Real Estate Investing in Essex, Massachusetts (01929)

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

Essex County • Population: 3,605 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 01929 (Essex, MA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (41/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 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
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 12.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 33.1 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Essex, MA (01929)?

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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 $913,927
Avg Monthly Rent $2,304
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $133,026
% Renters 19.0%

Market Analysis: 01929 Essex

The 01929 ZIP covers a section of Essex that demands careful diligence. Prices near $914K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 01929 records the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Regionally, 01929 sits on the difficult end of the MA spectrum. The a viable market for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Employment concentration in 01929 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. robust returns are possible in 01929, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Essex:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 57/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,304/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
🏠

Property Strategy for 01929

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
2.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+9.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$279,263/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $675,089 $2,560 2.7% +7.7% $337,545
3BR $837,789 $3,080 2.6% +8.0% $279,263
4BR $1,149,058 $3,390 2.1% +9.0% $287,264

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$981K$826K$672K$517K$363K$208KJun 2011Jan 2019Jul 2026

📊 How Does 01929 Compare?

Metric 01929 Essex Massachusetts
Home Value $913,927 $913,927 $645,115
5-Year CAGR 5.6% 5.6% 7.0%
Avg Rent $2,304 $2,304 -
Cap Rate 2.0% 2.0% -
💡 Why Invest in 01929? 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 01929 (Essex, MA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Essex County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

MRS Property Management offers full-service property management and tenant placement for apartments, houses, and commercial rentals across the North Shore area and Southern New Hampshire. summary from their website

Single-familySmall multifamilyCommercial
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

CNR Property Management provides expert property management and maintenance solutions. summary from their website

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This domain is for sale for $2,295 or monthly payments. 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
2.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.6%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $913,927
Monthly Rent $2,304
Price-to-Rent 33.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.0%
Cap Rate 2.0%
5-Year IRR 7.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.0%). 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
12.7%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 01929

Population: 3,605

💰 Median Household Income
$133,026
This area
$133,026
State
$107,356
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
19.0%
This area
19.0%
State
28.1%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.0%
This area
1.0%
State
-8.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
63.3%
This area
63.3%
State
32.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
45.0 years
This area
45.0 years
State
22.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
12.7%
This area
12.7%
State
13.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 98.2%
Other/Mixed 1.8%
Hispanic/Latino 1.0%
👶 Under 18
26.4%
This area
26.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.2%
This area
15.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.4%
This area
9.4%
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 01929

A+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
10.0:1 Avg Class Size
$41,861 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Essex Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
229 Students
👨‍🏫
10.0:1 Class Size
💰
$41,861 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

6 Nearby 3,301 Off-Campus Students
C+
Gordon College
1,610 students · 3.8 mi
C
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
1,373 students · 3.8 mi
C+
Endicott College
4,254 students · 6.5 mi
C
Montserrat College of Art
276 students · 7.7 mi
C
North Shore Community College
4,833 students · 10.2 mi
C+
Salem State University
6,239 students · 10.7 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,301 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How expensive is real estate in Essex, MA?

Median home price in Essex, MA is near $914K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been reliable and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

Is Essex, MA a smart market for rental property?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Essex, MA reflects its $914K prices and $2,304/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within MA.

What is the smart move for investors in Essex, MA?

In Essex, MA the durable play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $914K prices and $2,304/mo rents suits that approach.

How viable is house hacking in Essex, MA?

House hacking in Essex, MA is a challenging. With home values around $914K and rents at $2,304/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

How strong is the working-renter base in Essex, MA?

The renter base in Essex, MA is reasonable for the $2,304/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields reliable tenants.

You know 01929 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 01929 ranks in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

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