Real Estate Investing in Boston, Massachusetts (02114)

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

Suffolk County • Population: 13,853 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 02114 (Boston, MA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (29/100)

Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.

📈 For Investors
WEAK
2.0 / 5 (33/100)

Structural challenges here. The numbers may look cheap but operational risk is high. Only for experienced, hands-on investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 17.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Flat appreciation: Values have barely moved over 5 years (0.9% CAGR).
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

What’s happening in Boston, MA (02114)?

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2.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $740,281
Avg Monthly Rent $3,583
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $121,418
% Renters 78.5%

Market Analysis: 02114 Boston

This part of Suffolk County is not an easy win. The 02114 ZIP registers softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 02114 records the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Statewide comparisons place 02114 among MA's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Employment concentration in 02114 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 Boston's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 02114. 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 Boston:

D Needs Caution
Buy Confidence Score: 49/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
10/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.1× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $3,583/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 02114

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
4.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+2.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$520,514/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $625,198 $3,710 4.3% -0.4% $625,198
2BR $1,041,029 $4,410 3.1% +1.3% $520,514
3BR $2,120,472 $5,290 1.8% +2.5% $706,824

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$783K$712K$641K$569K$498K$426KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$3,677$3,404$3,131$2,859$2,586$2,314Jul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 02114 Compare?

Metric 02114 Boston Massachusetts
Home Value $740,281 $852,655 $645,115
5-Year CAGR 0.9% 2.0% 7.0%
Avg Rent $3,583 $3,489 -
Cap Rate 3.8% 3.1% -
💡 Why Invest in 02114? Click to expand

79% 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 02114 (Boston, MA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Suffolk County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

CHARLESGATE Property Management provides full-service, customized property management for condominiums, multifamily properties, and investment portfolios in the Greater Boston Area. summary from their website

HOASmall multifamily
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

First Realty Management provides real estate management services for condominiums and commercial properties. summary from their website

HOACommercial
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MerGo Group offers property management and vacation rental management services in the Boston Metro Area. summary from their website

Short-term rentals
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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
Fair
Cap Rate
3.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+0.9%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $740,281
Monthly Rent $3,583
Price-to-Rent 17.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.8%
Cap Rate 3.8%
5-Year IRR 4.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +0.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +2.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -0.1% ▼
3-Year CAGR +1.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.2% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.8%). 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
17.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+0.9%
Flat
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 02114

Population: 13,853

💰 Median Household Income
$121,418
This area
$121,418
State
$107,356
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
78.5%
This area
78.5%
State
28.1%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
-8.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
83.9%
This area
83.9%
State
32.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
32.7 years
This area
32.7 years
State
22.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
17.4%
This area
17.4%
State
13.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 76.0%
Other/Mixed 12.3%
Asian 8.7%
Hispanic/Latino 8.6%
Black/African American 3.1%
👶 Under 18
7.1%
This area
7.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
11.2%
This area
11.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.5%
This area
4.5%
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 02114

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Amigos School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 15 Upton Street, Cambridge
👥
418 Students
👨‍🏫
10.6:1 Class Size
💰
$53,724 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Blackstone Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 380 Shawmut Avenue, Boston
👥
581 Students
👨‍🏫
10.4:1 Class Size
💰
$47,393 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Cambridge Street Upper School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 840 Cambridge Street, Cambridge
👥
304 Students
👨‍🏫
9.0:1 Class Size
💰
$53,724 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Charlestown High School

📚 07 – 12 High School
📍 240 Medford Street, Charlestown
👥
789 Students
👨‍🏫
8.5:1 Class Size
💰
$47,393 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Harvard-Kent Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 50 Bunker Hill Street, Charlestown
👥
340 Students
👨‍🏫
8.5:1 Class Size
💰
$47,393 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
C+
Sattler College
58 students · 0.3 mi
D
University of Massachusetts-Central Office
0 students · 0.5 mi
C+
Suffolk University
6,697 students · 0.5 mi
C+
Hult International Business School
2,003 students · 0.5 mi
C+
North Bennet Street School
151 students · 0.6 mi
D
Empire Beauty School-Boston
68 students · 0.6 mi
D
Fisher College
1,501 students · 0.7 mi
D
Urban College of Boston
728 students · 0.7 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How much rent can I charge in Boston, MA?

Rents in Boston, MA run near $3,583/mo. Compared with median home prices of $740K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

Is it easy to find good tenants in Boston, MA?

The renter base in Boston, MA is reasonable for the $3,583/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields stable tenants.

Is Boston, MA a smart market for rental property?

With a 2.0/5 investability score, Boston, MA ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $740K and rents of $3,583/mo drive the underlying numbers.

How high is vacancy risk in Boston, MA?

Vacancy risk in Boston, MA is elevated. That supports predictable cash flow for typical rental holds.

Is Boston, MA landlord-friendly?

MA law tenant-protective for landlords, and Boston inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

You know 02114 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 02114 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 02114 ranks in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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