Real Estate Investing in Boston, Massachusetts (02122)

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

Suffolk County • Population: 23,471 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 02122 (Boston, MA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (49/100)

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
1 flag
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

What’s happening in Boston, MA (02122)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $679,713
Avg Monthly Rent $3,133
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $81,025
% Renters 54.4%

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.

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:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 50/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 8.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $3,133/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 02122

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
4.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+5.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$186,487/bedroom
📊 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)

$720K$615K$509K$404K$299K$194KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$3,320$3,029$2,738$2,446$2,155$1,864Jan 2018May 2022Jul 2026

📊 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% -
💡 Why Invest in 02122? Click to expand

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

54% 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 02122 (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
Good
Cap Rate
3.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+2.9%
Slow

📊 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% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.6%). 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.

Vacancy
7.8%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 02122

Population: 23,471

💰 Median Household Income
$81,025
This area
$81,025
State
$107,356
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
54.4%
This area
54.4%
State
28.1%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.9%
This area
4.9%
State
-8.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
35.8%
This area
35.8%
State
32.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.6 years
This area
36.6 years
State
22.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.8%
This area
7.8%
State
13.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 35.1%
Black/African American 28.6%
Other/Mixed 20.9%
Hispanic/Latino 17.7%
Asian 15.2%
👶 Under 18
19.3%
This area
19.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
12.8%
This area
12.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
13.5%
This area
13.5%
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 02122

A+ Avg School Grade
7 Schools
10.2:1 Avg Class Size
$42,571 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Community Academy of Science and Health

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
341 Students
👨‍🏫
10.7:1 Class Size
💰
$47,393 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Mather Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
454 Students
👨‍🏫
9.4:1 Class Size
💰
$47,393 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Henderson K-12 Inclusion School Lower

📚 Pre-K – 01 Elementary
👥
218 Students
👨‍🏫
8.9:1 Class Size
💰
$47,393 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Kenny Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
338 Students
👨‍🏫
12.0:1 Class Size
💰
$47,393 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Neighborhood House Charter School

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
856 Students
👨‍🏫
11.0:1 Class Size
💰
$28,098 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Murphy K-8 School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
839 Students
👨‍🏫
12.1:1 Class Size
💰
$47,393 Per Student
A Very Good
👥
95 Students
👨‍🏫
7.1:1 Class Size
💰
$32,935 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Boston International High School & Newcomers Academy

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 100 Maxwell St, Dorchester
👥
486 Students
👨‍🏫
8.7:1 Class Size
💰
$47,393 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Burke High School

📚 07 – 12 High School
📍 60 Washington Street, Dorchester
👥
395 Students
👨‍🏫
9.5:1 Class Size
💰
$47,393 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Condon K-8 School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 200 D Street, South Boston
👥
580 Students
👨‍🏫
8.3:1 Class Size
💰
$47,393 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Dearborn 6-12 STEM Academy

📚 06 – 12 High School
📍 36 Winthrop St, Roxbury
👥
553 Students
👨‍🏫
10.2:1 Class Size
💰
$47,393 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Dever Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 325 Mt Vernon Street, Dorchester
👥
406 Students
👨‍🏫
9.7:1 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 2,579 Off-Campus Students
C+
Jupiter Beauty Academy
207 students · 0.8 mi
C+
University of Massachusetts-Boston
15,810 students · 1.5 mi
C
Laboure College of Healthcare
717 students · 2.3 mi
C
Eastern Nazarene College
458 students · 2.6 mi
C
Roxbury Community College
1,631 students · 3.3 mi
C+
Wentworth Institute of Technology
4,018 students · 3.7 mi
B
The New England Conservatory of Music
784 students · 3.7 mi
B+
Northeastern University
31,159 students · 3.7 mi

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.

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How 02122 ranks in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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