02128 and 02124 receive effectively the same standardized Area Score. Which fits you better depends on which dimensions you weight — the differences below are where they actually diverge.
Signals
02128
02124
Opportunity
62 · Top 35%
vs59 · Top 41%
Growth
52 · Top 48%
vs52 · Top 48%
Climate
65 · Bottom 37%
vs62 · Bottom 25%
Physical resilience
97 · Top 2%
vs97 · Top 2%
Housing affordability
42 · Bottom 7%
vs46 · Bottom 9%
Schools
32 · Bottom 26%
vs43 · Bottom 39%
Access
99 · Top 15%
vs99 · Top 15%
Economic stability
61 · Top 47%
vs61 · Top 48%
Measured values
| Metric | 02128 | 02124 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 43,345 | 56,216 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $90,106 | $81,923 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $49,626 | $41,235 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 8,626/sq mi | 18,941/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $668,000 | $650,700 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,064 | $1,684 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 29.0% | 41.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 4.2% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.5% | -1.5% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.0% | 31.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 15.7% | 17.0% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 2,086 | 2,086 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 3.1 | 3.1 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 21.2% | 21.2% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 23°F | 19°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.6" | 53.3" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 0 mi | 6 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 34.9 min | 38.5 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 34.5 | 36.9 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 12 | 10 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 10.57 | 10.66 | 2024-25 school year |
| Math proficiency | 13.7% | 20.4% | 2019-20 school year |
| Reading proficiency | 28.5% | 29.7% | 2019-20 school year |
A bolded value is the more favorable of the two where the metric has a clear direction. Metrics like population and density have no inherent better or worse and are shown unweighted.
Physical risk tradeoff
02128
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
02124
Elevated or high exposure: hurricane.
Full profiles: 02128 — Boston, MA · 02124 — Boston, MA · How this is calculated: methodology