under 1826.9%
86th
U.S. 22% · MA 19.4%29th of 522 in MA
Diversity index65.4
84th
U.S. 61.4 · MA 52.740th of 522 in MA
Median home value$590,200
81st
U.S. $332,700 · MA $562,100215th of 506 in MA
Rent-burdened renters59.4%
81st
WeaknessU.S. 51.1% · MA 51.8%125th of 506 in MA
Tech workers3.8%
66th
U.S. 3.8% · MA 4.9%231st of 520 in MA
Government workers15%
60th
U.S. 14.5% · MA 12.7%173rd of 520 in MA
Population29,040
48th
U.S. 334,922,499 · MA 7,044,05667th of 522 in MA
Median gross rent$1,325
45th
U.S. $1,413 · MA $1,762328th of 461 in MA
Housing vacancy5.9%
43rd
U.S. 10.1% · MA 8.1%250th of 519 in MA
Work from home7.9%
21st
U.S. 15.1% · MA 18.6%457th of 520 in MA
Bachelor's degree or higher19.9%
20th
WeaknessU.S. 35.7% · MA 47.3%493rd of 521 in MA
Residents 65 and older12.1%
18th
U.S. 17.2% · MA 17.9%471st of 522 in MA
Median age34.3
17th
U.S. 38.9 · MA 40469th of 522 in MA
Per capita income$29,051
16th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · MA $57,897498th of 522 in MA
Uninsured rate3.4%
16th
StrengthU.S. 8.4% · MA 2.6%107th of 521 in MA
Veterans3.1%
16th
U.S. 6.2% · MA 4.3%406th of 522 in MA
Broadband access85.3%
13th
WeaknessU.S. 91% · MA 92.8%486th of 518 in MA
Median earnings per worker$36,956
13th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · MA $62,095495th of 519 in MA
Median household income$43,136
5th
WeaknessU.S. $80,734 · MA $103,960497th of 503 in MA
Homeownership rate23.2%
2nd
WeaknessU.S. 65.2% · MA 62.5%497th of 518 in MA
Self-employed workers3.7%
1st
U.S. 10% · MA 8.8%489th of 520 in MA

Measure	02121	Suffolk	MA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in MA
Unemployment rateWeakness	11.1%	6.3%	5.2%	5.2%	96th	14th of 520
Income inequality (Gini)Weakness	0.542	0.525	0.489	0.483	96th	28th of 517
Population density	15,398/sq mi	13,477/sq mi	903/sq mi	95/sq mi	95th	29th of 522
Average commuteWeakness	36.5 min	30.9 min	29.1 min	26.4 min	94th	35th of 504
Foreign-born residents	39.3%	29.8%	18%	14.1%	94th	17th of 522
Poverty rateWeakness	25%	16.2%	10%	12.5%	92nd	19th of 519
Healthcare workers	13.8%	10.6%	10.3%	9.7%	92nd	73rd of 520
Residents under 18	26.9%	16%	19.4%	22%	86th	29th of 522
Diversity index	65.4	71.5	52.7	61.4	84th	40th of 522
Median home value	$590,200	$705,800	$562,100	$332,700	81st	215th of 506
Rent-burdened rentersWeakness	59.4%	52%	51.8%	51.1%	81st	125th of 506
Tech workers	3.8%	5%	4.9%	3.8%	66th	231st of 520
Government workers	15%	11.2%	12.7%	14.5%	60th	173rd of 520
Population	29,040	785,121	7,044,056	334,922,499	48th	67th of 522
Median gross rent	$1,325	$2,129	$1,762	$1,413	45th	328th of 461
Housing vacancy	5.9%	8.4%	8.1%	10.1%	43rd	250th of 519
Work from home	7.9%	19.9%	18.6%	15.1%	21st	457th of 520
Bachelor's degree or higherWeakness	19.9%	50.6%	47.3%	35.7%	20th	493rd of 521
Residents 65 and older	12.1%	13.3%	17.9%	17.2%	18th	471st of 522
Median age	34.3	33.9	40	38.9	17th	469th of 522
Per capita incomeWeakness	$29,051	$58,636	$57,897	$44,673	16th	498th of 522
Uninsured rateStrength	3.4%	3.1%	2.6%	8.4%	16th	107th of 521
Veterans	3.1%	2.2%	4.3%	6.2%	16th	406th of 522
Broadband accessWeakness	85.3%	91.6%	92.8%	91%	13th	486th of 518
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$36,956	$61,507	$62,095	$49,666	13th	495th of 519
Median household incomeWeakness	$43,136	$95,631	$103,960	$80,734	5th	497th of 503
Homeownership rateWeakness	23.2%	36.5%	62.5%	65.2%	2nd	497th of 518
Self-employed workers	3.7%	6.5%	8.8%	10%	1st	489th of 520

The percentile is the share of Americans who live in a zip code with a lower value, so the 50th percentile is typical. Rank 1 is the highest value in the state. Both include zip codes with at least 100 residents. Strengths and weaknesses mark measures in the best or worst fifth nationally, where higher or lower is clearly better (income, poverty, education, commute, broadband, insurance and similar). Measures like age or density are left unmarked.

