Census tract · Suffolk County
Census Tract 1605.02, Suffolk County, Massachusetts
Census Tract 1605.02, GEOID 25025160502, in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, entirely within Chelsea. 5,352 residents in the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates (±695); the 2020 Census counted 5,604.
Residents, 2020-2024
5,352
±695 (90% margin)
2020 Census count: 5,604
Median household income
$64,167
±$12,338 (90% margin)
Suffolk County: $95,631
Median home value
$469,700
±$65,637 (90% margin)
Suffolk County: $705,800
Median gross rent
$1,755
±$388 (90% margin)
Suffolk County: $2,129
Where is Census Tract 1605.02?
Census Tract 1605.02 is one of 235 census tracts in Suffolk County, Massachusetts. It covers 0.45 square miles of land, 12,509 residents per square mile in 2020. Its GEOID, 25025160502, names it uniquely (how tract numbers and GEOIDs work).
| Place | Share of the tract |
|---|---|
| Chelsea | 100% |
6 census tracts border Census Tract 1605.02: Tract 510 ($110,344), Tract 1601.02 ($78,664), Tract 1601.03 ($75,169), Tract 1605.01 ($53,168), Tract 1606.01 ($100,917) and Tract 1706.01 ($97,793). 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 1605.02?
The 2020-2024 American Community Survey puts Census Tract 1605.02's population at 5,352 (±695) in 1,928 households; the 2020 Census counted 5,604 residents and 1,929 housing units.
| Measure | Tract 1605.02 | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|
| Total population | 5,352 ±695 | 39,908 |
| Households | 1,928 ±194 | 13,716 |
| Average household size | 2.73 ±0.33 | 2.85 |
| Housing units | 2,002 ±187 | 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 1605.02?
The median resident of Census Tract 1605.02 is 31.3 years old; 27.9% are under 18 and 9.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is Hispanic or Latino residents (of any race) at 61.1%, then non-Hispanic white residents at 17.4%. 34.8% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Tract 1605.02 | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31.3 ±2.2 | 34.4 |
| Under 18 years | 27.9% ±6.0 pts | 24.4% |
| 65 years and over | 9.4% ±3.4 pts | 10.5% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 61.1% ±9.2 pts | 67.3% |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 17.4% ±6.5 pts | 17.7% |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 7.1% ±4.4 pts | 7.1% |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 1.5% ±1.2 pts | 2.1% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.0% |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0% ±0.8 pts | 0.0% |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 9.2% ±6.8 pts | 4.9% |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 3.7% ±5.8 pts | 1.0% |
| Born outside the United States | 34.8% ±6.7 pts | 46.1% |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 62.1% ±8.9 pts | 70.6% |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 0.6% ±0.7 pts | 1.6% |
| With a disability | 16.7% ±3.2 pts | 14.4% |
| No health insurance coverage | 2.1% ±1.9 pts | 3.4% |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 70.6% ±6.8 pts | 70.3% |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 21.4% ±6.3 pts | 22.2% |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 10.6% ±4.7 pts | 7.9% |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 93.8% ±4.1 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 1605.02 earn?
Half of the 1,928 households in Census Tract 1605.02 earn less than $64,167 a year (±$12,338), against $95,631 across Suffolk County: 172nd highest of the county's 209 tracts with a reliable estimate. 23.2% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Tract 1605.02 | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $64,167 ±$12,338 | $72,179 |
| Mean household income | $91,561 ±$12,102 | $92,358 |
| Per capita income | $33,011 ±$5,789 | $32,986 |
| People below the poverty line | 23.2% ±9.1 pts | 20.7% |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 36.6% ±18.5 pts | 25.4% |
| Households receiving SNAP | 29.6% ±7.8 pts | 26.3% |
| Households with a computer | 97.3% ±2.2 pts | 93.3% |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 87.0% ±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 1605.02?
Owners occupy 29.7% of Census Tract 1605.02's occupied homes and renters 70.3%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $469,700 by its owner (±$65,637). The median renter pays $1,755 a month including utilities, and 47.6% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Tract 1605.02 | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $469,700 ±$65,637 | $493,500 |
| Median gross rent | $1,755 ±$388 | $1,956 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 47.6% ±11.5 pts | 49.4% |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,711 ±$169 | $2,608 |
| Owner-occupied homes | 29.7% ±7.2 pts | 26.0% |
| Renter-occupied homes | 70.3% ±7.2 pts | 74.0% |
| Housing units | 2,002 ±187 | 14,165 |
| Single-family detached homes | 6.9% ±4.2 pts | 8.4% |
| Mobile homes | 0.0% ±2.1 pts | 0.1% |
| Built 2020 or later | 1.1% ±1.0 pts | 0.8% |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 14.4% ±5.2 pts | 9.8% |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 44.7% ±8.4 pts | 49.6% |
| Households with no vehicle | 29.0% ±8.8 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 1605.02 get to work?
56.5% of Census Tract 1605.02's workers drive alone and 7.6% work from home. The average trip to work takes 33.2 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 7.9%.
| Measure | Tract 1605.02 | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 67.7% ±5.4 pts | 68.2% |
| Unemployment rate | 7.9% ±4.7 pts | 9.2% |
| Drove alone to work | 56.5% ±9.1 pts | 46.1% |
| Carpooled | 13.1% ±7.3 pts | 13.8% |
| Public transportation | 16.8% ±6.5 pts | 20.9% |
| Walked | 4.1% ±3.1 pts | 5.3% |
| Worked from home | 7.6% ±4.5 pts | 10.4% |
| Mean travel time to work | 33.2 min ±3.6 | 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 1605.02 compare with the other tracts in Suffolk County?
Among Suffolk County's tracts with a reliable estimate, Census Tract 1605.02 ranks as shown below (1 = highest).
| Measure | In Suffolk County | In Chelsea |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 30th of 224 | 2nd of 9 |
| Residents per square mile | 170th of 234 | 7th of 9 |
| Median household income | 172nd of 209 | 8th of 9 |
| Per capita income | 178th of 221 | 6th of 9 |
| Median home value | 187th of 198 | 6th of 9 |
| Median gross rent | 166th of 210 | 7th of 8 |
| Poverty rate | 63rd of 181 | 6th of 8 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 192nd of 218 | 5th of 9 |
| Median age | 169th of 225 | 9th of 9 |
| Owner-occupied share | 131st of 200 | 4th of 9 |
The tracts next to it on Suffolk County's income ladder
| Tract | Rank | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 921.01 | 169th | $66,210±$13,392 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 914 | 170th | $65,093±$26,010 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 906 | 171st | $64,432±$20,731 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 1605.02 | 172nd | $64,167±$12,338 |
| Tract 1705.03 | 173rd | $62,188±$34,740 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 920 | 174th | $60,090±$15,933 · within the margin of this tract |
| Tract 909.01 | 175th | $58,716±$10,585 · 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 1605.02?
1 of the 18 figures for Census Tract 1605.02 on this page carries a coefficient of variation over 40% and is 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