Real Estate Investing in Boston, Massachusetts (02129)

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

Suffolk County • Population: 19,994 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 02129 (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 (02129)?

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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 $1,023,177
Avg Monthly Rent $3,627
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $146,815
% Renters 51.8%

Market Analysis: 02129 Boston

ZIP 02129 inside Suffolk County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $1.0M — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $1.0M asset, 02129 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Nearby ZIPs in Boston have seen price recovery that 02129 has not matched. Suffolk County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Resident income in 02129 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Strategically, 02129 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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: 57/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
18/25
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 $3,627/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 02129

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
3.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+5.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$467,816/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $631,084 $3,380 3.9% +2.3% $631,084
2BR $946,796 $4,020 3.1% +3.3% $473,398
3BR $1,466,900 $4,820 2.4% +5.3% $488,967
4BR $1,871,263 $5,320 2.0% +5.5% $467,816

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$1.1M$935K$800K$665K$530K$395KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$3,746$3,401$3,056$2,711$2,366$2,021Jul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 02129 Compare?

Metric 02129 Boston Massachusetts
Home Value $1,023,177 $852,655 $645,115
5-Year CAGR 3.4% 2.0% 7.0%
Avg Rent $3,627 $3,489 -
Cap Rate 2.8% 3.1% -
💡 Why Invest in 02129? Click to expand

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

52% 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 02129 (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
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.4%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $1,023,177
Monthly Rent $3,627
Price-to-Rent 23.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.3%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 6.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +13.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.8%). 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
6.4%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 02129

Population: 19,994

💰 Median Household Income
$146,815
This area
$146,815
State
$107,356
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
51.8%
This area
51.8%
State
28.1%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.0%
This area
2.0%
State
-8.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
70.6%
This area
70.6%
State
32.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
35.8 years
This area
35.8 years
State
22.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.4%
This area
6.4%
State
13.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 75.6%
Other/Mixed 9.3%
Asian 8.1%
Black/African American 7.0%
Hispanic/Latino 5.7%
👶 Under 18
21.6%
This area
21.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
12.8%
This area
12.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.9%
This area
4.9%
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 02129

A+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
9.4:1 Avg Class Size
$47,393 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Charlestown High School

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

Harvard-Kent Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
340 Students
👨‍🏫
8.5:1 Class Size
💰
$47,393 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Warren-Prescott K-8 School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
499 Students
👨‍🏫
11.1:1 Class Size
💰
$47,393 Per Student

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

Bradley Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 110 Beachview Road, East Boston
👥
300 Students
👨‍🏫
10.7:1 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

Edgar A Hooks Elementary

📚 01 – 04 Elementary
📍 300 Crescent Avenue, Chelsea
👥
453 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$25,736 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Eugene Wright Science and Technology Academy

📚 05 – 08 School
📍 180 Walnut Street, Chelsea
👥
443 Students
👨‍🏫
10.1:1 Class Size
💰
$25,736 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 3,776 Off-Campus Students
C
MGH Institute of Health Professions
1,484 students · 0.5 mi
C
Bunker Hill Community College
8,545 students · 0.5 mi
D
Cambridge College
1,952 students · 0.6 mi
C+
Hult International Business School
2,003 students · 0.8 mi
C+
North Bennet Street School
151 students · 1.2 mi
D
Lincoln Technical Institute-Somerville
27 students · 1.3 mi
C+
Sattler College
58 students · 1.3 mi
D
University of Massachusetts-Central Office
0 students · 1.5 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,776 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is rent in Boston, MA?

Rents in Boston, MA run near $3,627/mo. Compared with median home prices of $1.0M that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

Which real estate strategy fits Boston, MA?

The best-fit strategy in Boston, MA is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

What is the investability score for Boston, MA?

Boston, MA registers an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $1.0M and average rents around $3,627/mo. That combination puts it in the substantial tier for investor interest.

Is Boston, MA good for landlords?

Boston, MA falls under MA landlord-tenant law, which is tenant-protective. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

What are home prices like in Boston, MA?

Median home price in Boston, MA is near $1.0M, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been reliable and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

You know 02129 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 02129 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 02129 ranks in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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