Real Estate Investing in Sturbridge, Massachusetts (01566)

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

Worcester County • Population: 7,054 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 01566 (Sturbridge, 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: 13.3% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • 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 Sturbridge, MA (01566)?

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

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $521,387
Avg Monthly Rent $2,070
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $122,844
% Renters 9.8%

Market Analysis: 01566 Sturbridge

ZIP 01566 inside Worcester County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $521K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Stepping back, the numbers look inviting — $521K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 01566 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Put differently, 01566 offers a low basis, the region around Sturbridge has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Demographically, 01566 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.

The 01566 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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: 69/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,070/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 01566

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+7.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$132,484/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $390,645 $2,300 4.2% +7.5% $195,323
3BR $477,651 $2,850 4.3% +7.7% $159,217
4BR $594,620 $3,160 3.8% +7.8% $148,655
5BR $662,418 +7.6% $132,484

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$545K$477K$410K$342K$275K$208KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 01566 Compare?

Metric 01566 Sturbridge Worcester, MA-CT Massachusetts
Home Value $521,387 $530,324 N/A $645,115
5-Year CAGR 6.2% 6.1% N/A 7.0%
Avg Rent $2,070 $1,926 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.1% 2.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 01566? 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 01566 (Sturbridge, MA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 01566 (Sturbridge, MA)?

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

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

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free
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
3.1%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.2%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $521,387
Monthly Rent $2,070
Price-to-Rent 21.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.8%
Cap Rate 3.1%
5-Year IRR 9.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.1%). 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
13.3%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.2%
Growing
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 01566

Population: 7,054

💰 Median Household Income
$122,844
This area
$122,844
State
$107,356
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
9.8%
This area
9.8%
State
28.1%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.6%
This area
1.6%
State
-8.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
43.4%
This area
43.4%
State
32.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
49.0 years
This area
49.0 years
State
22.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
13.3%
This area
13.3%
State
13.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 89.7%
Other/Mixed 5.3%
Asian 3.7%
Hispanic/Latino 3.5%
Black/African American 1.4%
👶 Under 18
22.6%
This area
22.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.0%
This area
22.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.7%
This area
0.7%
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 01566

A Avg School Grade
2 Schools
12.9:1 Avg Class Size
$21,261 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Burgess Elementary

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

Old Sturbridge Academy Charter Public School

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
348 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$19,178 Per Student

Nearby Schools (3 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Tantasqua Regional Jr High

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

Tantasqua Regional Sr High

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

Tantasqua Regional Vocational

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 319 Brookfield Rd, Fiskdale
👥
536 Students
👨‍🏫
32.8:1 Class Size
💰
$18,214 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 · 6.5 mi
C
Nichols College
1,354 students · 8.6 mi
D
Technology Learning Center
24 students · 9.1 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the rental occupancy rate in Sturbridge, MA?

Rental vacancy in Sturbridge, MA is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

Is house hacking profitable in Sturbridge, MA?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Sturbridge, MA reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

What kind of market is Sturbridge, MA for investors?

Sturbridge, MA scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $521K and rents near $2,070/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

How expensive is real estate in Sturbridge, MA?

In Sturbridge, MA the median home value sits at $521K. Against the broader MA market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

How much rent can I charge in Sturbridge, MA?

Average rent in Sturbridge, MA is approximately $2,070/mo per month. Against $521K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

You know 01566 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 01566 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 01566 ranks in Worcester, MA-CT

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 01566 (Sturbridge)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 01566 (Sturbridge, MA).

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