Real Estate Investing in Worcester, Massachusetts (01602)

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

Worcester County • Population: 25,791 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 01602 (Worcester, MA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (72/100)

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.

What’s happening in Worcester, MA (01602)?

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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 $461,509
Avg Monthly Rent $2,334
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $86,128
% Renters 39.0%

Market Analysis: 01602 Worcester

ZIP 01602 in Worcester, MA carries a impressive set of headwinds. Home values near $462K and rents of $2,334/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 01602 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

ZIP 01602'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.

A solid renter share of 39% in 01602 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

New investors are better served looking at Worcester's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 01602. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Worcester:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,334/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 01602

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$123,061/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $362,751 $2,240 4.4% +8.8% $181,376
3BR $443,510 $2,780 4.5% +8.4% $147,837
4BR $510,440 $3,080 4.3% +8.1% $127,610
5BR $615,307 +8.5% $123,061

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$486K$420K$354K$288K$222K$156KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,523$2,385$2,247$2,109$1,971$1,833May 2023Dec 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 01602 Compare?

Metric 01602 Worcester Worcester, MA-CT Massachusetts
Home Value $461,509 $196,107 N/A $645,115
5-Year CAGR 5.9% 6.4% N/A 7.0%
Avg Rent $2,334 $2,161 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.9% 4.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 01602? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 39% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 01602 (Worcester, 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
3.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.9%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $461,509
Monthly Rent $2,334
Price-to-Rent 16.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.1%
Cap Rate 3.9%
5-Year IRR 9.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +0.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.9%). 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
3.6%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 01602

Population: 25,791

💰 Median Household Income
$86,128
This area
$86,128
State
$107,356
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
39.0%
This area
39.0%
State
28.1%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.9%
This area
3.9%
State
-8.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
45.6%
This area
45.6%
State
32.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.9 years
This area
39.9 years
State
22.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.6%
This area
3.6%
State
13.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 70.5%
Other/Mixed 12.8%
Black/African American 11.4%
Hispanic/Latino 10.1%
Asian 5.4%
👶 Under 18
17.5%
This area
17.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.9%
This area
17.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.0%
This area
9.0%
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 01602

A+ Avg School Grade
7 Schools
13.0:1 Avg Class Size
$28,304 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Chandler Magnet

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
548 Students
👨‍🏫
10.1:1 Class Size
💰
$28,304 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Tatnuck

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
380 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$28,304 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Midland Street

📚 K – 06 School
👥
238 Students
👨‍🏫
11.2:1 Class Size
💰
$28,304 Per Student
A+ Excellent

West Tatnuck

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
366 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$28,304 Per Student
A+ Excellent

May Street

📚 K – 06 School
👥
294 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$28,304 Per Student
A Very Good

Flagg Street

📚 K – 06 School
👥
387 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$28,304 Per Student
A Very Good

Doherty Memorial High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,398 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$28,304 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Canterbury

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 129 Canterbury Street, Worcester
👥
335 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$28,304 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Chandler Elementary Community

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 114 Chandler Street, Worcester
👥
411 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
💰
$28,304 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Claremont Academy

📚 07 – 12 High School
📍 15 Claremont Street, Worcester
👥
478 Students
👨‍🏫
12.0:1 Class Size
💰
$28,304 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Columbus Park

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 75 Lovell Street, Worcester
👥
375 Students
👨‍🏫
11.2:1 Class Size
💰
$28,304 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Elm Park Community

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 23 North Ashland Street, Worcester
👥
440 Students
👨‍🏫
12.0:1 Class Size
💰
$28,304 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 443 Off-Campus Students
C+
Worcester State University
5,611 students · 0.4 mi
C+
Assumption University
2,046 students · 1.8 mi
B
Clark University
4,124 students · 2.0 mi
B
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
7,353 students · 2.1 mi
C
Rob Roy Academy-Worcester
121 students · 2.2 mi
C
Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Worcester
171 students · 2.3 mi
B+
College of the Holy Cross
3,035 students · 3.2 mi
C
Bancroft School of Massage Therapy
51 students · 3.7 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What price range are homes in Worcester, MA?

In Worcester, MA the median home value sits at $462K. Against the broader MA market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Worcester, MA?

House hacking in Worcester, MA is a challenging. With home values around $462K and rents at $2,334/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

Is the tenant base reliable in Worcester, MA?

Tenant quality in Worcester, MA ranks as solid. Landlords generally report stable occupancy at market rents of $2,334/mo.

Are landlord laws favorable in Worcester, MA?

For rental operators, Worcester, MA rates as tenant-protective. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

What monthly rent should investors expect in Worcester, MA?

Worcester, MA rentals go for roughly $2,334/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $462K acquisition costs.

You know 01602 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 01602 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 01602 ranks in Worcester, MA-CT

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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