Real Estate Investing in Middlefield, Massachusetts (01243)

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

Hampshire County • Population: 196 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 01243 (Middlefield, 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: 27.3% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Middlefield, MA (01243)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $350,225
Avg Monthly Rent $1,656
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $79,167
% Renters 0.0%

Market Analysis: 01243 Middlefield

This part of Hampshire County is not an easy win. The 01243 ZIP posts softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

For an experienced owner, 01243 can be a a solid fit for hunting ground — but the discount at $350K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Within MA, ZIP 01243 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Hampshire County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and solid enough to shape underwriting.

The 01243 ZIP's population of 196 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that records the need for careful underwriting.

New investors are better served looking at Middlefield's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 01243. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Middlefield:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 63/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,656/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

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$364K$324K$283K$243K$202K$162KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 01243 Compare?

Metric 01243 Middlefield Springfield, MA Massachusetts
Home Value $350,225 $350,225 N/A $645,115
5-Year CAGR 4.6% 4.6% N/A 7.0%
Avg Rent $1,656 $1,656 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.7% 3.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 01243? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 01243 (Middlefield, MA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.6%
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 $350,225
Monthly Rent $1,656
Price-to-Rent 17.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.7%
Cap Rate 3.7%
5-Year IRR 8.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.7%). 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.

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⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
27.3%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 01243

Population: 196

💰 Median Household Income
$79,167
This area
$79,167
State
$107,356
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
28.1%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.8%
This area
0.8%
State
-8.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
46.0%
This area
46.0%
State
32.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
59.6 years
This area
59.6 years
State
22.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
27.3%
This area
27.3%
State
13.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 90.4%
Other/Mixed 9.6%
👶 Under 18
1.5%
This area
1.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
31.1%
This area
31.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby
D
Mildred Elley-Pittsfield Campus
172 students · 13.3 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What investment strategy works best in Middlefield, MA?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Middlefield, MA. With home values at $350K and rents near $1,656/mo, other strategies can work but produce reliable rather than outsized returns.

What is the tenant pool like in Middlefield, MA?

Middlefield, MA draws a stable base of working renters. Demand at the $1,656/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

How quickly do rentals get leased in Middlefield, MA?

Middlefield, MA sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader MA rental market.

Is Middlefield, MA suited for a house hack?

House hacking works a challenging in Middlefield, MA. Rents of $1,656/mo against $350K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

How landlord-friendly is Middlefield, MA?

MA law tenant-protective for landlords, and Middlefield inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

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How 01243 ranks in Springfield, MA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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