Real Estate Investing in Worcester, Massachusetts (01608)

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

Worcester County • Population: 4,951 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 01608 (Worcester, MA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (74/100)

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

📈 For Investors
STRONG
5.0 / 5 (100/100)

Rare combination of both appreciation and cash flow. These markets don't last long — worth serious consideration.

⚠️ Risks to Know
3 flags
  • Elevated vacancy: 11.7% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • Elevated poverty: 44.9% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.

What’s happening in Worcester, MA (01608)?

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5.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $190,259
Avg Monthly Rent $1,953
1% Rule ✓ Meets
Median Income $41,319
% Renters 93.1%

Market Analysis: 01608 Worcester

ZIP 01608 inside Worcester, MA plays the steady-hand role. Median home values posts $190K, rents near $1,953/mo, and the trend line is consistent rather than flashy.

For core-plus portfolios, 01608 is the kind of ZIP that fills out the weighted average. notable on the fundamentals, light on the surprises.

Across the MA map, markets like 01608 are the ones most investors own by accident and end up grateful for. Steady performance does not make headlines.

Who lives in 01608 has not changed much in five years, and that is precisely why the numbers look the same. Demographic stability feeds market stability.

First-time investors often find 01608 a reasonable starting point. Experienced investors often find it a reasonable anchor for a broader portfolio. a credible choice for on both counts.

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: 65/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.6× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,953/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

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$204K$172K$140K$109K$77K$45KSep 2015Feb 2021Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,026$1,890$1,753$1,616$1,480$1,343Mar 2021Nov 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 01608 Compare?

Metric 01608 Worcester Worcester, MA-CT Massachusetts
Home Value $190,259 $196,107 N/A $645,115
5-Year CAGR 9.5% 6.4% N/A 7.0%
Avg Rent $1,953 $2,161 N/A -
Cap Rate 8.0% 4.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 01608? Click to expand

This ZIP code meets the 1% rule with rent at $1,953/mo on homes averaging $190,259 — a strong indicator of cash flow potential.

Our analysis gives this area a 5/5 investability rating, placing it in the top tier for rental property potential.

93% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 01608 (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
Excellent
Cap Rate
8.0%
Excellent
5yr Growth
+9.5%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $190,259
Monthly Rent $1,953
Price-to-Rent 8.1:1
1% Rule ✓ Passes

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 12.3%
Cap Rate 8.0%
5-Year IRR 17.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +9.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +12.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +3.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲
Positive Leverage Market Cap Rate: 8.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (8.0%) exceeds the current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%). When borrowing costs less than a property yields, leverage can increase your cash-on-cash return above the cap rate.

⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
11.7%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+9.5%
Growing
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 01608

Population: 4,951

💰 Median Household Income
$41,319
This area
$41,319
State
$107,356
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
93.1%
This area
93.1%
State
28.1%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.0%
This area
5.0%
State
-8.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
32.5%
This area
32.5%
State
32.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
29.7 years
This area
29.7 years
State
22.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
11.7%
This area
11.7%
State
13.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 45.0%
Other/Mixed 36.3%
Hispanic/Latino 26.6%
Black/African American 9.7%
Asian 8.9%
👶 Under 18
25.3%
This area
25.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
4.4%
This area
4.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
44.9%
This area
44.9%
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 01608

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

Chandler Magnet

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

City View

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 80 Prospect Street, Worcester
👥
433 Students
👨‍🏫
10.8:1 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
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
Rob Roy Academy-Worcester
121 students · 0.3 mi
B
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
7,353 students · 0.9 mi
C
Bancroft School of Massage Therapy
51 students · 1.3 mi
B
Clark University
4,124 students · 1.4 mi
C
Toni & Guy Hairdressing Academy-Worcester
171 students · 1.6 mi
B+
College of the Holy Cross
3,035 students · 1.7 mi
C+
Worcester State University
5,611 students · 2.2 mi
C
University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
1,394 students · 2.3 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Worcester, MA rate as a rental market?

Worcester, MA rates 5.0/5 for investability. With median values at $190K and rents near $1,953/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

Does house hacking work in Worcester, MA?

House hacking works an attractive in Worcester, MA. Rents of $1,953/mo against $190K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

How much do tenants pay in Worcester, MA?

Expect rents around $1,953/mo per month in Worcester, MA. With home values at $190K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

What investment strategy works best in Worcester, MA?

Most investors in Worcester, MA run a steady buy-and-hold investing strategy. It aligns with the 5.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

Is Worcester, MA landlord-friendly?

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

You know 01608 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 01608 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 01608 ranks in Worcester, MA-CT

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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