Real Estate Investing in Chelmsford, Massachusetts (01824)

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

Middlesex County • Population: 26,628 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 01824 (Chelmsford, MA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (68/100)

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
1 flag
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

What’s happening in Chelmsford, MA (01824)?

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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 $728,769
Avg Monthly Rent $2,660
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $137,778
% Renters 17.8%

Market Analysis: 01824 Chelmsford

Put differently, ZIP 01824 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $729K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $729K asset, 01824 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

The gap between 01824 and stronger Chelmsford ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Resident income in 01824 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 01824 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Chelmsford:

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 5.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,660/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.
🏠

Property Strategy for 01824

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$179,401/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $458,442 $2,900 4.6% +8.3% $229,221
3BR $681,612 $3,480 3.7% +7.6% $227,204
4BR $824,994 $3,840 3.4% +7.4% $206,248
5BR $897,007 +7.4% $179,401

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$768K$670K$571K$472K$373K$274KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,787$2,622$2,458$2,294$2,129$1,965Dec 2021Apr 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 01824 Compare?

Metric 01824 Chelmsford Massachusetts
Home Value $728,769 $646,405 $645,115
5-Year CAGR 5.3% 5.7% 7.0%
Avg Rent $2,660 $2,650 -
Cap Rate 2.9% 3.3% -
💡 Why Invest in 01824? 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 01824 (Chelmsford, MA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Middlesex County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Green Ocean Property Management offers investment property management and condo association management services in Boston and surrounding areas like Allston, Brighton, Cambridge, and Quincy. summary from their website

HOA
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

McDonough Property Management offers full-service property management and HOA management in the Greater Boston Area, covering maintenance, inspections, legal compliance, and communication. summary from their website

HOA
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New England Property Management & Maintenance offers property management for multi/single-family homes, apartments, rental properties, and condo associations in Brookline, MA and Cambridge, MA. summary from their website

Single-familySmall multifamilyHOA
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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
2.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.3%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $728,769
Monthly Rent $2,660
Price-to-Rent 22.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.4%
Cap Rate 2.9%
5-Year IRR 8.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +3.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.9%). 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)
+5.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 01824

Population: 26,628

💰 Median Household Income
$137,778
This area
$137,778
State
$107,356
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
17.8%
This area
17.8%
State
28.1%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.7%
This area
3.7%
State
-8.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
56.5%
This area
56.5%
State
32.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.6 years
This area
43.6 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 82.2%
Asian 8.7%
Other/Mixed 7.3%
Hispanic/Latino 5.6%
Black/African American 1.8%
👶 Under 18
20.9%
This area
20.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.9%
This area
17.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.2%
This area
3.2%
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 01824

A+ Avg School Grade
6 Schools
14.5:1 Avg Class Size
$20,584 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Byam School

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
530 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$20,584 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Center Elementary School

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
466 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$20,584 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Col Moses Parker School

📚 05 – 06 School
👥
797 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$20,584 Per Student
A+ Excellent

McCarthy Middle School

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
782 Students
👨‍🏫
12.1:1 Class Size
💰
$20,584 Per Student
A+ Excellent

South Row

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
465 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$20,584 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Community Education Center

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
200 Students
👨‍🏫
21.3:1 Class Size
💰
$20,584 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Washington

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
📍 795 Wilder Street, Lowell
👥
242 Students
👨‍🏫
10.1:1 Class Size
💰
$27,720 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Abraham Lincoln

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
📍 300 Chelmsford Street, Lowell
👥
489 Students
👨‍🏫
12.2:1 Class Size
💰
$27,720 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Charles W Morey

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
📍 130 Pine Street, Lowell
👥
478 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$27,720 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Dr Gertrude Bailey

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
📍 175 Campbell Drive, Lowell
👥
443 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$27,720 Per Student
A+ Excellent

James S Daley Middle School

📚 05 – 08 School
📍 150 Fleming Street, Lowell
👥
680 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$27,720 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 2,406 Off-Campus Students
C
Lowell Academy Hairstyling Institute
59 students · 4.3 mi
B
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
16,770 students · 4.5 mi
C+
Greater Lowell Technical School
77 students · 4.6 mi
C
Middlesex Community College
8,280 students · 6.2 mi
C
EINE Inc
40 students · 6.9 mi
C+
Shawsheen Valley School of Practical Nursing
35 students · 7.7 mi
C
National Aviation Academy of New England
210 students · 9.1 mi
C
Massachusetts School of Law
284 students · 10.1 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,406 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are vacancy rates like in Chelmsford, MA?

Expect elevated vacancy in Chelmsford, MA. Rents at $2,660/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

How much rent can I charge in Chelmsford, MA?

The typical rental in Chelmsford, MA commands about $2,660/mo monthly. That rent profile predictable cash flow against the $729K purchase basis.

How landlord-friendly is Chelmsford, MA?

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

How strong is tenant demand in Chelmsford, MA?

Tenant demand in Chelmsford, MA is solid. The local workforce $2,660/mo rents across most rental classes.

Is Chelmsford, MA a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Chelmsford, MA reflects its $729K prices and $2,660/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within MA.

You know 01824 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 01824 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 01824 ranks in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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