ZIP Code 01970: Population, Income, Housing

State: MA

Total population: 44,738 Household income: $85,041 Rent: $1,836

Overview

Total population

44,738

Rent

$1,836

Year built

1938

Household income

$85,041

Per capita income

$50,314

Poverty rate

12.1%

Unemployment rate

N/A

Household size

2.1 persons

Rent over 30% of income

52.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Data are sourced from the American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates, 2024 release — the latest dataset currently available. New 5-year estimates are published annually, about 6–12 months after the end of each reference year.

Demographics

State

Massachusetts

County

Essex County

City

Salem

Total population

44,738

Adults over 25

32,989

Total households

20,222

Household size

2.1 persons

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Income & Poverty

Household income

$85,041

Per capita income

$50,314

Poverty rate

12.1%

Unemployment rate

N/A

Rent over 30% of income

52.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Housing

Rent

$1,836

Year built

1938

Households that rent

50.4%

Households that own

49.6%

Rooms per home (all homes)

4.8

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Race

White

72.8%

Black

4.9%

Asian

3.4%

Two or more races

10.1%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Ethnicity

Hispanic or Latino

20.8%

Not Hispanic or Latino

79.2%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Commute

Commute rate

19,632 (78.4%)

Commute time to work

29 mins

Work from home

5,403 (21.6%)

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Education

Less than high school

21.5%

High school graduate or GED

21.9%

Some college or associate degree

8.8%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

47.8%

Note: Rent, income, and year built are shown as median values, while household size is shown as an average (see explanations below).

ZIP data use Census ZCTAs, which closely match USPS ZIP Codes in most cases (see FAQ for details).

Comparison of ZIP Code 01970 with: Essex County, MA Boston metro area, MA-NH Massachusetts United States

ZIP 01970

Total population44,738

Rent$1,836

Year built1938

Household income$85,041

Per capita income$50,314

Poverty rate12.1%

Unemployment rateN/A

Essex County, MA

Total population813,054

Rent$1,756

Year built1960

Household income$101,883

Per capita income$54,665

Poverty rate9.4%

Unemployment rate4.2%

Boston Metro Area, MA-NH

Total population4,953,354

Rent$2,023

Year built1964

Household income$115,863

Per capita income$63,282

Poverty rate8.9%

Unemployment rate3.7%

Massachusetts State

Total population7,044,056

Rent$1,762

Year built1964

Household income$103,960

Per capita income$57,897

Poverty rate10%

Unemployment rate4%

United States

Total population334,922,499

Rent$1,413

Year built1980

Household income$80,734

Per capita income$44,673

Poverty rate12.5%

Unemployment rate4%

Metric	ZIP01970	CountyEssex, MA	Metro AreaBoston metro area, MA-NH	StateMassachusetts	CountryUnited States
Total population	44,738	813,054	4,953,354	7,044,056	334,922,499
Rent	$1,836	$1,756	$2,023	$1,762	$1,413
Year built	1938	1960	1964	1964	1980
Household income	$85,041	$101,883	$115,863	$103,960	$80,734
Per capita income	$50,314	$54,665	$63,282	$57,897	$44,673
Poverty rate	12.1%	9.4%	8.9%	10%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	N/A	4.2%	3.7%	4%	4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for 01970

Rent & Income

In 01970, the typical monthly rent is $1,836 and the typical household income is $85,041. Rent here is similar to Massachusetts, and household income is lower than Massachusetts. The estimated poverty rate is 12.1%.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 50.4% of households, indicating a relatively balanced mix of renters and owners. About 52.1% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Educational attainment is very high, with about 47.8% of adults holding a bachelor’s degree or higher.

ZIP 01970 — Rent vs Household Income

ZIP 01970 — Poverty

How ZIP 01970 compares in Massachusetts (62 ZIP Codes)

Metric	This ZIP	Rank	Starts from	State range
Rent	$1,836	26 / 62	from lower rent	$1,021 – $2,873
Household income	$85,041	40 / 62	from higher income	$48,415 – $172,606
Poverty rate	12.1%	36 / 62	from lower poverty	2.9% – 30.5%

Rankings are calculated among ZIP Codes in Massachusetts with total population > 30,000 (year 2024).

