Zip code 02879: Wakefield, Rhode Island

Q: What city is zip code 02879?

02879 is assigned to Wakefield, Rhode Island. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

Q: What county is 02879 in?

02879 is in Washington County, Rhode Island.

Q: What is the population of 02879?

About 21,802 people live in 02879, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Q: What is the median household income in 02879?

The median household income in 02879 is $112,231.

Q: What zip codes are near 02879?

The closest zip codes to 02879 are 02883, 02882, 02881, 02836, 02875.

Residential delivery areaWashington CountyEastern Time

Population

21,802

Median household income

$112K

U.S. $81K

Median home value

$565K

U.S. $333K

Median rent

$1,281/mo

U.S. $1,413

Median age

49.4

U.S. 38.9

Land area

39 sq mi

552 people/sq mi

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

About 02879

02879 is a suburban zip code in Wakefield, Rhode Island (Washington County), covering 39 sq mi of land. About 21,802 people live here, or 552 per square mile. The median resident is 49.4 years old, compared with 38.9 nationally.

The median household earns $112,231 a year, 39% above the national median of $80,734. 8.2% of residents live below the poverty line (U.S.: 12.5%). A typical home is valued at $564,700, or 5.0 years of median household income (U.S.: 4.1 years), which makes homes about as affordable as the national average for local earners. 78% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners, and renters pay a median of $1,281 a month.

59% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (U.S.: 36%). Commuters average 26.2 minutes each way, and 16% of workers work from home. The most common jobs among working residents are in management, education and healthcare.

How 02879 compares

Sorted from highest to lowest national percentile

Residents 65 and older29.2%
96th
U.S. 17.2% · RI 18.7%11th of 78 in RI
Median age49.4
94th
U.S. 38.9 · RI 40.618th of 78 in RI
Housing vacancy20.7%
94th
U.S. 10.1% · RI 9.1%10th of 78 in RI
Bachelor's degree or higher59%
88th
StrengthU.S. 35.7% · RI 37.7%14th of 78 in RI
Government workers20.4%
85th
U.S. 14.5% · RI 13.1%13th of 78 in RI
Per capita income$59,265
84th
StrengthU.S. $44,673 · RI $47,15016th of 78 in RI
Median earnings per worker$63,967
81st
StrengthU.S. $49,666 · RI $53,16222nd of 78 in RI
Median household income$112,231
80th
StrengthU.S. $80,734 · RI $87,79625th of 72 in RI
Median home value$564,700
79th
U.S. $332,700 · RI $404,20013th of 74 in RI
Homeownership rate78.1%
74th
U.S. 65.2% · RI 63.6%39th of 78 in RI
Self-employed workers11%
69th
U.S. 10% · RI 9%25th of 78 in RI
Work from home16.2%
66th
U.S. 15.1% · RI 13%22nd of 78 in RI
Broadband access93.7%
64th
U.S. 91% · RI 91.7%36th of 78 in RI
Healthcare workers10%
58th
U.S. 9.7% · RI 10%33rd of 78 in RI
Unemployment rate5.3%
57th
U.S. 5.2% · RI 5.8%33rd of 78 in RI
Average commute26.2 min
51st
U.S. 26.4 min · RI 25.5 min33rd of 73 in RI
Veterans5.8%
49th
U.S. 6.2% · RI 5.1%39th of 78 in RI
Tech workers2.6%
45th
U.S. 3.8% · RI 3.5%49th of 78 in RI
Income inequality (Gini)0.428
44th
U.S. 0.483 · RI 0.46136th of 77 in RI
Median gross rent$1,281
42nd
U.S. $1,413 · RI $1,34238th of 59 in RI
Rent-burdened renters48.6%
42nd
U.S. 51.1% · RI 48%34th of 72 in RI
Population21,802
34th
U.S. 334,922,499 · RI 1,101,80123rd of 78 in RI
Population density552/sq mi
34th
U.S. 95/sq mi · RI 1,066/sq mi50th of 78 in RI
Poverty rate8.2%
33rd
U.S. 12.5% · RI 11.2%31st of 78 in RI
Foreign-born residents4.1%
24th
U.S. 14.1% · RI 15.3%52nd of 78 in RI
Diversity index17.9
10th
U.S. 61.4 · RI 5058th of 78 in RI
Residents under 1815.7%
10th
U.S. 22% · RI 18.8%52nd of 78 in RI
Uninsured rate1.4%
2nd
StrengthU.S. 8.4% · RI 4.4%60th of 78 in RI

