Real Estate Investing in Townsend, Massachusetts (01474)

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

Middlesex County • Population: 2,249 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 01474 (Townsend, MA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (80/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

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

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • Higher unemployment: 7.1% unemployment — tenant risk signal.

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

What’s happening in Townsend, MA (01474)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $522,869
Avg Monthly Rent $2,943
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $117,109
% Renters 10.9%

Market Analysis: 01474 Townsend

From a cash-flow lens, ZIP 01474 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $523K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $523K asset, 01474 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Regionally, 01474 sits on the difficult end of the MA spectrum. The a credible choice for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

The demographic picture in 01474 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Townsend averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

The right play in 01474 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Townsend:

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 4.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,943/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.
🏠

Property Strategy for 01474

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
6.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+8.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$143,096/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $365,610 $3,270 6.4% +6.8% $182,805
3BR $517,022 $3,920 5.5% +7.9% $172,341
4BR $572,384 $4,330 5.4% +8.3% $143,096

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$549K$477K$405K$333K$261K$189KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 01474 Compare?

Metric 01474 Townsend Massachusetts
Home Value $522,869 $518,269 $645,115
5-Year CAGR 6.1% 5.9% 7.0%
Avg Rent $2,943 $2,624 -
Cap Rate 4.4% 3.9% -
💡 Why Invest in 01474? 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.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 01474 (Townsend, MA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 01474 (Townsend, MA)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Property managers serving Middlesex County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Green Ocean Property Management offers investment property management and condo association management services in Boston and surrounding areas like Allston, Brighton, Cambridge, and Quincy. summary from their website

HOA
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

McDonough Property Management offers full-service property management and HOA management in the Greater Boston Area, covering maintenance, inspections, legal compliance, and communication. summary from their website

HOA
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

New England Property Management & Maintenance offers property management for multi/single-family homes, apartments, rental properties, and condo associations in Brookline, MA and Cambridge, MA. summary from their website

Single-familySmall multifamilyHOA
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

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
4.4%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.1%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $522,869
Monthly Rent $2,943
Price-to-Rent 14.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.8%
Cap Rate 4.4%
5-Year IRR 10.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.4%). 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
0.0%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.1%
Growing
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 01474

Population: 2,249

💰 Median Household Income
$117,109
This area
$117,109
State
$107,356
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
10.9%
This area
10.9%
State
28.1%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
7.1%
This area
7.1%
State
-8.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
31.6%
This area
31.6%
State
32.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
51.8 years
This area
51.8 years
State
22.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
13.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 90.5%
Other/Mixed 9.5%
Hispanic/Latino 5.4%
👶 Under 18
12.0%
This area
12.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
14.7%
This area
14.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.3%
This area
5.3%
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

6 Nearby 2,900 Off-Campus Students
C+
Alexander Academy
30 students · 5.8 mi
C+
Fitchburg State University
6,296 students · 6.0 mi
C
Monty Tech
33 students · 9.5 mi
C
Mount Wachusett Community College
3,204 students · 13.0 mi
C
Nashua Community College
1,262 students · 14.4 mi
D
St Joseph School of Nursing
96 students · 14.9 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,900 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do home prices stand in Townsend, MA?

The median home value in Townsend, MA is roughly $523K. That puts it reasonable relative to the MA statewide average.

Can I live-in-and-rent in Townsend, MA?

For house hackers, Townsend, MA is a challenging. The $2,943/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $523K property.

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in Townsend, MA?

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

Is Townsend, MA good for landlords?

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

What is the tenant pool like in Townsend, MA?

Tenant demand in Townsend, MA is solid. The local workforce $2,943/mo rents across most rental classes.

You know 01474 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 01474 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.

Compare Plans

How 01474 ranks in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 01474 (Townsend)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 01474 (Townsend, MA).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.