ZIP Code 02740: Population, Income, Housing

State: MA

Total population: 46,281 Household income: $55,237 Rent: $1,086

Overview

Total population

46,281

Rent

$1,086

Year built

1938

Household income

$55,237

Per capita income

$30,549

Poverty rate

19.8%

Unemployment rate

N/A

Household size

2.3 persons

Rent over 30% of income

48.9%

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

Bristol County

City

New Bedford

Total population

46,281

Adults over 25

31,411

Total households

19,696

Household size

2.3 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

$55,237

Per capita income

$30,549

Poverty rate

19.8%

Unemployment rate

N/A

Rent over 30% of income

48.9%

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

$1,086

Year built

1938

Households that rent

60.4%

Households that own

39.6%

Rooms per home (all homes)

5.2

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).

Race

White

53.4%

Black

Asian

1.8%

Two or more races

19.5%

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

23.8%

Not Hispanic or Latino

76.2%

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

18,452 (93.2%)

Commute time to work

23 mins

Work from home

1,354 (6.8%)

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).

Education

Less than high school

34.9%

High school graduate or GED

34.2%

Some college or associate degree

13.7%

Bachelor’s degree or higher

17.3%

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 02740 with: Bristol County, MA New Bedford, MA Providence metro area, RI-MA Massachusetts United States

ZIP 02740

Total population46,281

Rent$1,086

Year built1938

Household income$55,237

Per capita income$30,549

Poverty rate19.8%

Unemployment rateN/A

Bristol County, MA

Total population582,270

Rent$1,245

Year built1964

Household income$85,625

Per capita income$44,757

Poverty rate11.3%

Unemployment rate4.7%

New Bedford, MA

Total population100,998

Rent$1,137

Year built1938

Household income$56,981

Per capita income$30,556

Poverty rate20.6%

Unemployment rate6%

Providence Metro Area, RI-MA

Total population1,684,071

Rent$1,307

Year built1962

Household income$87,040

Per capita income$46,322

Poverty rate11.2%

Unemployment rate4.5%

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	ZIP02740	CountyBristol, MA	CityNew Bedford, MA	Metro AreaProvidence metro area, RI-MA	StateMassachusetts	CountryUnited States
Total population	46,281	582,270	100,998	1,684,071	7,044,056	334,922,499
Rent	$1,086	$1,245	$1,137	$1,307	$1,762	$1,413
Year built	1938	1964	1938	1962	1964	1980
Household income	$55,237	$85,625	$56,981	$87,040	$103,960	$80,734
Per capita income	$30,549	$44,757	$30,556	$46,322	$57,897	$44,673
Poverty rate	19.8%	11.3%	20.6%	11.2%	10%	12.5%
Unemployment rate	N/A	4.7%	6%	4.5%	4%	4%

View the full multi-level comparison →

Summary for 02740

Rent & Income

In 02740, the typical monthly rent is $1,086 and the typical household income is $55,237. Rent here is similar to New Bedford and lower than Massachusetts, and household income is similar to New Bedford and lower than Massachusetts. The estimated poverty rate is 19.8%, which is similar to the New Bedford rate and higher than the Massachusetts rate.

Housing & Affordability

Renters make up about 60.4% of households, making this a predominantly renter area. About 48.9% of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, indicating high cost burden.

Education & Employment

Only about 17.3% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher, indicating lower levels of formal education.

ZIP 02740 — Rent vs Household Income

ZIP 02740 — Poverty

How ZIP 02740 compares in Massachusetts (62 ZIP Codes)

Metric	This ZIP	Rank	Starts from	State range
Rent	$1,086	2 / 62	from lower rent	$1,021 – $2,873
Household income	$55,237	58 / 62	from higher income	$48,415 – $172,606
Poverty rate	19.8%	56 / 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 02740

Rent

When it comes to rent, ZIP Code 02740 ranks 2nd 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 58th 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 02740 places 56th 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 02740 (with Utilities)

Estimated Monthly Rent: $1,086 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 02740

Annual Household Income: $55,237

💡 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 02740

Estimated Rate: 19.8%

💡 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 02740

In ZIP Code 02740, households that rent: 11,899 (60.4%)

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

Household Type	Count	Share
Renter-Occupied	11,899	60.4%
Owner-Occupied	7,797	39.6%

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 02740

In ZIP Code 02740, cost-burdened renters (households spending over 30% of income on housing): 5,820 (48.9%)

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

Household Group	Households	Share
Cost-burdened renters (over 30%)	5,820	48.9%
Other renter households	6,079	51.1%
Total renter households	11,899	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 02740

Less than High School: 10,965 people (34.9%)

Includes adults who did not complete high school.

High School Graduate or GED: 10,737 people (34.2%)

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

Some College or Associate Degree: 4,288 people (13.7%)

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

Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 5,421 people (17.3%)

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

👥 Total Adults (25+): 31,411

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.