Zip code 02538: East Wareham, Massachusetts

Q: What city is zip code 02538?

02538 is assigned to East Wareham, Massachusetts. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 02538 in?

02538 is in Plymouth County, Massachusetts.

Q: What is the population of 02538?

About 4,074 people live in 02538, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 02538?

The median household income in 02538 is $123,750.

Q: What zip codes are near 02538?

The closest zip codes to 02538 are 02558, 02532, 02571, 02553, 02366.

Residential delivery areaPlymouth CountyEastern Time

Population

4,074

Median household income

$124K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$392K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,407/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

41.1

U.S. 38.9

Land area

6.3 sq mi

650 people/sq mi

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

About 02538

02538 is a suburban zip code in East Wareham, Massachusetts (Plymouth County), covering 6.3 sq mi of land. About 4,074 people live here, or 650 per square mile. The median resident is 41.1 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $123,750 a year, 53% above the national median of $80,734. 3.3% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $392,000, or 3.2 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes relatively affordable for local earners. 82% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,407 a month.

25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 32.9 minutes each way, and 3% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in healthcare; construction and repair; and transportation and moving goods.

How 02538 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Healthcare workers24.3%
99th
U.S. 9.7% · MA 10.3%8th of 520 in MA
Veterans13.2%
96th
U.S. 6.2% · MA 4.3%16th of 522 in MA
Rent-burdened renters64.9%
93rd
WeaknessU.S. 51.1% · MA 51.8%79th of 506 in MA
Broadband access96.4%
88th
StrengthU.S. 91% · MA 92.8%131st of 518 in MA
Median household income$123,750
87th
StrengthU.S. $80,734 · MA $103,960181st of 503 in MA
Average commute32.9 min
86th
WeaknessU.S. 26.4 min · MA 29.1 min130th of 504 in MA
Self-employed workers13.2%
84th
U.S. 10% · MA 8.8%131st of 520 in MA
Homeownership rate82.2%
83rd
StrengthU.S. 65.2% · MA 62.5%213th of 518 in MA
Government workers19.7%
83rd
U.S. 14.5% · MA 12.7%57th of 520 in MA
Median earnings per worker$54,949
67th
U.S. $49,666 · MA $62,095354th of 519 in MA
Median age41.1
66th
U.S. 38.9 · MA 40348th of 522 in MA
Median home value$392,000
61st
U.S. $332,700 · MA $562,100380th of 506 in MA
Per capita income$44,053
60th
U.S. $44,673 · MA $57,897402nd of 522 in MA
Residents 65 and older17.4%
56th
U.S. 17.2% · MA 17.9%340th of 522 in MA
Median gross rent$1,407
51st
U.S. $1,413 · MA $1,762302nd of 461 in MA
Housing vacancy6.1%
45th
U.S. 10.1% · MA 8.1%239th of 519 in MA
Population density650/sq mi
36th
U.S. 95/sq mi · MA 903/sq mi300th of 522 in MA
Bachelor's degree or higher24.6%
33rd
U.S. 35.7% · MA 47.3%462nd of 521 in MA
Diversity index22.9
16th
U.S. 61.4 · MA 52.7333rd of 522 in MA
Residents under 1816.6%
13th
U.S. 22% · MA 19.4%342nd of 522 in MA
Population4,074
7th
U.S. 334,922,499 · MA 7,044,056362nd of 522 in MA
Foreign-born residents0.9%
5th
U.S. 14.1% · MA 18%501st of 522 in MA
Poverty rate3.3%
3rd
StrengthU.S. 12.5% · MA 10%430th of 519 in MA
Work from home3.1%
3rd
U.S. 15.1% · MA 18.6%505th of 520 in MA
Unemployment rate0.6%
1st
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · MA 5.2%490th of 520 in MA
Uninsured rate0.8%
1st
StrengthU.S. 8.4% · MA 2.6%408th of 521 in MA
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · MA 4.9%516th of 520 in MA
Income inequality (Gini)0.300
1st
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · MA 0.489508th of 517 in MA

Measure	02538	Plymouth	MA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in MA
Healthcare workers	24.3%	10.7%	10.3%	9.7%	99th	8th of 520
Veterans	13.2%	5.7%	4.3%	6.2%	96th	16th of 522
Rent-burdened rentersWeakness	64.9%	54.8%	51.8%	51.1%	93rd	79th of 506
Broadband accessStrength	96.4%	92.9%	92.8%	91%	88th	131st of 518
Median household incomeStrength	$123,750	$114,201	$103,960	$80,734	87th	181st of 503
Average commuteWeakness	32.9 min	32.5 min	29.1 min	26.4 min	86th	130th of 504
Self-employed workers	13.2%	9.5%	8.8%	10%	84th	131st of 520
Homeownership rateStrength	82.2%	77.6%	62.5%	65.2%	83rd	213th of 518
Government workers	19.7%	14.6%	12.7%	14.5%	83rd	57th of 520
Median earnings per worker	$54,949	$62,599	$62,095	$49,666	67th	354th of 519
Median age	41.1	43	40	38.9	66th	348th of 522
Median home value	$392,000	$556,000	$562,100	$332,700	61st	380th of 506
Per capita income	$44,053	$57,650	$57,897	$44,673	60th	402nd of 522
Residents 65 and older	17.4%	19.8%	17.9%	17.2%	56th	340th of 522
Median gross rent	$1,407	$1,747	$1,762	$1,413	51st	302nd of 461
Housing vacancy	6.1%	6.9%	8.1%	10.1%	45th	239th of 519
Population density	650/sq mi	813/sq mi	903/sq mi	95/sq mi	36th	300th of 522
Bachelor's degree or higher	24.6%	41.8%	47.3%	35.7%	33rd	462nd of 521
Diversity index	22.9	40.7	52.7	61.4	16th	333rd of 522
Residents under 18	16.6%	20.7%	19.4%	22%	13th	342nd of 522
Population	4,074	535,075	7,044,056	334,922,499	7th	362nd of 522
Foreign-born residents	0.9%	11.2%	18%	14.1%	5th	501st of 522
Poverty rateStrength	3.3%	7.1%	10%	12.5%	3rd	430th of 519
Work from home	3.1%	16.2%	18.6%	15.1%	3rd	505th of 520
Unemployment rateStrength	0.6%	5.1%	5.2%	5.2%	1st	490th of 520
Uninsured rateStrength	0.8%	2.5%	2.6%	8.4%	1st	408th of 521
Tech workers	0%	2.5%	4.9%	3.8%	1st	516th of 520
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.300	0.463	0.489	0.483	1st	508th of 517

