Real Estate Investing in Sturbridge, Massachusetts (01518)

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

Worcester County • Population: 2,835 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 01518 (Sturbridge, MA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (64/100)

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
3 flags
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • Higher unemployment: 7.1% unemployment — tenant risk signal.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 25.2 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

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

What’s happening in Sturbridge, MA (01518)?

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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 $539,260
Avg Monthly Rent $1,782
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $102,500
% Renters 30.5%

Market Analysis: 01518 Sturbridge

The 01518 ZIP in Sturbridge, MA is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $539K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

For an experienced owner, 01518 can be a worth a close look for hunting ground — but the discount at $539K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Regionally, 01518 sits on the difficult end of the MA spectrum. The a viable market for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

The demographic picture in 01518 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Sturbridge averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. notable returns are possible in 01518, 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 Sturbridge:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,782/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 01518

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
3.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+8.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$159,362/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $369,674 $1,980 3.9% +6.5% $184,837
3BR $491,917 $2,450 3.6% +7.4% $163,972
4BR $637,450 $2,720 3.1% +8.0% $159,362

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$563K$495K$427K$358K$290K$222KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 01518 Compare?

Metric 01518 Sturbridge Worcester, MA-CT Massachusetts
Home Value $539,260 $530,324 N/A $645,115
5-Year CAGR 6.0% 6.1% N/A 7.0%
Avg Rent $1,782 $1,926 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.6% 2.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 01518? 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 01518 (Sturbridge, 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
2.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.0%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $539,260
Monthly Rent $1,782
Price-to-Rent 25.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.0%
Cap Rate 2.6%
5-Year IRR 8.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.6%). 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
3.4%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 01518

Population: 2,835

💰 Median Household Income
$102,500
This area
$102,500
State
$107,356
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
30.5%
This area
30.5%
State
28.1%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
7.1%
This area
7.1%
State
-8.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
44.5%
This area
44.5%
State
32.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
35.3 years
This area
35.3 years
State
22.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.4%
This area
3.4%
State
13.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.2%
Asian 2.9%
Hispanic/Latino 2.8%
Other/Mixed 2.8%
Black/African American 1.1%
👶 Under 18
24.7%
This area
24.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
12.3%
This area
12.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
12.9%
This area
12.9%
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 01518

A Avg School Grade
3 Schools
17.4:1 Avg Class Size
$18,214 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Tantasqua Regional Jr High

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
560 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$18,214 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Tantasqua Regional Sr High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
663 Students
👨‍🏫
7.9:1 Class Size
💰
$18,214 Per Student
C+ Average

Tantasqua Regional Vocational

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
536 Students
👨‍🏫
32.8:1 Class Size
💰
$18,214 Per Student

Nearby Schools (2 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Burgess Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 45 Burgess School Rd, Sturbridge
👥
902 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$23,343 Per Student
A Very Good

Old Sturbridge Academy Charter Public School

📚 K – 08 School Charter
📍 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge
👥
348 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$19,178 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

3 Nearby 39 Off-Campus Students
D
Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School District
39 students · 8.3 mi
C
Nichols College
1,354 students · 10.7 mi
D
Technology Learning Center
24 students · 11.0 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What are home prices like in Sturbridge, MA?

Sturbridge, MA median home values land near $539K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,782/mo-per-month rentals.

What is the renter demographic in Sturbridge, MA?

Sturbridge, MA draws a even-keeled base of working renters. Demand at the $1,782/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

Is Sturbridge, MA a good place for real estate investing?

Investors tracking Sturbridge, MA will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $539K median home values and $1,782/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting steady returns.

Is Sturbridge, MA suited for a house hack?

The house hack math a challenging in Sturbridge, MA. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $1,782/mo rents and $539K home values.

What investment strategy works best in Sturbridge, MA?

For Sturbridge, MA, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

You know 01518 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 01518 ranks in Worcester, MA-CT

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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