Zip code 02542: Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts

Q: What city is zip code 02542?

02542 is assigned to Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 02542 in?

02542 is in Barnstable County, Massachusetts.

Q: What is the population of 02542?

About 882 people live in 02542, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 02542?

The median household income in 02542 is $62,083.

Q: What zip codes are near 02542?

The closest zip codes to 02542 are 02644, 02563, 02532, 02559, 02553.

Residential delivery areaBarnstable CountyEastern Time

Population

882

Median household income

$62K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

—

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$2,094/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

30.1

U.S. 38.9

Land area

29 sq mi

31 people/sq mi

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

About 02542

02542 is a rural zip code in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts (Barnstable County), covering 29 sq mi of land. About 882 people live here, or 31 per square mile. The median resident is 30.1 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $62,083 a year, 23% below the national median of $80,734. 0.8% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). 0% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $2,094 a month.

42% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 18.6 minutes each way, and 6% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in healthcare; management; and legal and social services. 39% of households speak a language other than English at home, most often another Indo-European language such as French, German, Russian or Hindi.

How 02542 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Rent-burdened renters88%
99th
WeaknessU.S. 51.1% · MA 51.8%15th of 506 in MA
Healthcare workers26.6%
99th
U.S. 9.7% · MA 10.3%5th of 520 in MA
Housing vacancy30.5%
98th
U.S. 10.1% · MA 8.1%57th of 519 in MA
Broadband access97.7%
96th
StrengthU.S. 91% · MA 92.8%74th of 518 in MA
Median gross rent$2,094
87th
U.S. $1,413 · MA $1,762103rd of 461 in MA
Bachelor's degree or higher42.1%
69th
U.S. 35.7% · MA 47.3%302nd of 521 in MA
Foreign-born residents17.3%
69th
U.S. 14.1% · MA 18%139th of 522 in MA
Residents under 1823.6%
64th
U.S. 22% · MA 19.4%79th of 522 in MA
Veterans3.9%
25th
U.S. 6.2% · MA 4.3%341st of 522 in MA
Median household income$62,083
24th
U.S. $80,734 · MA $103,960467th of 503 in MA
Diversity index20.7
13th
U.S. 61.4 · MA 52.7361st of 522 in MA
Work from home6%
12th
U.S. 15.1% · MA 18.6%482nd of 520 in MA
Per capita income$25,873
10th
WeaknessU.S. $44,673 · MA $57,897506th of 522 in MA
Median earnings per worker$35,179
9th
WeaknessU.S. $49,666 · MA $62,095499th of 519 in MA
Average commute18.6 min
8th
StrengthU.S. 26.4 min · MA 29.1 min478th of 504 in MA
Population density31/sq mi
4th
U.S. 95/sq mi · MA 903/sq mi505th of 522 in MA
Median age30.1
4th
U.S. 38.9 · MA 40499th of 522 in MA
Unemployment rate1.7%
4th
StrengthU.S. 5.2% · MA 5.2%467th of 520 in MA
Population882
1st
U.S. 334,922,499 · MA 7,044,056473rd of 522 in MA
Poverty rate0.8%
1st
StrengthU.S. 12.5% · MA 10%501st of 519 in MA
Homeownership rate0%
1st
WeaknessU.S. 65.2% · MA 62.5%513th of 518 in MA
Uninsured rate0.7%
1st
StrengthU.S. 8.4% · MA 2.6%413th of 521 in MA
Residents 65 and older0%
1st
U.S. 17.2% · MA 17.9%515th of 522 in MA
Tech workers0%
1st
U.S. 3.8% · MA 4.9%483rd of 520 in MA
Self-employed workers2.1%
1st
U.S. 10% · MA 8.8%503rd of 520 in MA
Government workers3%
1st
U.S. 14.5% · MA 12.7%507th of 520 in MA
Income inequality (Gini)0.278
1st
StrengthU.S. 0.483 · MA 0.489511th of 517 in MA

Measure	02542	Barnstable	MA	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in MA
Rent-burdened rentersWeakness	88%	59.7%	51.8%	51.1%	99th	15th of 506
Healthcare workers	26.6%	10.3%	10.3%	9.7%	99th	5th of 520
Housing vacancy	30.5%	36.4%	8.1%	10.1%	98th	57th of 519
Broadband accessStrength	97.7%	94.3%	92.8%	91%	96th	74th of 518
Median gross rent	$2,094	$1,678	$1,762	$1,413	87th	103rd of 461
Bachelor's degree or higher	42.1%	48.2%	47.3%	35.7%	69th	302nd of 521
Foreign-born residents	17.3%	9.9%	18%	14.1%	69th	139th of 522
Residents under 18	23.6%	14.1%	19.4%	22%	64th	79th of 522
Veterans	3.9%	7.1%	4.3%	6.2%	25th	341st of 522
Median household income	$62,083	$95,241	$103,960	$80,734	24th	467th of 503
Diversity index	20.7	26.9	52.7	61.4	13th	361st of 522
Work from home	6%	16%	18.6%	15.1%	12th	482nd of 520
Per capita incomeWeakness	$25,873	$62,086	$57,897	$44,673	10th	506th of 522
Median earnings per workerWeakness	$35,179	$56,902	$62,095	$49,666	9th	499th of 519
Average commuteStrength	18.6 min	24.8 min	29.1 min	26.4 min	8th	478th of 504
Population density	31/sq mi	588/sq mi	903/sq mi	95/sq mi	4th	505th of 522
Median age	30.1	55.4	40	38.9	4th	499th of 522
Unemployment rateStrength	1.7%	5%	5.2%	5.2%	4th	467th of 520
Population	882	231,668	7,044,056	334,922,499	1st	473rd of 522
Poverty rateStrength	0.8%	7.7%	10%	12.5%	1st	501st of 519
Homeownership rateWeakness	0%	81.1%	62.5%	65.2%	1st	513th of 518
Uninsured rateStrength	0.7%	2.7%	2.6%	8.4%	1st	413th of 521
Residents 65 and older	0%	33.1%	17.9%	17.2%	1st	515th of 522
Tech workers	0%	2.4%	4.9%	3.8%	1st	483rd of 520
Self-employed workers	2.1%	14.4%	8.8%	10%	1st	503rd of 520
Government workers	3%	13.4%	12.7%	14.5%	1st	507th of 520
Income inequality (Gini)Strength	0.278	0.479	0.489	0.483	1st	511th 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

