Real Estate Investing in Athol, Massachusetts (01331)

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

Worcester County • Population: 13,865 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 01331 (Athol, MA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (58/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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
  • Elevated vacancy: 10.4% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

What’s happening in Athol, MA (01331)?

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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 $354,442
Avg Monthly Rent $1,325
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $66,985
% Renters 25.6%

Market Analysis: 01331 Athol

The 01331 ZIP in Athol, MA is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $354K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 01331 records the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

ZIP 01331's metrics run below Worcester County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Who lives in 01331 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 01331 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Athol:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,325/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
Worcester, MA-CT Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
34 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.3%
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 Worcester, MA-CT metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 01331

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
4.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+10.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$76,709/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $261,310 $1,200 3.3% +10.7% $261,310
2BR $301,288 $1,500 3.6% +10.5% $150,644
3BR $352,179 $2,090 4.3% +9.5% $117,393
4BR $368,566 $2,520 4.9% +9.6% $92,142
5BR $383,543 +9.4% $76,709

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$375K$319K$263K$207K$152K$96KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,568$1,515$1,463$1,411$1,359$1,307Feb 2026Mar 2026Apr 2026

📊 How Does 01331 Compare?

Metric 01331 Athol Worcester, MA-CT Massachusetts
Home Value $354,442 $354,442 N/A $645,115
5-Year CAGR 6.7% 6.7% N/A 7.0%
Avg Rent $1,325 $1,325 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.9% 2.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 01331? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 01331 (Athol, MA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Worcester County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Ruane Property Management LLC offers commercial and residential property management services. summary from their website

Commercial
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

AP Services MA offers services to build, manage, and maintain properties. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.7%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $354,442
Monthly Rent $1,325
Price-to-Rent 22.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.5%
Cap Rate 2.9%
5-Year IRR 9.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +9.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.9%). 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
10.4%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.7%
Growing
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 01331

Population: 13,865

💰 Median Household Income
$66,985
This area
$66,985
State
$107,356
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
25.6%
This area
25.6%
State
28.1%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.9%
This area
4.9%
State
-8.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
20.3%
This area
20.3%
State
32.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
44.0 years
This area
44.0 years
State
22.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.4%
This area
10.4%
State
13.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.3%
Other/Mixed 5.7%
Hispanic/Latino 3.0%
Asian 0.6%
Black/African American 0.5%
👶 Under 18
19.8%
This area
19.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.1%
This area
18.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.5%
This area
8.5%
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 01331

A+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
12.9:1 Avg Class Size
$21,745 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Athol Community Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
571 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$21,745 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Athol High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
414 Students
👨‍🏫
12.9:1 Class Size
💰
$21,745 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Athol-Royalston Middle School

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
463 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$21,745 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 1,076 Off-Campus Students
C
Mount Wachusett Community College
3,204 students · 10.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,076 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is rental property easy to operate in Athol, MA?

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

How deep is the rental pool in Athol, MA?

Athol, MA draws a measured base of working renters. Demand at the $1,325/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

What is the best play in Athol, MA?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Athol, MA. The numbers - $354K homes against $1,325/mo rents - support that play.

Is Athol, MA suited for a house hack?

House hacking in Athol, MA is reasonable to execute. Prices around $354K and rents of $1,325/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

What is the investability score for Athol, MA?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Athol, MA ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $354K and rents of $1,325/mo drive the underlying numbers.

You know 01331 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 01331 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 01331 ranks in Worcester, MA-CT

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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