Census tract · Suffolk County
Census Tract 1602, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
Census Tract 1602, GEOID 25025160200, in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, entirely within Chelsea. 4,703 residents in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±838); the 2020 Census counted 4,154.
Residents, 2020-2024
4,703
±838 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 4,154
Median household income
$76,067
±$5,304 (90% margin)
Suffolk County: $95,631
Median home value
$464,200
±$233,836 (90% margin)
Suffolk County: $705,800
Median gross rent
$2,158
±$115 (90% margin)
Suffolk County: $2,129
Where is Census Tract 1602?
Census Tract 1602 is one of 235 census tracts in Suffolk County, Massachusetts. It covers 0.09 square miles of land, 48,302 residents per square mile in 2020. Its GEOID, 25025160200, names it uniquely (how tract numbers and GEOIDs work).
| Place | Share of the tract |
|---|---|
| Chelsea | 100% |
4 census tracts border Census Tract 1602: Tract 1601.02 ($78,664), Tract 1601.03 ($75,169), Tract 1603 ($77,750) and Tract 1604 ($72,711). The figure in brackets is each tract's median household income.
Whether a tract counts as low- or moderate-income for bank lending (the Community Reinvestment Act) is set by the FFIEC against its metro area's family income: look it up in the FFIEC census geocoder.
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 block assignment files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Census Tract 1602?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Census Tract 1602's population at 4,703 (±838) in 1,182 households; the 2020 Census counted 4,154 residents and 1,343 housing units.
| Measure | Tract 1602 | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | 4,703 ±838 | 39,908 |
| Households | 1,182 ±148 | 13,716 |
| Average household size | 3.96 ±0.61 | 2.85 |
| Housing units | 1,287 ±149 | 14,165 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Census Tract 1602?
The median resident of Census Tract 1602 is 35.2 years old; 28.6% are under 18 and 6.6% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 92.3%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 5.7%. 57.6% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Tract 1602 | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35.2 ±4.1 | 34.4 |
| Under 18 years | 28.6% ±5.4 pts | 24.4% |
| 65 years and over | 6.6% ±2.5 pts | 10.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 92.3% ±3.9 pts | 67.3% |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 5.7% ±2.9 pts | 17.7% |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 1.8% ±2.1 pts | 7.1% |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 0.3% ±0.4 pts | 2.1% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.0% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 0.0% |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 4.9% |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.9 pts | 1.0% |
| Born outside the United States | 57.6% ±6.8 pts | 46.1% |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 93.2% ±3.6 pts | 70.6% |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 1.5% ±1.6 pts | 1.6% |
| With a disability | 14.0% ±4.0 pts | 14.4% |
| No health insurance coverage | 7.0% ±3.3 pts | 3.4% |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 47.4% ±7.3 pts | 70.3% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 10.1% ±4.0 pts | 22.2% |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 3.0% ±1.8 pts | 7.9% |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 95.4% ±3.0 pts | 87.1% |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Census Tract 1602 earn?
Half of the 1,182 households in Census Tract 1602 earn less than $76,067 a year (±$5,304), against $95,631 across Suffolk County: 139th highest of the county's 209 tracts with a reliable estimate. 23.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Tract 1602 | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $76,067 ±$5,304 | $72,179 |
| Mean household income | $83,351 ±$12,290 | $92,358 |
| Per capita income | $21,462 ±$2,778 | $32,986 |
| People below the poverty line | 23.7% ±8.3 pts | 20.7% |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 17.5% ±14.2 pts | 25.4% |
| Households receiving SNAP | 28.3% ±10.8 pts | 26.3% |
| Households with a computer | 94.3% ±4.1 pts | 93.3% |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 88.6% ±6.1 pts | 86.6% |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Census Tract 1602?
Owners occupy 12.3% of Census Tract 1602's occupied homes and renters 87.7%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $464,200 by its owner (±$233,836). The median renter pays $2,158 a month including utilities, and 46.2% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Tract 1602 | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $464,200 ±$233,836 | $493,500 |
| Median gross rent | $2,158 ±$115 | $1,956 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 46.2% ±11.3 pts | 49.4% |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $4,000 or more | $2,608 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 12.3% ±6.2 pts | 26.0% |
| Renter-occupied homes | 87.7% ±6.2 pts | 74.0% |
| Housing units | 1,287 ±149 | 14,165 |
| Single-family detached homes | 2.0% ±2.6 pts | 8.4% |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±3.2 pts | 0.1% |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.0% ±3.2 pts | 0.8% |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 3.2% ±3.5 pts | 9.8% |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 84.9% ±7.6 pts | 49.6% |
| Households with no vehicle | 42.0% ±10.5 pts | 28.4% |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How do people in Census Tract 1602 get to work?
30.1% of Census Tract 1602's workers drive alone and 8.3% work from home. The average trip to work takes 37.3 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 17.6%.
| Measure | Tract 1602 | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 70.8% ±5.1 pts | 68.2% |
| Unemployment rate | 17.6% ±7.2 pts | 9.2% |
| Drove alone to work | 30.1% ±9.4 pts | 46.1% |
| Carpooled | 14.0% ±8.1 pts | 13.8% |
| Public transportation | 37.9% ±11.1 pts | 20.9% |
| Walked | 7.0% ±5.1 pts | 5.3% |
| Worked from home | 8.3% ±4.8 pts | 10.4% |
| Mean travel time to work | 37.3 min ±5.9 | 32.9 min |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
How does Census Tract 1602 compare with the other tracts in Suffolk County?
Among Suffolk County's tracts with a reliable estimate, Census Tract 1602 ranks as shown below (1 = highest).
| Measure | In Suffolk County | In Chelsea |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 51st of 224 | 6th of 9 |
| Residents per square mile | 24th of 234 | 1st of 9 |
| Median household income | 139th of 209 | 4th of 9 |
| Per capita income | 210th of 221 | 9th of 9 |
| Median home value | 189th of 198 | 7th of 9 |
| Median gross rent | 110th of 210 | 2nd of 8 |
| Poverty rate | 60th of 181 | 5th of 8 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 217th of 218 | 9th of 9 |
| Median age | 106th of 225 | 3rd of 9 |
| Owner-occupied share | 185th of 200 | 8th of 9 |
The tracts next to it on Suffolk County's income ladder
| Tract | Rank | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 1603 | 136th | $77,750±$30,294 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 4.01 | 137th | $77,716±$14,415 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 1707.02 | 138th | $76,485±$11,169 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 1602 | 139th | $76,067±$5,304 |
| Tract 5.02 | 140th | $75,536±$18,038 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 1601.03 | 141st | $75,169±$26,927 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 1705.02 | 142nd | $74,967±$21,773 · within the margin of this tract |
"Within the margin": the two incomes differ by less than their combined 90% margins, so the survey cannot say which is higher and the ranks between them are not firm.
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Census Tract 1602?
2 of the 18 figures for Census Tract 1602 on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
A census tract's figures rest on a few hundred sampled households over five years, so its margins are wider than a city's. Two tracts differ only when the gap between them is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins). How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · Check it at data.census.gov
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections