Real Estate Investing in Douglas, Massachusetts (01516)

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

Worcester County • Population: 9,287 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 01516 (Douglas, MA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (71/100)

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

📈 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
1 flag
  • 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 Douglas, MA (01516)?

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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 $562,533
Avg Monthly Rent $1,935
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $138,276
% Renters 15.2%

Market Analysis: 01516 Douglas

This part of Worcester County is not an easy win. The 01516 ZIP reports softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Rent of $1,935/mo on a $563K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 01516 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

ZIP 01516'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.

Demographically, 01516 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. notable returns are possible in 01516, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Douglas:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 69/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,935/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 01516

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
3.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$142,549/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $411,769 $2,150 3.8% +8.5% $205,884
3BR $536,110 $2,660 3.6% +7.9% $178,703
4BR $646,921 $2,950 3.3% +8.0% $161,730
5BR $712,743 +7.7% $142,549

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$590K$515K$441K$367K$293K$219KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 01516 Compare?

Metric 01516 Douglas Worcester, MA-CT Massachusetts
Home Value $562,533 $562,533 N/A $645,115
5-Year CAGR 5.9% 5.9% N/A 7.0%
Avg Rent $1,935 $1,935 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.7% 2.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 01516? 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 01516 (Douglas, 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
2.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.9%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $562,533
Monthly Rent $1,935
Price-to-Rent 24.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.1%
Cap Rate 2.7%
5-Year IRR 8.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲
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: 2.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.7%). 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.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
6.6%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 01516

Population: 9,287

💰 Median Household Income
$138,276
This area
$138,276
State
$107,356
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
15.2%
This area
15.2%
State
28.1%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.0%
This area
4.0%
State
-8.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
40.2%
This area
40.2%
State
32.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.3 years
This area
43.3 years
State
22.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.6%
This area
6.6%
State
13.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.8%
Other/Mixed 3.7%
Hispanic/Latino 3.1%
Asian 0.3%
Black/African American 0.2%
👶 Under 18
23.8%
This area
23.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.8%
This area
16.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
1.7%
This area
1.7%
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 01516

A+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
13.0:1 Avg Class Size
$22,775 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Douglas High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
303 Students
👨‍🏫
8.4:1 Class Size
💰
$22,775 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Douglas Elementary School

📚 02 – 05 Elementary
👥
353 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$22,775 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Douglas Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
289 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$22,775 Per Student
A Very Good

Douglas Primary School

📚 Pre-K – 01 Elementary
👥
215 Students
👨‍🏫
17.3:1 Class Size
💰
$22,775 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

8 Nearby 39 Off-Campus Students
D
Technology Learning Center
24 students · 8.9 mi
C
Nichols College
1,354 students · 9.2 mi
D
Blackstone Valley Vocational Regional School District
40 students · 10.3 mi
D
Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School District
39 students · 12.0 mi
B+
College of the Holy Cross
3,035 students · 13.1 mi
B
Clark University
4,124 students · 14.1 mi
C+
Bryant University
3,592 students · 14.2 mi
C
Rob Roy Academy-Worcester
121 students · 14.9 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Are homes affordable in Douglas, MA?

Typical homes in Douglas, MA go for around $563K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% reliable price movement.

What do rentals go for in Douglas, MA?

Rents in Douglas, MA run near $1,935/mo. Compared with median home prices of $563K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

What type of investing works in Douglas, MA?

Most investors in Douglas, MA run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 3.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

Is Douglas, MA a good market for FHA house hackers?

The house hack math a challenging in Douglas, MA. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $1,935/mo rents and $563K home values.

How strong is tenant demand in Douglas, MA?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Douglas, MA. The rental market absorbs $1,935/mo rents without meaningful friction.

You know 01516 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 01516 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 01516 ranks in Worcester, MA-CT

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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