Real Estate Investing in Somerville, Massachusetts (02145)

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

Middlesex County • Population: 27,929 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 02145 (Somerville, 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 Somerville, MA (02145)?

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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 $840,829
Avg Monthly Rent $3,402
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $113,469
% Renters 66.1%

Market Analysis: 02145 Somerville

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Somerville's 02145 ZIP comes in at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $841K pricing implies.

For an experienced owner, 02145 can be a a strong candidate for hunting ground — but the discount at $841K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Nearby ZIPs in Somerville have seen price recovery that 02145 has not matched. Middlesex County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Meanwhile, 27,929 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

New investors are better served looking at Somerville's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 02145. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Somerville:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 55/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 7.4× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $3,402/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 02145

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
3.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+3.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$241,654/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $538,455 $2,820 3.8% +2.5% $538,455
2BR $718,612 $3,350 3.4% +2.1% $359,306
3BR $939,817 $4,020 3.1% +3.5% $313,272
4BR $1,037,181 $4,440 3.1% +2.5% $259,295
5BR $1,208,272 +3.8% $241,654

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$888K$808K$727K$647K$567K$486KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$3,557$3,244$2,932$2,619$2,306$1,994Jul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 02145 Compare?

Metric 02145 Somerville Massachusetts
Home Value $840,829 $948,154 $645,115
5-Year CAGR 2.6% 2.5% 7.0%
Avg Rent $3,402 $3,517 -
Cap Rate 3.2% 2.9% -
💡 Why Invest in 02145? Click to expand

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

66% 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 02145 (Somerville, 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

HOA
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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

HOA
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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

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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
3.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+2.6%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $840,829
Monthly Rent $3,402
Price-to-Rent 20.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.9%
Cap Rate 3.2%
5-Year IRR 5.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +13.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.2%). 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
5.4%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 02145

Population: 27,929

💰 Median Household Income
$113,469
This area
$113,469
State
$107,356
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
66.1%
This area
66.1%
State
28.1%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.3%
This area
2.3%
State
-8.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
53.7%
This area
53.7%
State
32.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
33.5 years
This area
33.5 years
State
22.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.4%
This area
5.4%
State
13.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 66.7%
Other/Mixed 17.9%
Hispanic/Latino 13.7%
Asian 10.3%
Black/African American 5.1%
👶 Under 18
13.5%
This area
13.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
9.7%
This area
9.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.6%
This area
8.6%
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 02145

A+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
11.3:1 Avg Class Size
$52,692 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Winter Hill Community

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
403 Students
👨‍🏫
8.5:1 Class Size
💰
$52,692 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Capuano Early Childhood Center

📚 Pre-K – K Elementary
👥
230 Students
👨‍🏫
9.6:1 Class Size
💰
$52,692 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Arthur D Healey

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
486 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$52,692 Per Student
A+ Excellent

E Somerville Community

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
743 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$52,692 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

Cambridge Street Upper School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 840 Cambridge Street, Cambridge
👥
304 Students
👨‍🏫
9.0:1 Class Size
💰
$53,724 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Charlestown High School

📚 07 – 12 High School
📍 240 Medford Street, Charlestown
👥
789 Students
👨‍🏫
8.5:1 Class Size
💰
$47,393 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
D
Lincoln Technical Institute-Somerville
27 students · 0.4 mi
D
Cambridge College
1,952 students · 1.1 mi
C
Bunker Hill Community College
8,545 students · 1.6 mi
C
Lesley University
3,134 students · 1.6 mi
C+
Hult International Business School
2,003 students · 1.8 mi
A
Tufts University
13,274 students · 1.9 mi
A
Harvard University
30,386 students · 1.9 mi
C
Longy School of Music of Bard College
318 students · 2.0 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 should investors approach Somerville, MA?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Somerville, MA. The numbers - $841K homes against $3,402/mo rents - support that play.

What monthly rent should investors expect in Somerville, MA?

Expect rents around $3,402/mo per month in Somerville, MA. With home values at $841K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

What is it like being a landlord in Somerville, MA?

Somerville, MA operates under MA law, which is tenant-protective overall for landlords. Expect stable treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

How quickly do rentals get leased in Somerville, MA?

Somerville, MA vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

How viable is house hacking in Somerville, MA?

House hacking in Somerville, MA is reasonable to execute. Prices around $841K and rents of $3,402/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

You know 02145 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 02145 ranks in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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