Measure	02879	Washington	RI	U.S.	National percentile	Rank in RI
Residents 65 and older	29.2%	23.3%	18.7%	17.2%	96th	11th of 78
Median age	49.4	45.5	40.6	38.9	94th	18th of 78
Housing vacancy	20.7%	20.8%	9.1%	10.1%	94th	10th of 78
Bachelor's degree or higherStrength	59%	52.4%	37.7%	35.7%	88th	14th of 78
Government workers	20.4%	16.7%	13.1%	14.5%	85th	13th of 78
Per capita incomeStrength	$59,265	$56,069	$47,150	$44,673	84th	16th of 78
Median earnings per workerStrength	$63,967	$60,947	$53,162	$49,666	81st	22nd of 78
Median household incomeStrength	$112,231	$106,638	$87,796	$80,734	80th	25th of 72
Median home value	$564,700	$510,800	$404,200	$332,700	79th	13th of 74
Homeownership rate	78.1%	77.5%	63.6%	65.2%	74th	39th of 78
Self-employed workers	11%	11.4%	9%	10%	69th	25th of 78
Work from home	16.2%	15.3%	13%	15.1%	66th	22nd of 78
Broadband access	93.7%	94.4%	91.7%	91%	64th	36th of 78
Healthcare workers	10%	9.3%	10%	9.7%	58th	33rd of 78
Unemployment rate	5.3%	4.4%	5.8%	5.2%	57th	33rd of 78
Average commute	26.2 min	26 min	25.5 min	26.4 min	51st	33rd of 73
Veterans	5.8%	6.1%	5.1%	6.2%	49th	39th of 78
Tech workers	2.6%	3%	3.5%	3.8%	45th	49th of 78
Income inequality (Gini)	0.428	0.440	0.461	0.483	44th	36th of 77
Median gross rent	$1,281	$1,327	$1,342	$1,413	42nd	38th of 59
Rent-burdened renters	48.6%	51.3%	48%	51.1%	42nd	34th of 72
Population	21,802	130,344	1,101,801	334,922,499	34th	23rd of 78
Population density	552/sq mi	396/sq mi	1,066/sq mi	95/sq mi	34th	50th of 78
Poverty rate	8.2%	8.2%	11.2%	12.5%	33rd	31st of 78
Foreign-born residents	4.1%	5%	15.3%	14.1%	24th	52nd of 78
Diversity index	17.9	20.7	50	61.4	10th	58th of 78
Residents under 18	15.7%	15.4%	18.8%	22%	10th	52nd of 78
Uninsured rateStrength	1.4%	2%	4.4%	8.4%	2nd	60th of 78

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

11%

25–34

11%

35–44

45–54

17%

55–64

16%

65–74

13%

75+

Median age

49.4

Under 18

15.7%

65 and over

29.2%

Race and ethnicity

White90%
Black2%
Hispanic3%
Asian1%
Native American0.8%
Pacific Islander0%
Other0.3%
Multiracial2%

Diversity index

17.9

U.S. 61.4

Foreign-born

4.1%

U.S. 14.1%

Born in state

59.1%

Language spoken at home (households)

English only

93%

Spanish

Other Indo-European

Asian / Pacific

0.8%

Other

0.4%

Households

Households: 9,462
Average household size: 2.3
Family households: 64.9%
Married couples: 57.4%
Living alone: 28.4%
Veterans (of adults): 5.8%
Male / female: 49% / 51%

Income and poverty

Household income distribution

<$25k

10%

$25–50k

11%

$50–75k

13%

$75–100k

11%

$100–150k

20%

$150–200k

17%

$200k+

18%

Median household income

02879

$112,231

Washington Co.

$106,638

Rhode Island

$87,796

United States

$80,734

Per capita income

$59,265

U.S. $44,673

Poverty rate

8.2%

U.S. 12.5%

Households earning $150K+

34.8%

U.S. 23%

Income inequality (Gini)

0.428

U.S. 0.483

Housing

Median home value

02879

$564,700

Washington Co.

$510,800

Rhode Island

$404,200

United States

$332,700

Median gross rent

02879

$1,281

Washington Co.

