Real Estate Investing in Lowell, Massachusetts (01851)

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

Middlesex County • Population: 32,308 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 01851 (Lowell, MA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (61/100)

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 Lowell, MA (01851)?

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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 $531,934
Avg Monthly Rent $2,425
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $79,330
% Renters 57.4%

Market Analysis: 01851 Lowell

Investors eyeing 01851 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $532K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 01851 records the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

In the broader MA picture, 01851 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

A sturdy renter share of 57% in 01851 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

seems to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Lowell:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 63/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.7× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,425/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 01851

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$122,210/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $380,359 $2,270 4.3% +8.6% $190,180
3BR $527,745 $2,720 3.7% +8.0% $175,915
4BR $562,618 $3,010 3.9% +7.5% $140,654
5BR $611,051 +7.2% $122,210

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$560K$478K$396K$314K$232K$149KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,446$2,385$2,324$2,263$2,203$2,142Nov 2024Sep 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 01851 Compare?

Metric 01851 Lowell Massachusetts
Home Value $531,934 $217,277 $645,115
5-Year CAGR 5.5% 5.5% 7.0%
Avg Rent $2,425 $2,313 -
Cap Rate 3.6% 3.7% -
💡 Why Invest in 01851? Click to expand

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

57% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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 01851 (Lowell, 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
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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

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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
3.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.5%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $531,934
Monthly Rent $2,425
Price-to-Rent 18.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.5%
Cap Rate 3.6%
5-Year IRR 9.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +4.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.6%). 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
3.6%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 01851

Population: 32,308

💰 Median Household Income
$79,330
This area
$79,330
State
$107,356
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
57.4%
This area
57.4%
State
28.1%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.7%
This area
3.7%
State
-8.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
30.1%
This area
30.1%
State
32.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
34.8 years
This area
34.8 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
Asian 41.7%
White 37.2%
Other/Mixed 12.0%
Black/African American 9.0%
Hispanic/Latino 8.9%
👶 Under 18
20.9%
This area
20.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
9.7%
This area
9.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
10.0%
This area
10.0%
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 01851

A+ Avg School Grade
9 Schools
10.3:1 Avg Class Size
$26,253 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Washington

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

Abraham Lincoln

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

Charles W Morey

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

Dr Gertrude Bailey

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

James S Daley Middle School

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
680 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$27,720 Per Student
A Very Good

The Career Academy

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
92 Students
👨‍🏫
10.1:1 Class Size
💰
$27,720 Per Student
A Very Good

Laura Lee Therapeutic Day School

📚 04 – 08 School
👥
16 Students
👨‍🏫
2.9:1 Class Size
💰
$27,720 Per Student
A Very Good

Dr. Janice Adie Day School

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12
👥
58 Students
👨‍🏫
5.3:1 Class Size
💰
$27,720 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Collegiate Charter School of Lowell

📚 K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
1,211 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,515 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Bartlett Community Partnership

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 79 Wannalancit Street, Lowell
👥
480 Students
👨‍🏫
10.9:1 Class Size
💰
$27,720 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Charlotte M Murkland Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
📍 350 Adams Street, Lowell
👥
436 Students
👨‍🏫
10.9:1 Class Size
💰
$27,720 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Greenhalge

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
📍 149 Ennell Street, Lowell
👥
457 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$27,720 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Henry J Robinson Middle

📚 05 – 08 School
📍 110 June Street, Lowell
👥
592 Students
👨‍🏫
10.8:1 Class Size
💰
$27,720 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Joseph McAvinnue

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
📍 131 Mammoth Road, Lowell
👥
429 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 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
B
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
16,770 students · 1.7 mi
C
Lowell Academy Hairstyling Institute
59 students · 1.8 mi
C+
Greater Lowell Technical School
77 students · 3.0 mi
C
EINE Inc
40 students · 6.3 mi
C
Massachusetts School of Law
284 students · 7.9 mi
C
Middlesex Community College
8,280 students · 7.9 mi
C+
Shawsheen Valley School of Practical Nursing
35 students · 8.3 mi
C
Rivier University
2,879 students · 9.7 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 strategy should investors use in Lowell, MA?

The best-fit strategy in Lowell, MA is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

Can I house hack in Lowell, MA?

House hacking in Lowell, MA is reasonable to execute. Prices around $532K and rents of $2,425/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

How much should I expect to pay for a home in Lowell, MA?

In Lowell, MA the median home value sits at $532K. Against the broader MA market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

Is MA a landlord-friendly state?

Lowell, MA operates under MA law, which is tenant-protective overall for landlords. Expect steady treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

How deep is the rental pool in Lowell, MA?

Tenant demand in Lowell, MA is solid. The local workforce $2,425/mo rents across most rental classes.

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How 01851 ranks in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

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