Real Estate Investing in Chelsea, Massachusetts (02150)

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

Suffolk County • Population: 39,444 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 02150 (Chelsea, 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 Chelsea, MA (02150)?

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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 $531,989
Avg Monthly Rent $2,641
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $70,968
% Renters 72.0%

Market Analysis: 02150 Chelsea

Meanwhile, ZIP 02150 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $532K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $532K asset, 02150 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

The gap between 02150 and stronger Chelsea ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Turning to rents, 39,444 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.

The right play in 02150 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 Chelsea:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 59/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 7.5× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,641/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 02150

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
4.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+5.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$165,984/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $388,071 $2,210 4.1% +2.8% $388,071
2BR $477,988 $2,630 4.0% +3.8% $238,994
3BR $610,512 $3,150 3.7% +4.3% $203,504
4BR $674,176 $3,480 3.7% +5.1% $168,544
5BR $829,919 +4.4% $165,984

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$562K$480K$398K$316K$234K$152KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,720$2,492$2,263$2,034$1,806$1,577May 2017Dec 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 02150 Compare?

Metric 02150 Chelsea Massachusetts
Home Value $531,989 $531,989 $645,115
5-Year CAGR 3.1% 3.1% 7.0%
Avg Rent $2,641 $2,641 -
Cap Rate 3.9% 3.9% -
💡 Why Invest in 02150? Click to expand

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

72% 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 02150 (Chelsea, 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
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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
3.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.1%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $531,989
Monthly Rent $2,641
Price-to-Rent 16.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.0%
Cap Rate 3.9%
5-Year IRR 7.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +1.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.1% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.9%). 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
5.2%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 02150

Population: 39,444

💰 Median Household Income
$70,968
This area
$70,968
State
$107,356
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
72.0%
This area
72.0%
State
28.1%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
6.1%
This area
6.1%
State
-8.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
21.6%
This area
21.6%
State
32.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
34.5 years
This area
34.5 years
State
22.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.2%
This area
5.2%
State
13.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Other/Mixed 57.1%
Hispanic/Latino 40.2%
White 33.9%
Black/African American 6.2%
Asian 2.8%
👶 Under 18
22.9%
This area
22.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
10.2%
This area
10.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
17.3%
This area
17.3%
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 02150

A+ Avg School Grade
12 Schools
12.1:1 Avg Class Size
$25,823 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Edgar A Hooks Elementary

📚 01 – 04 Elementary
👥
453 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$25,736 Per Student
A+ Excellent
👥
443 Students
👨‍🏫
10.1:1 Class Size
💰
$25,736 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Joseph A. Browne School

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
485 Students
👨‍🏫
10.1:1 Class Size
💰
$25,736 Per Student
A+ Excellent

William A Berkowitz Elementary

📚 01 – 04 Elementary
👥
435 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$25,736 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Clark Avenue School

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
678 Students
👨‍🏫
13.3:1 Class Size
💰
$25,736 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Frank M Sokolowski Elementary

📚 01 – 04 Elementary
👥
497 Students
👨‍🏫
12.1:1 Class Size
💰
$25,736 Per Student
A+ Excellent

George F. Kelly Elementary

📚 01 – 06 School
👥
486 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$25,736 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Shurtleff Early Childhood

📚 Pre-K – 01 Elementary
👥
806 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$25,736 Per Student
A Very Good

Chelsea Virtual Learning Academy

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
60 Students
👨‍🏫
7.7:1 Class Size
💰
$25,736 Per Student
A Very Good

Chelsea High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,680 Students
👨‍🏫
14.5:1 Class Size
💰
$25,736 Per Student
A Very Good

Phoenix Academy Charter Public High School Chelsea

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
194 Students
👨‍🏫
10.7:1 Class Size
💰
$26,778 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Chelsea Opportunity Academy

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
125 Students
👨‍🏫
17.9:1 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 · 1.8 mi
D
Cambridge College
1,952 students · 2.3 mi
C
Bunker Hill Community College
8,545 students · 2.4 mi
C+
North Bennet Street School
151 students · 2.5 mi
D
Lincoln Technical Institute-Somerville
27 students · 2.6 mi
C+
Hult International Business School
2,003 students · 2.6 mi
C
New England Hair Academy
102 students · 2.8 mi
C+
Sattler College
58 students · 2.9 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What real estate strategy is ideal for Chelsea, MA?

In Chelsea, MA the solid play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $532K prices and $2,641/mo rents suits that approach.

Should investors worry about vacancy in Chelsea, MA?

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

Are tenants stable in Chelsea, MA?

Chelsea, MA offers a stable renter base at the $2,641/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

Can I live-in-and-rent in Chelsea, MA?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Chelsea, MA reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

Where do rents currently stand in Chelsea, MA?

Average rent in Chelsea, MA is approximately $2,641/mo per month. Against $532K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

You know 02150 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 02150 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 02150 ranks in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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