02538 ZIP Code — East Wareham, MA

Plymouth County, Massachusetts

ZIP code 02538 is located in East Wareham, Massachusetts, within Plymouth County. It covers approximately 6.26 square miles and serves a population of 4,494 residents. This is a standard ZIP code in the Eastern (ET) timezone, served by area code 774.

About ZIP code 02538

The housing stock consists of predominantly single-family detached homes. Most homes were built in the 1970s, giving the area an established character. Median home value is $327,700. Owner-occupancy sits near the national average at 69%.

Median household income is $103,198. The poverty rate of 5% is below the national average. 43% of households receive Social Security income, suggesting a notable retiree or disability population.

The dominant occupation class is management, business, and professional, with education and healthcare as the leading industry. The average commute of 30 minutes is near the national average.

College attainment at 18% is below the national average, consistent with a trades and production-oriented local economy.

Notable community characteristics include disability rates above the national average at 24%.

Overall, ZIP code 02538 reflects a community defined by a trades-oriented workforce and a significant Social Security-dependent population.

4,494

population

6.26

sq mi land

Standard

ZIP type

Eastern (ET)

timezone

02538 ZIP code map

Cities in ZIP code 02538

Below are the cities the US Postal Service accepts for ZIP code 02538. Using any city not on this list may result in mail delivery delays.

City	Status
East Wareham	Acceptable
East Wareham	Preferred

Nearby ZIP codes

02571 Wareham (2.7 mi) 02532 Buzzards Bay (4.4 mi) 02559 Pocasset (5.9 mi) 02576 West Wareham (6.2 mi) 02562 Sagamore Beach (6.8 mi) 02738 Marion (6.9 mi) 02360 Plymouth (7 mi) 02644 Forestdale (8.6 mi) 02542 Buzzards Bay (9.2 mi) 02330 Carver (9.3 mi) 02556 North Falmouth (9.3 mi) 02563 Sandwich (9.5 mi)

Demographics updated 06/2026

Population
Total population	4,494
Population density	718 / sq mi
State FIPS	25
County FIPS	023

Geography
Land area	6.26 sq mi
Water area	0.75 sq mi
Latitude	41.7719
Longitude	-70.6481
Timezone	Eastern (ET)
Area code	774

Total population by age

Gender

Race & ethnicity

Economics updated 06/2026

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	36.3%	26.9%	31.3%
$50k – $100k	31.0%	26.4%	25.9%
$100k – $200k	28.7%	32.1%	28.5%
Over $200k	4.0%	14.6%	14.3%

Demographics & statistics

4,494

Population

718

People per sq mi

39.3

Median age

$103,198

Median household income

$38,841

Per capita income

$327,700

Median home value

$1,568

Median monthly rent

69.1%

Home ownership

5.0%

Poverty rate

2.9%

Unemployment

1,318

Housing units

18.3%

Bachelor's or higher

Age distribution

Male Female

121

Under 5

129

5–9

137

10–14

137

15–19

146

135

20–24

143

316

25–34

334

217

35–44

229

305

45–54

322

130

55–59

138

245

60–64

260

187

65–74

198

160

75–84

169

85+

← Male

Female →

Age summary

Group	Count	%
Under 18	845	18.8%
18 and over	3,649	81.2%
65 and over	758	16.9%
Median age	39.3 years

Race & ethnicity

White 77.6%

Two or more races 8.2%

Hispanic or Latino 8.2%

American Indian / Alaska Native 3.5%

Other race 1.6%

Asian 1%

Group	Count	%
White	3,795	77.6%
Two or more races	402	8.2%
Hispanic or Latino	399	8.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native	173	3.5%
Other race	77	1.6%
Asian	47	1%

Household income

Income range	This ZIP	County avg	State avg
Under $50k	36.3%	26.9%	31.3%
$50k – $100k	31.0%	26.4%	25.9%
$100k – $200k	28.7%	32.1%	28.5%
Over $200k	4.0%	14.6%	14.3%

Under $10k 4.5%

$10k–$15k 2.1%

$15k–$25k 4.0%

$25k–$35k 3.1%

$35k–$50k 10.1%

$50k–$75k 14.0%

$75k–$100k 11.4%

$100k–$150k 31.7%

$150k–$200k 12.3%

$200k+ 6.7%

Range	% of households
Under $10k	4.5%
$10k–$15k	2.1%
$15k–$25k	4.0%
$25k–$35k	3.1%
$35k–$50k	10.1%
$50k–$75k	14.0%
$75k–$100k	11.4%
$100k–$150k	31.7%
$150k–$200k	12.3%
$200k+	6.7%
Median income	$103,198

Housing

Home values

Under $50k 2.0%

$50k–$100k 2.0%

$100k–$150k 5.5%

$150k–$200k 2.1%

$200k–$300k 25.0%

$300k–$500k 54.3%

$500k–$1M 9.0%

Housing overview

Metric	Value
Median home value	$327,700
Median rent / month	$1,568
Owner occupied	69.1%
Renter occupied	30.9%
Vacant	10.2%
Single-family detached	81.4%
Large apartment buildings	0.0%
Mobile homes	11.0%
Median rooms	4.7
Avg household size (owned)	2.68

Year built

Era	%
2020 or later	0.0%
2010–2019	5.2%
2000–2009	10.8%
1990–1999	4.8%
1980–1989	5.5%
1970–1979	21.1%
1960–1969	13.8%
1950–1959	16.2%
1940–1949	11.6%
1939 or earlier	11.1%

