Real Estate Investing in Westford, Massachusetts (01886)

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

Middlesex County • Population: 24,584 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 01886 (Westford, MA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (68/100)

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

What’s happening in Westford, MA (01886)?

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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 $849,538
Avg Monthly Rent $3,065
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $174,424
% Renters 11.7%

Market Analysis: 01886 Westford

ZIP 01886 inside Middlesex County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $850K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

The investment case in 01886 is solid only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $850K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

ZIP 01886's metrics run below Middlesex County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

The 01886 ZIP's population of 24,584 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that comes in at the need for careful underwriting.

tilts toward 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 Westford:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.9× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $3,065/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 01886

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
4.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+8.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$227,053/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $410,573 $2,630 4.6% +7.5% $410,573
2BR $565,308 $3,450 4.4% +7.3% $282,654
3BR $725,175 $4,140 4.1% +7.3% $241,725
4BR $1,035,199 $4,570 3.2% +8.1% $258,800
5BR $1,135,266 +8.1% $227,053

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$892K$787K$682K$578K$473K$368KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$3,237$3,094$2,951$2,808$2,665$2,522Jan 2025Oct 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 01886 Compare?

Metric 01886 Westford Massachusetts
Home Value $849,538 $849,538 $645,115
5-Year CAGR 5.1% 5.1% 7.0%
Avg Rent $3,065 $3,065 -
Cap Rate 2.8% 2.8% -
💡 Why Invest in 01886? 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 01886 (Westford, 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
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.1%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $849,538
Monthly Rent $3,065
Price-to-Rent 23.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.3%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 7.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +3.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.8%). 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
3.1%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 01886

Population: 24,584

💰 Median Household Income
$174,424
This area
$174,424
State
$107,356
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
11.7%
This area
11.7%
State
28.1%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.9%
This area
2.9%
State
-8.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
72.4%
This area
72.4%
State
32.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
42.4 years
This area
42.4 years
State
22.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.1%
This area
3.1%
State
13.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 71.4%
Asian 22.6%
Other/Mixed 5.1%
Hispanic/Latino 2.3%
Black/African American 0.8%
👶 Under 18
26.6%
This area
26.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.3%
This area
13.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
1.3%
This area
1.3%
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 01886

A+ Avg School Grade
10 Schools
12.0:1 Avg Class Size
$24,714 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Blanchard Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
535 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$24,640 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Col John Robinson

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
305 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$24,640 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Nabnasset

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
305 Students
👨‍🏫
11.4:1 Class Size
💰
$24,640 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Nashoba Valley Technical High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
773 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$25,378 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Rita E. Miller Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
278 Students
👨‍🏫
10.0:1 Class Size
💰
$24,640 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Abbot Elementary

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
372 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$24,640 Per Student
A+ Excellent

John A. Crisafulli Elementary School

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
330 Students
👨‍🏫
12.9:1 Class Size
💰
$24,640 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Stony Brook School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
586 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$24,640 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Day Elementary

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
296 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$24,640 Per Student
A Very Good

Westford Academy

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,444 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$24,640 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 2,401 Off-Campus Students
C+
Greater Lowell Technical School
77 students · 5.4 mi
B
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
16,770 students · 7.4 mi
C
Lowell Academy Hairstyling Institute
59 students · 7.8 mi
C
National Aviation Academy of New England
210 students · 9.0 mi
C
Middlesex Community College
8,280 students · 9.4 mi
C
Rivier University
2,879 students · 10.6 mi
C
EINE Inc
40 students · 11.2 mi
D
St Joseph School of Nursing
96 students · 11.5 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,401 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do home values compare in Westford, MA?

Westford, MA home values average about $850K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $3,065/mo in monthly income.

What is it like being a landlord in Westford, MA?

Rental owners in Westford, MA deal with a tenant-protective legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in Westford, MA?

Westford, MA carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect predictable absorption at market rents of $3,065/mo.

Can I house hack in Westford, MA?

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

What is the tenant pool like in Westford, MA?

Westford, MA offers a reliable renter base at the $3,065/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

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How 01886 ranks in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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