12%

Under 5

11%

5–17

15%

18–24

35%

25–34

18%

35–44

45–54

55–64

65–74

75+

Median age

30.1

Under 18

23.6%

65 and over

Race and ethnicity

White89%
Black4%
Hispanic3%
Asian0%
Native American0%
Pacific Islander0%
Other2%
Multiracial2%

Diversity index

20.7

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

17.3%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

19.5%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

61%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

36%

Asian / Pacific

Other

Households

Households: 264
Average household size: 2.8
Family households: 86.4%
Married couples: 79.5%
Living alone: 0%
Veterans (of adults): 3.9%
Male / female: 50% / 50%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

$25–50k

34%

$50–75k

34%

$75–100k

$100–150k

22%

$150–200k

$200k+

Median household income

02542

$62,083

Barnstable Co.

$95,241

Massachusetts

$103,960

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$25,873

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

0.8%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

3.8%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.278

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

02542

—

Barnstable Co.

$629,000

Massachusetts

$562,100

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

02542

$2,094

Barnstable Co.

$1,678

Massachusetts

$1,762

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

69%

2–4 units

25%

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

Housing units: 380
Owner-occupied: 0%
Vacant: 30.5%
Median year built: 1956
Median rooms: 5.2
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 88%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 37.6%
Home value to income: —

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

93%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

Bicycle

Worked from home

Other

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

32%

10–19

26%

20–29

34%

30–44

45–59

60+

Average commute

18.6 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

1.7%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

63.6%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Healthcare

27%

Management

13%

Legal and social services

11%

Transportation and moving

Business and finance

Arts, media and sports

Farming, fishing and forestry

Construction and repair

Cleaning and personal care

Food service

Office and admin

Police and fire

Sales

Education

0.9%

Computer and math

Engineering and science

Production

Industries

Professional and technical services

21%

Health care and social assistance

19%

Retail

14%

Restaurants and hotels

12%

Agriculture and mining

Education

Admin, support and management

Manufacturing

Other services

Public administration

Construction

Arts and recreation

Finance, insurance and real estate

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Wholesale

Information

Median earnings per worker

$35,179

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

2.1%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

21%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	02542	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$34,688	$74,888
Service	$46,250	$26,804
Sales and office	—	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$36,442	$49,199
Production and transportation	—	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

18%

Some college

32%

Associate's

Bachelor's

18%

Graduate

24%

High school graduate or higher: 95.6%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 42.1%
Graduate or professional degree: 23.7%
Households with broadband: 97.7%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 81.8%
No internet access: 2.3%
Without health insurance: 0.7%
Limited-English households: 0%

Geography

City (USPS): Buzzards Bay
State: Massachusetts
County: Barnstable County
Center point: 41.7078° N, 70.5455° W
Land area: 29 sq mi
Water area: 0.1 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Zip codes near 02542

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
02644	Forestdale, MA	2.5 mi	3,700	$108,158	$485,700
02563	Sandwich, MA	3.7 mi	10,436	$121,455	$617,800
02532	Buzzards Bay, MA	3.8 mi	13,267	$87,773	$497,600
02559	Pocasset, MA	3.8 mi	2,802	$90,855	$625,400
02553	Monument Beach, MA	4 mi	30	—	—
02561	Sagamore, MA	4.2 mi	670	—	$481,900
02534	Cataumet, MA	4.5 mi	1,369	$137,066	$685,600
02562	Sagamore Beach, MA	5.6 mi	3,402	$120,000	$591,000
02537	East Sandwich, MA	5.8 mi	6,383	$136,506	$639,500
02558	Onset, MA	6.1 mi	1,734	$79,598	$441,700
02556	North Falmouth, MA	6.2 mi	2,868	$121,810	$717,800
02649	Mashpee, MA	6.8 mi	15,384	$95,299	$562,200

Questions about 02542

What city is zip code 02542?

02542 is assigned to Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 02542 in?

02542 is in Barnstable County, Massachusetts.

What is the population of 02542?

About 882 people live in 02542, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 02542 in?

02542 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 02542?

The median household income in 02542 is $62,083.

What zip codes are near 02542?

The closest zip codes to 02542 are 02644, 02563, 02532, 02559, 02553.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 02542, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.