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

12%

5–17

18–24

19%

25–34

11%

35–44

14%

45–54

16%

55–64

65–74

75+

Median age

41.1

Under 18

16.6%

65 and over

17.4%

Race and ethnicity

White87%
Black0%
Hispanic0%
Asian0.7%
Native American0.8%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.9%
Multiracial10%

Diversity index

22.9

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

0.9%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

92%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

95%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 1,548
Average household size: 2.6
Family households: 77.2%
Married couples: 57.2%
Living alone: 12.6%
Veterans (of adults): 13.2%
Male / female: 52% / 48%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

$25–50k

$50–75k

14%

$75–100k

$100–150k

32%

$150–200k

19%

$200k+

10%

Median household income

02538

$123,750

Plymouth Co.

$114,201

Massachusetts

$103,960

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$44,053

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

3.3%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

29.3%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.300

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

02538

$392,000

Plymouth Co.

$556,000

Massachusetts

$562,100

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

02538

$1,407

Plymouth Co.

$1,747

Massachusetts

$1,762

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

86%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 1,649
Owner-occupied: 82.2%
Vacant: 6.1%
Median year built: 1971
Median rooms: 5.5
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 64.9%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 29.3%
Home value to income: 3.2× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

89%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

10–19

26%

20–29

19%

30–44

24%

45–59

60+

16%

Average commute

32.9 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

0.6%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

59.5%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Healthcare

24%

Construction and repair

13%

Transportation and moving

12%

Sales

11%

Legal and social services

Education

Management

Office and admin

Food service

Business and finance

Farming, fishing and forestry

Production

Cleaning and personal care

Police and fire

Engineering and science

Computer and math

Arts, media and sports

Industries

Health care and social assistance

34%

Retail

21%

Construction

Education

Restaurants and hotels

Manufacturing

Public administration

Other services

Agriculture and mining

Professional and technical services

Finance, insurance and real estate

Admin, support and management

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Arts and recreation

0.7%

Wholesale

Information

Median earnings per worker

$54,949

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

13.2%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

19.7%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

10.5%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	02538	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$72,697	$74,888
Service	$43,796	$26,804
Sales and office	$73,438	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$64,891	$49,199
Production and transportation	$36,274	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

40%

Some college

22%

Associate's

10%

Bachelor's

17%

Graduate

High school graduate or higher: 96.1%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 24.6%
Graduate or professional degree: 7.2%
Households with broadband: 96.4%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 90.4%
No internet access: 2.5%
Without health insurance: 0.8%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): East Wareham
State: Massachusetts
County: Plymouth County
Center point: 41.7774° N, 70.6424° W
Land area: 6.3 sq mi
Water area: 0.8 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

White Island Shores (unincorporated)19% of zip
Onset (unincorporated)4% of zip

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

Zip codes near 02538

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
02558	Onset, MA	2.2 mi	1,734	$79,598	$441,700
02532	Buzzards Bay, MA	3.1 mi	13,267	$87,773	$497,600
02571	Wareham, MA	3.4 mi	11,258	$94,265	$441,900
02553	Monument Beach, MA	4.6 mi	30	—	—
02366	South Carver, MA	5 mi	264	—	—
02561	Sagamore, MA	5.7 mi	670	—	$481,900
02562	Sagamore Beach, MA	6 mi	3,402	$120,000	$591,000
02559	Pocasset, MA	6.2 mi	2,802	$90,855	$625,400
02576	West Wareham, MA	6.2 mi	4,168	$63,021	$387,200
02542	Buzzards Bay, MA	6.9 mi	882	$62,083	—
02360	Plymouth, MA	7.3 mi	63,689	$116,941	$527,400
02563	Sandwich, MA	7.4 mi	10,436	$121,455	$617,800

Zip codes like 02538 elsewhere

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

Questions about 02538

What city is zip code 02538?

02538 is assigned to East Wareham, Massachusetts. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 02538 in?

02538 is in Plymouth County, Massachusetts.

What is the population of 02538?

About 4,074 people live in 02538, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 02538 in?

02538 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 02538?

The median household income in 02538 is $123,750.

What zip codes are near 02538?

The closest zip codes to 02538 are 02558, 02532, 02571, 02553, 02366.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 02538, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.