Real Estate Investing in Cambridge, Massachusetts (02141)
Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.
Should you buy in 02141 (Cambridge, 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.
- Elevated vacancy: 11.0% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
- Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
What’s happening in Cambridge, MA (02141)?
Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.
Market Analysis: 02141 Cambridge
ZIP 02141 in Cambridge, MA carries a healthy set of headwinds. Home values near $919K and rents of $3,616/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.
Rent of $3,616/mo on a $919K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 02141 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.
Statewide comparisons place 02141 among MA's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.
Demographically, 02141 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.
Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 02141 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.
Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Cambridge:
Property Strategy for 02141
Which property type performs best in this market?
📊 Compare All Property Types →
| Type | Median Value | Est. Rent | Cap Rate | 5yr CAGR | $/Bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR | $680,757 | $3,200 | 3.4% | +1.5% | $680,757 |
| 2BR | $953,044 | $3,800 | 2.9% | +3.0% | $476,522 |
| 3BR | $1,227,715 | $4,560 | 2.7% | +3.9% | $409,238 |
Market Trends
Home Value History (with trend line)
Rent History (with trend line)
📊 How Does 02141 Compare?
| Metric | 02141 | Cambridge | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Value | $918,830 | $1,118,707 | $645,115 |
| 5-Year CAGR | 2.3% | 2.5% | 7.0% |
| Avg Rent | $3,616 | $3,626 | - |
| Cap Rate | 3.1% | 2.6% | - |
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 02141 (Cambridge, MA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.
Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 02141 (Cambridge, MA)?
~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous
Property managers serving Middlesex County
Manage rentals here? List your business →Green Ocean Property Management offers investment property management and condo association management services in Boston and surrounding areas like Allston, Brighton, Cambridge, and Quincy. summary from their website
McDonough Property Management offers full-service property management and HOA management in the Greater Boston Area, covering maintenance, inspections, legal compliance, and communication. summary from their website
New England Property Management & Maintenance offers property management for multi/single-family homes, apartments, rental properties, and condo associations in Brookline, MA and Cambridge, MA. summary from their website
Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.
📊 Market Snapshot
| Home Value | $918,830 |
| Monthly Rent | $3,616 |
| Price-to-Rent | 21.2:1 |
| 1% Rule | ✗ Fails |
💰 Return Metrics
| Gross Yield | 4.7% |
| Cap Rate | 3.1% |
| 5-Year IRR | 5.4% |
📈 Home Appreciation
| 1-Year | +1.6% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +3.1% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +2.3% ▲ |
| 10-Year CAGR | +3.6% ▲ |
🏠 Rent Trends
| 1-Year | +3.6% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +2.4% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +4.5% ▲ |
The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.1%). 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 02141
Population: 14,677
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 02141
Schools in This ZIP Code
Nearby Schools (5 more)
Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area
Amigos School
Blackstone Elementary School
Charlestown High School
Harvard-Kent Elementary School
John M Tobin
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 3,776 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are homes affordable in Cambridge, MA?
In Cambridge, MA the median home value sits at $919K. Against the broader MA market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.
What are rental rates like in Cambridge, MA?
Rent in Cambridge, MA is around $3,616/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $919K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.
What real estate strategy is ideal for Cambridge, MA?
A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Cambridge, MA best. The market produces consistent results for that approach at the $919K price point.
Can I house hack in Cambridge, MA?
For house hackers, Cambridge, MA is a challenging. The $3,616/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $919K property.
How strict are landlord regulations in Cambridge, MA?
MA ranks as a tenant-protective state for landlord-tenant law. Cambridge generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.
You know 02141 now. You don’t know where it ranks.
This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 02141 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 02141 ranks in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.
AI Market Advisor
Ask questions about investing in 02141 (Cambridge)
Community Ratings
What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.
Be the first to rate 02141 (Cambridge, MA).
It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.