Real Estate Investing in Ipswich, Massachusetts (01938)

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

Essex County • Population: 13,820 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 01938 (Ipswich, MA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (47/100)

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
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.8% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 29.3 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Ipswich, MA (01938)?

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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 $859,277
Avg Monthly Rent $2,448
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $123,266
% Renters 27.8%

Market Analysis: 01938 Ipswich

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Ipswich's 01938 ZIP registers signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $859K pricing implies.

For an experienced owner, 01938 can be a a solid fit for hunting ground — but the discount at $859K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Nearby ZIPs in Ipswich have seen price recovery that 01938 has not matched. Essex County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Who lives in 01938 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

The 01938 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Ipswich:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 61/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,448/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 01938

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
3.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+8.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$240,957/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $427,579 $2,160 3.6% +6.4% $427,579
2BR $640,772 $2,560 2.9% +7.5% $320,386
3BR $829,397 $3,080 2.7% +7.4% $276,466
4BR $1,022,195 $3,390 2.4% +8.4% $255,549
5BR $1,204,787 +8.4% $240,957

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$907K$790K$673K$556K$440K$323KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

No data available

📊 How Does 01938 Compare?

Metric 01938 Ipswich Massachusetts
Home Value $859,277 $859,277 $645,115
5-Year CAGR 5.3% 5.3% 7.0%
Avg Rent $2,448 $2,448 -
Cap Rate 2.2% 2.2% -
💡 Why Invest in 01938? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 01938 (Ipswich, 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
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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
2.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.3%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $859,277
Monthly Rent $2,448
Price-to-Rent 29.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.4%
Cap Rate 2.2%
5-Year IRR 7.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.2%). 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
8.8%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 01938

Population: 13,820

💰 Median Household Income
$123,266
This area
$123,266
State
$107,356
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
27.8%
This area
27.8%
State
28.1%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.7%
This area
1.7%
State
-8.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
55.6%
This area
55.6%
State
32.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
47.9 years
This area
47.9 years
State
22.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.8%
This area
8.8%
State
13.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.3%
Other/Mixed 3.7%
Asian 2.0%
Hispanic/Latino 1.7%
Black/African American 1.0%
👶 Under 18
18.5%
This area
18.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.2%
This area
21.2%
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 01938

A+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
9.9:1 Avg Class Size
$25,115 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Ipswich High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
482 Students
👨‍🏫
10.0:1 Class Size
💰
$25,115 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Ipswich Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
382 Students
👨‍🏫
9.5:1 Class Size
💰
$25,115 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Paul F Doyon Memorial

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
371 Students
👨‍🏫
10.3:1 Class Size
💰
$25,115 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Winthrop

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
369 Students
👨‍🏫
9.9:1 Class Size
💰
$25,115 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 3,634 Off-Campus Students
C
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
1,373 students · 5.0 mi
C+
Gordon College
1,610 students · 6.6 mi
C+
Endicott College
4,254 students · 9.1 mi
C
North Shore Community College
4,833 students · 9.3 mi
C
Montserrat College of Art
276 students · 9.5 mi
C+
Salem State University
6,239 students · 12.8 mi
C
Northern Essex Community College
4,510 students · 13.1 mi
C
Northpoint Bible College
128 students · 13.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,634 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What strategy should investors use in Ipswich, MA?

Ipswich, MA investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($859K prices, $2,448/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

Where do home prices stand in Ipswich, MA?

In Ipswich, MA the median home value sits at $859K. Against the broader MA market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

Is Ipswich, MA a good place for real estate investing?

Ipswich, MA scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $859K and rents near $2,448/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

How tight is the rental market in Ipswich, MA?

Occupancy in Ipswich, MA runs stable with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $2,448/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

Is Ipswich, MA suited for a house hack?

Ipswich, MA is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $859K price point reasonable to enter.

You know 01938 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 01938 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 01938 ranks in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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