People

Age

Under 5

20%

5–17

10%

18–24

14%

25–34

14%

35–44

11%

45–54

12%

55–64

65–74

75+

Median age

34.3

Under 18

26.9%

65 and over

12.1%

Race and ethnicity

White5%
Black41%
Hispanic41%
Asian2%
Native American0.3%
Pacific Islander0%
Other2%
Multiracial9%

Diversity index

65.4

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

39.3%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

45.5%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

51%

Spanish

36%

Other Indo-European

11%

Asian / Pacific

0.4%

Other

Households

Households: 10,760
Average household size: 2.7
Family households: 66.7%
Married couples: 24.4%
Living alone: 28%
Veterans (of adults): 3.1%
Male / female: 44% / 56%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

29%

$25–50k

25%

$50–75k

10%

$75–100k

10%

$100–150k

10%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

02121

$43,136

Suffolk Co.

$95,631

Massachusetts

$103,960

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$29,051

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

25%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

16.4%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.542

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

02121

$590,200

Suffolk Co.

$705,800

Massachusetts

$562,100

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

02121

$1,325

Suffolk Co.

$2,129

Massachusetts

$1,762

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

14%

2–4 units

49%

5–19 units

28%

20+ units

Mobile home

0.6%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 11,429
Owner-occupied: 23.2%
Vacant: 5.9%
Median year built: 1944
Median rooms: 4.8
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 59.4%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 33.5%
Home value to income: 13.7× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

40%

Carpooled

Transit

35%

Walked

Bicycle

0.9%

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

16%

20–29

19%

30–44

28%

45–59

15%

60+

19%

Average commute

36.5 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

11.1%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

63.8%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Healthcare

14%

Office and admin

13%

Cleaning and personal care

12%

Sales

Food service

Transportation and moving

Management

Construction and repair

Legal and social services

Education

Computer and math

Police and fire

Business and finance

Production

Arts, media and sports

Engineering and science

0.5%

Farming, fishing and forestry

Industries

Health care and social assistance

24%

Retail

11%

Education

Restaurants and hotels

Admin, support and management

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Construction

Professional and technical services

Other services

Finance, insurance and real estate

Public administration

Arts and recreation

Manufacturing

Information

Wholesale

Agriculture and mining

Median earnings per worker

$36,956

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

3.7%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

15%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

16.9%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	02121	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$72,143	$74,888
Service	$29,213	$26,804
Sales and office	$34,236	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$62,917	$49,199
Production and transportation	$37,635	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

24%

High school

31%

Some college

19%

Associate's

Bachelor's

13%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 76.2%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 19.9%
Graduate or professional degree: 6.8%
Households with broadband: 85.3%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 70.4%
No internet access: 10%
Without health insurance: 3.4%
Limited-English households: 19.8%

Geography

City (USPS): Dorchester
State: Massachusetts
County: Suffolk County
Center point: 42.3054° N, 71.0870° W
Land area: 1.9 sq mi
Water area: under 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Boston100% of zip

Census places overlapping the zip's area. Mail may use a different city name than the municipality.

Zip codes near 02121

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
02119	Roxbury, MA	1.3 mi	27,377	$48,488	$688,600
02130	Jamaica Plain, MA	1.4 mi	40,055	$131,551	$822,300
02124	Dorchester Center, MA	1.5 mi	56,216	$81,923	$650,700
02125	Dorchester, MA	1.8 mi	33,662	$82,953	$657,100
02120	Roxbury Crossing, MA	1.9 mi	15,283	$64,289	$885,900
02122	Dorchester, MA	1.9 mi	23,479	$86,150	$669,900
02126	Mattapan, MA	1.9 mi	26,583	$65,709	$542,700
02447	Brookline Village, MA · PO box	2.4 mi	—	—	—
02115	Boston, MA	2.4 mi	29,705	$54,991	$945,100
02118	Boston, MA	2.4 mi	28,946	$98,224	$1,058,200
02131	Roslindale, MA	2.5 mi	31,151	$111,006	$664,700
02187	Milton Village, MA · PO box	2.8 mi	—	—	—

Zip codes like 02121 elsewhere

Matched on income, home values, age, density, education, housing and commuting

Questions about 02121

What city is zip code 02121?

02121 is assigned to Dorchester, Massachusetts. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 02121 in?

02121 is in Suffolk County, Massachusetts.

What is the population of 02121?

About 29,040 people live in 02121, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 02121 in?

02121 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 02121?

The median household income in 02121 is $43,136.

What zip codes are near 02121?

The closest zip codes to 02121 are 02119, 02130, 02124, 02125, 02120.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 02121, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.