Zip code 02138: Cambridge, Massachusetts

Q: What city is zip code 02138?

02138 is assigned to Cambridge, Massachusetts. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 02138 in?

02138 is in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

Q: What is the population of 02138?

About 38,509 people live in 02138, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 02138?

The median household income in 02138 is $119,967.

Q: What zip codes are near 02138?

The closest zip codes to 02138 are 02140, 02163, 02144, 02238, 02134.

Residential delivery areaMiddlesex CountyEastern Time

Population

38,509

Median household income

$120K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$1.2M

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$2,772/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

28.3

U.S. 38.9

Land area

2.7 sq mi

14,065 people/sq mi

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

About 02138

02138 is a dense urban zip code in Cambridge, Massachusetts (Middlesex County), covering 2.7 sq mi of land. About 38,509 people live here, or 14,065 per square mile. The median resident is 28.3 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $119,967 a year, 49% above the national median of $80,734. 13.5% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $1,212,400, or 10.1 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively expensive for local earners. 42% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $2,772 a month.

86% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 23.6 minutes each way, and 32% of workers work from home; working from home is more common than any single way of commuting. The most common jobs among working residents are in education; management; and engineering and science. 35% of households speak a language other than English at home, most often another Indo-European language such as French, German, Russian or Hindi.

How 02138 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Bachelor's degree or higher85.6%
99th
StrengthU.S. 35.7% · MA 47.3%16th of 521 in MA
Median home value$1,212,400
98th
U.S. $332,700 · MA $562,10023rd of 506 in MA
Median gross rent$2,772
97th
U.S. $1,413 · MA $1,76217th of 461 in MA
Work from home31.7%
96th
U.S. 15.1% · MA 18.6%55th of 520 in MA
Income inequality (Gini)0.538
96th
WeaknessU.S. 0.483 · MA 0.48929th of 517 in MA
Population density14,065/sq mi
95th
U.S. 95/sq mi · MA 903/sq mi36th of 522 in MA
Per capita income$75,496
94th
StrengthU.S. $44,673 · MA $57,897117th of 522 in MA
Tech workers6.4%
88th
U.S. 3.8% · MA 4.9%106th of 520 in MA
Median household income$119,967
85th
StrengthU.S. $80,734 · MA $103,960203rd of 503 in MA
Median earnings per worker$65,594
83rd
StrengthU.S. $49,666 · MA $62,095226th of 519 in MA
Foreign-born residents24.7%
81st
U.S. 14.1% · MA 18%76th of 522 in MA
Housing vacancy11.7%
78th
U.S. 10.1% · MA 8.1%138th of 519 in MA
Diversity index60.6
73rd
U.S. 61.4 · MA 52.763rd of 522 in MA
Population38,509
65th
U.S. 334,922,499 · MA 7,044,05633rd of 522 in MA
Poverty rate13.5%
63rd
U.S. 12.5% · MA 10%86th of 519 in MA
Broadband access92.7%
55th
U.S. 91% · MA 92.8%327th of 518 in MA
Rent-burdened renters51.6%
53rd
U.S. 51.1% · MA 51.8%258th of 506 in MA
Average commute23.6 min
34th
U.S. 26.4 min · MA 29.1 min401st of 504 in MA
Residents 65 and older14.4%
33rd
U.S. 17.2% · MA 17.9%436th of 522 in MA
Self-employed workers7.9%
31st
U.S. 10% · MA 8.8%318th of 520 in MA
Unemployment rate3.3%
21st
U.S. 5.2% · MA 5.2%368th of 520 in MA
Healthcare workers7%
15th
U.S. 9.7% · MA 10.3%427th of 520 in MA
Homeownership rate41.9%
10th
WeaknessU.S. 65.2% · MA 62.5%459th of 518 in MA
Government workers8%
7th
U.S. 14.5% · MA 12.7%446th of 520 in MA
Veterans2%
6th
U.S. 6.2% · MA 4.3%463rd of 522 in MA
Residents under 1813.1%
5th
U.S. 22% · MA 19.4%421st of 522 in MA
Uninsured rate1.6%
3rd
StrengthU.S. 8.4% · MA 2.6%289th of 521 in MA
Median age28.3
2nd
U.S. 38.9 · MA 40508th of 522 in MA

Measure	02138	Middlesex	MA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in MA
Bachelor's degree or higherStrength	85.6%	59.5%	47.3%	35.7%	99th	16th of 521
Median home value	$1,212,400	$727,800	$562,100	$332,700	98th	23rd of 506
Median gross rent	$2,772	$2,201	$1,762	$1,413	97th	17th of 461
Work from home	31.7%	24.7%	18.6%	15.1%	96th	55th of 520
Income inequality (Gini)Weakness	0.538	0.475	0.489	0.483	96th	29th of 517
Population density	14,065/sq mi	2,003/sq mi	903/sq mi	95/sq mi	95th	36th of 522
Per capita incomeStrength	$75,496	$69,556	$57,897	$44,673	94th	117th of 522
Tech workers	6.4%	7.8%	4.9%	3.8%	88th	106th of 520
Median household incomeStrength	$119,967	$130,847	$103,960	$80,734	85th	203rd of 503
Median earnings per workerStrength	$65,594	$73,671	$62,095	$49,666	83rd	226th of 519
Foreign-born residents	24.7%	23.1%	18%	14.1%	81st	76th of 522
Housing vacancy	11.7%	4.5%	8.1%	10.1%	78th	138th of 519
Diversity index	60.6	54.3	52.7	61.4	73rd	63rd of 522
Population	38,509	1,638,365	7,044,056	334,922,499	65th	33rd of 522
Poverty rate	13.5%	7.7%	10%	12.5%	63rd	86th of 519
Broadband access	92.7%	94.7%	92.8%	91%	55th	327th of 518
Rent-burdened renters	51.6%	47.1%	51.8%	51.1%	53rd	258th of 506
Average commute	23.6 min	29.9 min	29.1 min	26.4 min	34th	401st of 504
Residents 65 and older	14.4%	16.3%	17.9%	17.2%	33rd	436th of 522
Self-employed workers	7.9%	8.7%	8.8%	10%	31st	318th of 520
Unemployment rate	3.3%	4.4%	5.2%	5.2%	21st	368th of 520
Healthcare workers	7%	8.9%	10.3%	9.7%	15th	427th of 520
Homeownership rateWeakness	41.9%	61.3%	62.5%	65.2%	10th	459th of 518
Government workers	8%	10.8%	12.7%	14.5%	7th	446th of 520
Veterans	2%	3.3%	4.3%	6.2%	6th	463rd of 522
Residents under 18	13.1%	19.5%	19.4%	22%	5th	421st of 522
Uninsured rateStrength	1.6%	2.4%	2.6%	8.4%	3rd	289th of 521
Median age	28.3	38.9	40	38.9	2nd	508th of 522

