Real Estate Investing in Chester, Massachusetts (01011)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Hampden County • Population: 1,205 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 01011 (Chester, MA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (60/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 22.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Chester, MA (01011)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $311,978
Avg Monthly Rent $1,359
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $80,640
% Renters 19.3%

Market Analysis: 01011 Chester

Investors eyeing 01011 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $312K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

From an investor standpoint, the numbers look inviting — $312K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 01011 is substantial and deserves full respect.

The gap between 01011 and stronger Chester ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

The demographic picture in 01011 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Chester averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

tilts toward the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Chester:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 67/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,359/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Springfield, MA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
30 days
Average time to sell
Fast
10.5%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Springfield, MA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 01011

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
4.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+8.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$82,367/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $257,816 $1,510 4.2% +8.4% $128,908
3BR $334,204 $1,850 4.0% +7.0% $111,401
4BR $329,468 $1,990 4.3% +8.5% $82,367

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$325K$287K$249K$211K$173K$135KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 01011 Compare?

Metric 01011 Chester Springfield, MA Massachusetts
Home Value $311,978 $311,978 N/A $645,115
5-Year CAGR 5.9% 5.9% N/A 7.0%
Avg Rent $1,359 $1,359 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.4% 3.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 01011? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 01011 (Chester, MA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.9%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Springfield, MA metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
29%
Days Pending
0/2
30 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $311,978
Monthly Rent $1,359
Price-to-Rent 19.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.2%
Cap Rate 3.4%
5-Year IRR 9.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.4%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
22.2%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 01011

Population: 1,205

💰 Median Household Income
$80,640
This area
$80,640
State
$107,356
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
19.3%
This area
19.3%
State
28.1%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.3%
This area
1.3%
State
-8.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
20.4%
This area
20.4%
State
32.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
47.1 years
This area
47.1 years
State
22.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
22.2%
This area
22.2%
State
13.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.0%
Other/Mixed 2.9%
Hispanic/Latino 2.6%
👶 Under 18
22.0%
This area
22.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.0%
This area
19.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.2%
This area
4.2%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 01011

A+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
9.7:1 Avg Class Size
$27,707 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Chester Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
117 Students
👨‍🏫
9.7:1 Class Size
💰
$27,707 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby 200 Off-Campus Students
C+
Westfield State University
4,555 students · 14.5 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average home sale price in Chester, MA?

Homes in Chester, MA typically sell near $312K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which reliable long-term demand.

What is the smart move for investors in Chester, MA?

Chester, MA investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($312K prices, $1,359/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

How qualified is the tenant pool in Chester, MA?

The renter base in Chester, MA is reasonable for the $1,359/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields steady tenants.

How landlord-friendly is Chester, MA?

Chester, MA operates under MA law, which is tenant-protective overall for landlords. Expect even-keeled treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

Are there empty rentals in Chester, MA?

Chester, MA vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

You know 01011 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 01011 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 01011 ranks in Springfield, MA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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