Real Estate Investing in Topsfield, Massachusetts (01983)

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

Essex County • Population: 6,535 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 01983 (Topsfield, MA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (57/100)

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
2 flags
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 35.9 — 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 Topsfield, MA (01983)?

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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 $991,050
Avg Monthly Rent $2,304
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $162,734
% Renters 13.8%

Market Analysis: 01983 Topsfield

This part of Essex County is not an easy win. The 01983 ZIP registers softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Rent of $2,304/mo on a $991K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 01983 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Regionally, 01983 sits on the difficult end of the MA spectrum. The a strong candidate for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Employment concentration in 01983 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

New investors are better served looking at Topsfield's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 01983. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Topsfield:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 59/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.9%)
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 01983

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
2.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+8.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$250,470/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $845,883 $2,560 2.2% +6.8% $422,941
3BR $836,116 $3,080 2.7% +7.3% $278,705
4BR $1,030,107 $3,390 2.4% +8.1% $257,527
5BR $1,252,351 +8.4% $250,470

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$1.0M$910K$784K$659K$534K$408KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 01983 Compare?

Metric 01983 Topsfield Massachusetts
Home Value $991,050 $991,050 $645,115
5-Year CAGR 5.4% 5.4% 7.0%
Avg Rent $2,304 $2,304 -
Cap Rate 1.8% 1.8% -
💡 Why Invest in 01983? 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 01983 (Topsfield, 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
1.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.4%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $991,050
Monthly Rent $2,304
Price-to-Rent 35.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.8%
Cap Rate 1.8%
5-Year IRR 7.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.8%). 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
4.8%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 01983

Population: 6,535

💰 Median Household Income
$162,734
This area
$162,734
State
$107,356
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
13.8%
This area
13.8%
State
28.1%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.0%
This area
3.0%
State
-8.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
69.0%
This area
69.0%
State
32.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.4 years
This area
43.4 years
State
22.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.8%
This area
4.8%
State
13.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 85.5%
Other/Mixed 7.1%
Asian 5.7%
Hispanic/Latino 4.0%
Black/African American 1.8%
👶 Under 18
26.1%
This area
26.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.8%
This area
22.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.3%
This area
2.3%
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 01983

A+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
11.1:1 Avg Class Size
$23,014 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Steward Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 03 Elementary
👥
357 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$23,014 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Proctor Elementary

📚 04 – 06 School
👥
254 Students
👨‍🏫
10.5:1 Class Size
💰
$23,014 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 3,301 Off-Campus Students
C
North Shore Community College
4,833 students · 3.5 mi
C
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
1,373 students · 5.2 mi
C
Montserrat College of Art
276 students · 6.9 mi
C+
Gordon College
1,610 students · 6.9 mi
C+
Endicott College
4,254 students · 7.8 mi
C+
Merrimack College
5,688 students · 9.5 mi
C+
Salem State University
6,239 students · 9.6 mi
D
Spa Tech Institute-North Andover
144 students · 10.8 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What are home prices like in Topsfield, MA?

Median home price in Topsfield, MA is near $991K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been steady and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

What is the renter demographic in Topsfield, MA?

Topsfield, MA offers a measured renter base at the $2,304/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

What strategy should investors use in Topsfield, MA?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Topsfield, MA best. The market produces reliable results for that approach at the $991K price point.

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

MA ranks as a tenant-protective state for landlord-tenant law. Topsfield generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

Is Topsfield, MA good for house hacking?

House hacking in Topsfield, MA is a challenging. With home values around $991K and rents at $2,304/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

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How 01983 ranks in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

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