Real Estate Investing in Cambridge, Massachusetts (02142)
Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.
Should you buy in 02142 (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: 8.4% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
- Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
- High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 27.8 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.
What’s happening in Cambridge, MA (02142)?
Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.
Market Analysis: 02142 Cambridge
The 02142 ZIP covers a section of Cambridge that demands careful diligence. Prices near $1.3M look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.
Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 02142 posts the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.
Within MA, ZIP 02142 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Middlesex County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and resilient enough to shape underwriting.
The demographic picture in 02142 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Cambridge averages, and tenant stability requires active management.
Strategically, 02142 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.
Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Cambridge:
Property Strategy for 02142
Which property type performs best in this market?
📊 Compare All Property Types →
| Type | Median Value | Est. Rent | Cap Rate | 5yr CAGR | $/Bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR | $859,752 | $3,380 | 2.8% | +2.5% | $859,752 |
| 2BR | $1,534,660 | $4,010 | 1.9% | +2.8% | $767,330 |
Market Trends
Home Value History (with trend line)
Rent History (with trend line)
📊 How Does 02142 Compare?
| Metric | 02142 | Cambridge | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Value | $1,323,695 | $1,118,707 | $645,115 |
| 5-Year CAGR | 2.5% | 2.5% | 7.0% |
| Avg Rent | $3,975 | $3,626 | - |
| Cap Rate | 2.3% | 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 02142 (Cambridge, MA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.
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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 | $1,323,695 |
| Monthly Rent | $3,975 |
| Price-to-Rent | 27.8:1 |
| 1% Rule | ✗ Fails |
💰 Return Metrics
| Gross Yield | 3.6% |
| Cap Rate | 2.3% |
| 5-Year IRR | 4.8% |
📈 Home Appreciation
| 1-Year | -0.3% ▼ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +1.7% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +2.5% ▲ |
| 10-Year CAGR | +3.0% ▲ |
🏠 Rent Trends
| 1-Year | -4.0% ▼ |
| 3-Year CAGR | -0.6% ▼ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +1.4% ▲ |
The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.3%). 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 02142
Population: 4,349
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 02142
Schools in This ZIP Code
Nearby Schools (5 more)
Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area
Amigos School
Blackstone Elementary School
Cambridge Street Upper School
Charlestown High School
Harvard-Kent 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 3,776 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does house hacking look like in Cambridge, MA?
Cambridge, MA is a a tougher market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $1.3M price point reasonable to enter.
What is the investability score for Cambridge, MA?
Cambridge, MA rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $1.3M and rents near $3,975/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.
How strong is tenant demand in Cambridge, MA?
Tenant demand in Cambridge, MA is solid. The local workforce $3,975/mo rents across most rental classes.
How high is vacancy risk in Cambridge, MA?
Occupancy in Cambridge, MA runs predictable with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $3,975/mo lease on reasonable timelines.
Does Cambridge, MA favor landlords or tenants?
MA law tenant-protective for landlords, and Cambridge inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.
You know 02142 now. You don’t know where it ranks.
This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 02142 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 02142 ranks in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
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