02143 receives the higher standardized Area Score. That reflects AreaProfile's weighting, not a judgment about which place is better to live in.
Signals
02143
02145
Opportunity
73 · Top 16%
vs71 · Top 18%
Growth
45 · Bottom 41%
vs45 · Bottom 41%
Climate
65 · Bottom 37%
vs65 · Bottom 37%
Physical resilience
88 · Top 13%
vs88 · Top 13%
Housing affordability
55 · Bottom 17%
vs56 · Bottom 18%
Access
99 · Top 15%
vs99 · Top 15%
Economic stability
76 · Top 19%
vs74 · Top 22%
Measured values
| Metric | 02143 | 02145 | Source period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 25,513 | 27,495 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median household income | $130,753 | $123,755 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Per capita income | $80,068 | $65,296 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Population density | 16,524/sq mi | 19,766/sq mi | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median home value | $926,800 | $828,600 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median gross rent | $2,475 | $2,398 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Homeownership rate | 31.0% | 35.6% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Unemployment rate | 3.4% | 3.4% | June 2026 |
| Employment change (year over year) | -1.7% | -1.7% | June 2026 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 75.9% | 57.4% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Poverty rate | 8.9% | 9.9% | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Housing units permitted (12 months) | 97 | 97 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permits per 1,000 residents | 1.2 | 1.2 | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Permit change (year over year) | 11.5% | 11.5% | 12 months ending July 2026 |
| Average July high | 82°F | 82°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Average January low | 23°F | 23°F | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Annual precipitation | 43.6" | 43.6" | 1991-2020 Normals |
| Distance to major airport | 5 mi | 5 mi | NASR current cycle |
| Average commute | 32.1 min | 34.7 min | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Median age | 32.1 | 33.3 | 2024 ACS 5-Year |
| Public schools | 4 | 4 | 2024-25 school year |
| Students per teacher | 11.22 | 11.45 | 2024-25 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
02143
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
02145
Elevated or high exposure: earthquake.
Full profiles: 02143 — Somerville, MA · 02145 — Somerville, MA · How this is calculated: methodology