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

5–17

28%

18–24

20%

25–34

12%

35–44

45–54

55–64

65–74

75+

Median age

28.3

Under 18

13.1%

65 and over

14.4%

Race and ethnicity

White59%
Black7%
Hispanic10%
Asian17%
Native American0.2%
Pacific Islander0.0%
Other1.0%
Multiracial6%

Diversity index

60.6

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

24.7%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

30.1%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

65%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

14%

Asian / Pacific

11%

Other

Households

Households: 14,169
Average household size: 2
Family households: 41.3%
Married couples: 34.8%
Living alone: 39.9%
Veterans (of adults): 2%
Male / female: 48% / 52%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

13%

$25–50k

$50–75k

$75–100k

11%

$100–150k

17%

$150–200k

12%

$200k+

30%

Median household income

02138

$119,967

Middlesex Co.

$130,847

Massachusetts

$103,960

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$75,496

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

13.5%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

42.2%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.538

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

02138

$1,212,400

Middlesex Co.

$727,800

Massachusetts

$562,100

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

02138

$2,772

Middlesex Co.

$2,201

Massachusetts

$1,762

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

22%

2–4 units

27%

5–19 units

16%

20+ units

34%

Mobile home

0.2%

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 16,043
Owner-occupied: 41.9%
Vacant: 11.7%
Median year built: 1939 or earlier
Median rooms: 4.4
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 51.6%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 29.2%
Home value to income: 10.1× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

23%

Carpooled

Transit

13%

Walked

21%

Bicycle

Worked from home

32%

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

12%

10–19

31%

20–29

23%

30–44

23%

45–59

60+

Average commute

23.6 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

3.3%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

61.4%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Education

20%

Management

14%

Engineering and science

14%

Business and finance

Office and admin

Healthcare

Computer and math

Arts, media and sports

Sales

Legal and social services

Food service

Cleaning and personal care

Transportation and moving

Construction and repair

Police and fire

0.6%

Production

0.5%

Farming, fishing and forestry

0.0%

Industries

Education

34%

Professional and technical services

18%

Health care and social assistance

14%

Finance, insurance and real estate

Manufacturing

Retail

Restaurants and hotels

Other services

Information

Arts and recreation

Public administration

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Construction

Admin, support and management

Wholesale

0.4%

Agriculture and mining

0.1%

Median earnings per worker

$65,594

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

7.9%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

38.9%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	02138	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$82,142	$74,888
Service	$11,264	$26,804
Sales and office	$21,393	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$55,438	$49,199
Production and transportation	$30,087	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

Some college

Associate's

Bachelor's

30%

Graduate

56%

High school graduate or higher: 98.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 85.6%
Graduate or professional degree: 55.6%
Households with broadband: 92.7%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 85.1%
No internet access: 1.3%
Without health insurance: 1.6%
Limited-English households: 3%

Geography

City (USPS): Cambridge
State: Massachusetts
County: Middlesex County
Center point: 42.3796° N, 71.1351° W
Land area: 2.7 sq mi
Water area: 0.3 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Cambridge100% of zip

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

Zip codes near 02138

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
02140	Cambridge, MA	0.9 mi	21,204	$135,286	$1,149,800
02163	Boston, MA	1 mi	1,817	$84,583	—
02144	Somerville, MA	1.5 mi	25,448	$150,313	$988,800
02238	Cambridge, MA · PO box	1.5 mi	—	—	—
02134	Allston, MA	1.5 mi	17,667	$78,679	$657,300
02143	Somerville, MA	2 mi	25,513	$130,753	$926,800
02139	Cambridge, MA	2.1 mi	40,033	$134,586	$1,087,500
02472	Watertown, MA	2.3 mi	35,620	$126,336	$784,600
02135	Brighton, MA	2.3 mi	43,149	$90,829	$681,200
02145	Somerville, MA	2.5 mi	27,495	$123,755	$828,600
02471	Watertown, MA · PO box	2.5 mi	—	—	—
02477	Watertown, MA · PO box	2.5 mi	—	—	—

Zip codes like 02138 elsewhere

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

Questions about 02138

What city is zip code 02138?

02138 is assigned to Cambridge, Massachusetts. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 02138 in?

02138 is in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.

What is the population of 02138?

About 38,509 people live in 02138, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 02138 in?

02138 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 02138?

The median household income in 02138 is $119,967.

What zip codes are near 02138?

The closest zip codes to 02138 are 02140, 02163, 02144, 02238, 02134.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 02138, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.