$1,327

Rhode Island

$1,342

United States

$1,413

Types of housing

Single-family

83%

2–4 units

5–19 units

20+ units

Mobile home

Boat, RV, van

0.1%

Housing units: 11,934
Owner-occupied: 78.1%
Vacant: 20.7%
Median year built: 1977
Median rooms: 5.8
Renters paying 30%+ of income: 48.6%
Renters paying 50%+ of income: 25.4%
Home value to income: 5.0× (U.S. 4.1×)

Work and commute

How people get to work

Drove alone

77%

Carpooled

Transit

Walked

0.5%

Bicycle

0.7%

Worked from home

16%

Other

0.5%

Commute time (one way)

<10 min

14%

10–19

29%

20–29

14%

30–44

24%

45–59

12%

60+

Average commute

26.2 min

U.S. 26.4 min

Unemployment

5.3%

U.S. 5.2%

In labor force

60.3%

U.S. 63.5%

Jobs and careers

What employed residents do, wherever they work

Occupations

Management

15%

Education

11%

Healthcare

10%

Business and finance

10%

Sales

Office and admin

Construction and repair

Engineering and science

Food service

Cleaning and personal care

Production

Police and fire

Computer and math

Legal and social services

Arts, media and sports

Farming, fishing and forestry

Transportation and moving

Industries

Education

16%

Health care and social assistance

14%

Retail

10%

Manufacturing

Professional and technical services

Public administration

Finance, insurance and real estate

Construction

Restaurants and hotels

Other services

Admin, support and management

Information

Agriculture and mining

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

Arts and recreation

Wholesale

Median earnings per worker

$63,967

U.S. $49,666

Self-employed

11%

U.S. 10%

Government workers

20.4%

U.S. 14.5%

Nonprofit workers

12.1%

U.S. 8.8%

Median earnings by type of work

Type of work	02879	U.S.
Management, business, science and arts	$84,607	$74,888
Service	$28,611	$26,804
Sales and office	$36,515	$40,476
Construction and maintenance	$51,793	$49,199
Production and transportation	$47,051	$39,989

Education, internet and health coverage

Highest education (adults 25+)

No diploma

High school

15%

Some college

13%

Associate's

Bachelor's

33%

Graduate

26%

High school graduate or higher: 95.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher: 59%
Graduate or professional degree: 26.1%
Households with broadband: 93.7%
Cable, fiber or DSL: 82.3%
No internet access: 4.4%
Without health insurance: 1.4%
Limited-English households: 0.4%

Geography

City (USPS): Wakefield
State: Rhode Island
County: Washington County
Center point: 41.4288° N, 71.5384° W
Land area: 39 sq mi
Water area: 6.2 sq mi
Time zone: Eastern Time (UTC-5, UTC-4 in summer)
Zip type: Residential delivery area

Cities and towns within this zip

Wakefield-Peace Dale (unincorporated)13% of zip
Kingston (unincorporated)2% of zip
Charlestown (unincorporated)1% of zip

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

Zip codes near 02879

Search by radius

Zip	City	Distance	Population	IncomeMedian income	Home value
02883	Peace Dale, RI · PO box	2.6 mi	—	—	—
02882	Narragansett, RI	3.5 mi	13,091	$95,721	$749,700
02881	Kingston, RI	3.8 mi	7,687	$56,472	$575,000
02836	Kenyon, RI	4.6 mi	104	—	$458,100
02875	Shannock, RI	5.6 mi	44	—	—
02892	West Kingston, RI	5.9 mi	5,768	$135,809	$490,600
02874	Saunderstown, RI	6.5 mi	6,379	$159,861	$713,700
02880	Wakefield, RI · PO box	6.6 mi	—	—	—
02877	Slocum, RI · PO box	6.9 mi	—	—	—
02812	Carolina, RI	7.1 mi	1,479	$104,934	$472,800
02813	Charlestown, RI	7.2 mi	8,051	$109,404	$525,500
02894	Wood River Junction, RI	8.4 mi	831	—	$340,600

Zip codes like 02879 elsewhere

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

Questions about 02879

What city is zip code 02879?

02879 is assigned to Wakefield, Rhode Island. The city name is the one the Postal Service prefers for mail addressed to this zip code.

What county is 02879 in?

02879 is in Washington County, Rhode Island.

What is the population of 02879?

About 21,802 people live in 02879, according to the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

What time zone is 02879 in?

02879 is in Eastern Time.

What is the median household income in 02879?

The median household income in 02879 is $112,231.

What zip codes are near 02879?

The closest zip codes to 02879 are 02883, 02882, 02881, 02836, 02875.

Demographic figures are 2020–2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates for ZIP Code Tabulation Area 02879, from the U.S. Census Bureau. Small areas have wide margins of error. How we build these numbers.