Detailed Ranking Explanation for ZIP Code 01970

Rent

When it comes to rent, ZIP Code 01970 ranks 26th out of 62 ZIP Codes in Massachusetts. Statewide, values range from $1,021 in ZIP 01040 up to $2,873 in ZIP 02446.

Household income

Income-wise, this area is placed 40th out of 62 ZIP Codes. Across Massachusetts, figures vary from $48,415 in ZIP 01109 up to $172,606 in ZIP 01810.

Poverty rate

When it comes to poverty, ZIP Code 01970 places 36th out of 62 ZIP Codes. Throughout Massachusetts, numbers span from 2.9% in ZIP 01810 up to 30.5% in ZIP 01610.

💰 Rent in ZIP Code 01970 (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,836 ℹ️ What’s Included:
✅ Base rent, electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuels
❌ Not included: internet, cable TV, renter's insurance, parking

💡 What does this rent estimate mean?

Explanation: This estimate shows what renters typically pay each month for housing — including the apartment or home and essential utilities like heat, water, and electricity.

Included in this number: Rent plus electricity, gas, water/sewer, and heating fuel.

Not included: Internet, cable, parking, renter’s insurance, or furniture rental.

Note: This cost does not depend on the number of people living in the home.

👨‍👧‍👦 Household Income in ZIP Code 01970

Annual Household Income: $85,041

💡 What does Household Income mean?

Definition: This represents the middle value of all household incomes in the ZIP code — half of households earn less, and half earn more.

Includes: wages, salaries, self-employment income, Social Security, pensions, investments, unemployment, public assistance, and rental income.

Does NOT include: capital gains, non-cash benefits (like food stamps), or tax refunds.

Household = any group of people (or a single person) living in the same housing unit.

Example: A couple earning $40,000 and $30,000 together have a household income of $70,000. If that's in the middle of all local incomes, it's the value shown here.

📉 Poverty Rate in ZIP Code 01970

Estimated Rate: 12.1%

💡 What does the Poverty Rate represent?

Definition: The percentage of people in this area living below the federal poverty threshold.

How it works: The threshold is a dollar amount set by the U.S. Census Bureau that varies by family size and age. If a household's income is below that level, everyone in it is included in this rate.

Example: In a town of 10,000 people, if 1,500 have incomes below the poverty line, the poverty rate is 15%.

Note: This statistic only includes people living in households; it does not count those in student housing, military barracks, or nursing homes.

🏘️ Renter vs. Owner Households in ZIP Code 01970

In ZIP Code 01970, households that rent: 10,194 (50.4%)

📊 What does the renter household percentage reveal about this ZIP Code?

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	10,194	50.4%
Owner-Occupied	10,028	49.6%

Definition: This is the percentage of households that rent their home rather than own it. It includes only occupied housing units.

Why it matters: Areas with a high share of renter households often have younger populations, higher mobility, and different housing needs compared to mostly owner-occupied areas.

Example: If 65% of homes in an area are renter-occupied, it means 65 out of every 100 households rent their home.

📉 Renters Spending Over 30% of Income on Rent in ZIP Code 01970

In ZIP Code 01970, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 5,314 (52.1%)

🏚️ What Does It Mean When Renters Spend Over 30% of Their Income on Housing?

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	5,314	52.1%
Other renter households	4,880	47.9%
Total renter households	10,194	100%

Shares are calculated as a percentage of renter households.

This shows how many renters in the ZIP code are considered cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing (rent and basic utilities).

It’s a sign that housing might be unaffordable in the area or that lower-income residents may be struggling with rent.

Data comes from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

📊 Education Levels in ZIP Code 01970

Less than High School: 7,092 people (21.5%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 7,213 people (21.9%)

Includes adults whose highest education is a high school diploma or GED.

Some College or Associate Degree: 2,917 people (8.8%)

Includes adults who attended college without completing a bachelor’s degree (some college or associate degree).

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 15,767 people (47.8%)

Includes adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (bachelor’s, master’s, professional, or doctoral degree).

👥 Total Adults (25+): 32,989

ℹ️ Have questions about how these statistics are calculated? See our data methodology & FAQs

Source: ACS 5-Year Estimates (U.S. Census Bureau) — unemployment rate from BLS. Some values are derived metrics.