Bedrooms

Size	% of units
No bedroom (studio)	0.9%
1 bedroom	10.3%
2 bedrooms	45.5%
3 bedrooms	25.3%
4 bedrooms	15.2%
5+ bedrooms	2.9%

Vehicles per household

Vehicles	% of households
No vehicle	4.0%
1 vehicle	38.5%
2 vehicles	40.2%
3 or more	17.3%

Heating fuel

Fuel type	%
Utility gas	67.0%
Electricity	7.9%
Propane / LP gas	5.6%
Fuel oil	16.8%
Wood	0.9%

Households & families

Household type	Count	%
Married-couple family	827	50.5%
Cohabiting couple	258	15.8%
Male householder, no spouse	154	9.4%
Female householder, no spouse	399	24.4%
Households with children under 18	519	31.7%
Households with seniors (65+)	507	31.0%
Average household size	2.73

Marital status

Status	Male	Female
Never married	39.8%	39.1%
Married	49.0%	44.5%
Separated	0.0%	0.6%
Widowed	3.8%	6.7%
Divorced	7.3%	9.0%

Education

Less than 9th grade 2.7%

Some HS, no diploma 1.3%

HS graduate 32.3%

Some college, no degree 35.4%

Associate's degree 10.0%

Bachelor's degree 13.3%

Graduate / professional 5.0%

Metric	%
HS diploma or higher	96.0%
Bachelor's or higher	18.3%

School enrollment (ages 3–17)

Type	Count	%
Nursery / preschool	166	16.3%
Kindergarten	31	3.0%
Elementary school	398	39.0%
High school	166	16.3%
College / grad school	260	25.5%

Employment

Industry of employment

Education & healthcare 28.6%

Retail trade 19.8%

Construction 10.4%

Manufacturing 8.3%

Professional & management 7.7%

Transportation & utilities 5.5%

Other services 4.3%

Agriculture & mining 3.4%

Finance & real estate 3.4%

Arts, food & hospitality 3.4%

Information 3.2%

Wholesale trade 1.0%

Public administration 0.8%

Occupation

Category	%
Management, business & arts	31.1%
Service	16.4%
Sales & office	20.2%
Natural resources & construction	14.5%
Production & transportation	17.9%

Employment type

Type	%
Private sector	77.4%
Government	18.6%
Self-employed	4.1%
Unpaid family workers	0.0%

Commute

Method	%
Drive alone	80.1%
Carpool	10.5%
Public transit	0.0%
Walk	1.4%
Work from home	7.1%
Other means	0.9%
Avg commute (minutes)	29.6

Poverty

All people 5.0%

Under 18 years 8.4%

18 and over 4.2%

Married-couple families 0.0%

Female-led households 22.3%

Income support

Source	% of households
Social Security	42.7%
Retirement income	35.9%
Supplemental Security	8.7%
Cash public assistance	7.6%
Food stamps / SNAP	10.3%

Health indicators

Condition	%
Obesity	26.9%
High blood pressure	31.3%
High cholesterol	30.8%
Diabetes	8.4%
Heart disease	5.9%
Stroke	2.9%
Asthma	11.3%
Arthritis	25.6%
Kidney disease	2.6%
Pulmonary disease	6.7%
Cancer	6.4%

Behavior / access	%
Smoking	18.9%
Binge drinking	18.8%
No physical activity	24.3%
Less than 7 hrs sleep	35.5%
Depression	20.5%
Fair or poor health	13.3%
Poor mental health	16.2%
Poor physical health	10.5%
No health insurance	7.5%
Visited doctor (checkup)	77.0%
Visited dentist	67.2%
Cholesterol screening	89.0%
Teeth loss	13.7%

Veterans & disability

Veterans	Count	%
Civilian veterans	261	7.2%

Disability	%
Any disability	24.1%
Under 18	18.7%
18–64 years	22.0%
65 and over	38.0%

Health insurance coverage

Type	%
Private insurance	65.9%
Public insurance	50.3%
No insurance	0.0%
Uninsured under 19	0.0%

Language & origin

Language spoken at home (age 5+)

Language	Count	%
English only	4,244	94.4%
Spanish	50	1.2%
Other Indo-European	17	0.4%
Asian & Pacific Islander	0	0.0%
Other languages	33	0.8%

Place of birth & citizenship

Origin	Count	%
Native born (US)	4,418	98.3%
Born in same state	4,342	96.6%
Born in different state	3,853	85.7%
Foreign born	76	1.7%
Naturalized citizen	76	1.7%
Not a US citizen	76	100.0%

Ancestry

Ancestry	Count	%
Italian	1,291	28.7%
French	924	20.6%
Arab	419	9.3%

Ancestry	Count	%
German	76	1.7%
Norwegian	72	1.6%

Technology access

Metric	% of households
Computer access	36.4%
Internet access	97.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 estimates.

Frequently asked questions about ZIP code 02538

What city is ZIP code 02538 in?

ZIP code 02538 is primarily assigned to East Wareham, Massachusetts.

What county is ZIP code 02538 in?

ZIP code 02538 falls within Plymouth County, Massachusetts.

Does ZIP code 02538 have a large retiree population?

43% of households in ZIP code 02538 receive Social Security income, suggesting a significant retiree or disability population.

What is the typical home value in ZIP code 02538?

The median home value in ZIP code 02538 is $327,700.

What is the median household income in ZIP code 02538?

The median household income in ZIP code 02538 is $103,198, above the national median of ~$75,000.

What is the population of ZIP code 02538?

ZIP code 02538 has an estimated population of 4,494 residents, with a density of 717 people per square mile.

What timezone is ZIP code 02538 in?

ZIP code 02538 observes the EST timezone.