Real Estate Investing in Melrose, Massachusetts (02176)
Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.
Should you buy in 02176 (Melrose, MA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.
Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.
A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.
- Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
- High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 26.1 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.
What’s happening in Melrose, MA (02176)?
Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.
Market Analysis: 02176 Melrose
Investors eyeing 02176 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $931K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.
Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 02176 clocks in at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.
ZIP 02176's metrics run below Middlesex County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.
A impressive renter share of 34% in 02176 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.
New investors are better served looking at Melrose's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 02176. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.
Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Melrose:
Property Strategy for 02176
Which property type performs best in this market?
📊 Compare All Property Types →
| Type | Median Value | Est. Rent | Cap Rate | 5yr CAGR | $/Bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR | $367,218 | $2,370 | 4.6% | +5.0% | $367,218 |
| 2BR | $638,919 | $2,820 | 3.2% | +5.4% | $319,460 |
| 3BR | $874,323 | $3,380 | 2.8% | +5.5% | $291,441 |
| 4BR | $1,026,407 | $3,730 | 2.6% | +5.8% | $256,602 |
| 5BR | $1,145,703 | — | — | +6.4% | $229,141 |
Market Trends
Home Value History (with trend line)
Rent History (with trend line)
📊 How Does 02176 Compare?
| Metric | 02176 | Melrose | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Value | $931,069 | $931,069 | $645,115 |
| 5-Year CAGR | 4.5% | 4.5% | 7.0% |
| Avg Rent | $2,969 | $2,969 | - |
| Cap Rate | 2.5% | 2.5% | - |
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 02176 (Melrose, 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 | $931,069 |
| Monthly Rent | $2,969 |
| Price-to-Rent | 26.1:1 |
| 1% Rule | ✗ Fails |
💰 Return Metrics
| Gross Yield | 3.8% |
| Cap Rate | 2.5% |
| 5-Year IRR | 7.0% |
📈 Home Appreciation
| 1-Year | +7.1% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +4.8% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +4.5% ▲ |
| 10-Year CAGR | +6.2% ▲ |
🏠 Rent Trends
| 1-Year | -0.9% ▼ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +1.6% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +4.3% ▲ |
The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.5%). 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 02176
Population: 29,488
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 02176
Schools in This ZIP Code
Nearby Schools (5 more)
Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area
Forestdale
Robin Hood
South
Stoneham Central Middle School
Stoneham High
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
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Melrose, MA better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?
Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Melrose, MA. With home values at $931K and rents near $2,969/mo, other strategies can work but produce predictable rather than outsized returns.
What is the renter demographic in Melrose, MA?
Expect a solid tenant pool in Melrose, MA. The rental market absorbs $2,969/mo rents without meaningful friction.
Is rental property easy to operate in Melrose, MA?
Melrose, MA falls under MA landlord-tenant law, which is tenant-protective. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.
Is Melrose, MA good for house hacking?
House hacking in Melrose, MA is reasonable to execute. Prices around $931K and rents of $2,969/mo solid owner-occupant economics.
Is vacancy a concern in Melrose, MA?
Melrose, MA sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader MA rental market.
You know 02176 now. You don’t know where it ranks.
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How 02176 ranks in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
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