Real Estate Investing in Boston, Massachusetts (02122)
Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.
Should you buy in 02122 (Boston, MA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.
Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.
A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.
- Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
What’s happening in Boston, MA (02122)?
Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.
Market Analysis: 02122 Boston
The 02122 ZIP in Boston, MA is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $680K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.
Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 02122 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.
ZIP 02122's metrics run below Suffolk County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.
Who lives in 02122 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.
The right play in 02122 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.
Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Boston:
Property Strategy for 02122
Which property type performs best in this market?
📊 Compare All Property Types →
| Type | Median Value | Est. Rent | Cap Rate | 5yr CAGR | $/Bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR | $368,879 | $2,360 | 4.6% | +3.9% | $368,879 |
| 2BR | $551,489 | $2,800 | 3.7% | +3.2% | $275,745 |
| 3BR | $697,818 | $3,360 | 3.5% | +3.9% | $232,606 |
| 4BR | $812,655 | $3,710 | 3.3% | +4.1% | $203,164 |
| 5BR | $932,437 | — | — | +5.0% | $186,487 |
Market Trends
Home Value History (with trend line)
Rent History (with trend line)
📊 How Does 02122 Compare?
| Metric | 02122 | Boston | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Value | $679,713 | $852,655 | $645,115 |
| 5-Year CAGR | 2.9% | 2.0% | 7.0% |
| Avg Rent | $3,133 | $3,489 | - |
| Cap Rate | 3.6% | 3.1% | - |
Similar ZIPs Within 25 Miles
Compare other nearby markets to see if a neighbor offers a better fit.
Landlord Ground Truth
Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 02122 (Boston, MA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.
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📊 Market Snapshot
| Home Value | $679,713 |
| Monthly Rent | $3,133 |
| Price-to-Rent | 18.1:1 |
| 1% Rule | ✗ Fails |
💰 Return Metrics
| Gross Yield | 5.5% |
| Cap Rate | 3.6% |
| 5-Year IRR | 6.4% |
📈 Home Appreciation
| 1-Year | +3.6% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +3.1% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +2.9% ▲ |
| 10-Year CAGR | +5.4% ▲ |
🏠 Rent Trends
| 1-Year | +1.8% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +3.6% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +5.4% ▲ |
The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.6%). 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.
Demographics in 02122
Population: 23,471
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 02122
Schools in This ZIP Code
Nearby Schools (5 more)
Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area
Boston International High School & Newcomers Academy
Burke High School
Condon K-8 School
Dearborn 6-12 STEM Academy
Dever Elementary School
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
Investor Insight: With 2,579 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of market is Boston, MA for investors?
Our data puts Boston, MA at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $680K and rents around $3,133/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.
What is the typical rental rate in Boston, MA?
Investors in Boston, MA typically see rents near $3,133/mo per month against $680K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.
What are vacancy rates like in Boston, MA?
Boston, MA sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader MA rental market.
Does house hacking make sense in Boston, MA?
House hacking in Boston, MA is reasonable to execute. Prices around $680K and rents of $3,133/mo solid owner-occupant economics.
Is Boston, MA landlord-friendly?
MA ranks as a tenant-protective state for landlord-tenant law. Boston generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.
You know 02122 now. You don’t know where it ranks.
This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 02122 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.
How 02122 ranks in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.
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