Real Estate Investing in Milton, Massachusetts (02186)

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

Norfolk County • Population: 28,716 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 02186 (Milton, MA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (57/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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
2 flags
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 31.0 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Milton, MA (02186)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $1,098,262
Avg Monthly Rent $2,950
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $170,144
% Renters 16.1%

Market Analysis: 02186 Milton

Investors eyeing 02186 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $1.1M come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Rent of $2,950/mo on a $1.1M basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 02186 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

ZIP 02186's metrics run below Norfolk County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

A solid renter share of 16% in 02186 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

The right play in 02186 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 Milton:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 63/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,950/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
🏠

Property Strategy for 02186

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
2.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+8.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$295,755/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $763,324 $2,560 2.4% +5.2% $381,662
3BR $948,815 $3,080 2.3% +6.2% $316,272
4BR $1,183,021 $3,390 2.1% +6.9% $295,755
5BR $1,728,210 +8.2% $345,642

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$1.2M$1.0M$860K$710K$560K$410KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$3,207$3,151$3,096$3,041$2,986$2,931Mar 2026May 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 02186 Compare?

Metric 02186 Milton Massachusetts
Home Value $1,098,262 $1,098,262 $645,115
5-Year CAGR 5.1% 5.1% 7.0%
Avg Rent $2,950 $2,950 -
Cap Rate 2.1% 2.1% -
💡 Why Invest in 02186? Click to expand

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

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 02186 (Milton, MA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Norfolk County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Old Colony Property Services is a condominium and HOA property management company serving the Old Colony area of Southeastern Massachusetts, including Canton, Easton, Brockton, and Bridgewater. summary from their website

HOA
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Bellevue Property Management is a home rental and property management company servicing Boston Metrowest, including Newton, Needham, Wellesley, Weston, Wayland, Natick, and Holliston. summary from their website

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The Triad Group is a real estate and development company specializing in taking development projects from vision to reality across the United States and globally. 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
2.1%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.1%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $1,098,262
Monthly Rent $2,950
Price-to-Rent 31.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.2%
Cap Rate 2.1%
5-Year IRR 7.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

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

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.1%). 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.

Vacancy
3.4%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 02186

Population: 28,716

💰 Median Household Income
$170,144
This area
$170,144
State
$107,356
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
16.1%
This area
16.1%
State
28.1%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.6%
This area
2.6%
State
-8.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
67.6%
This area
67.6%
State
32.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.0 years
This area
40.0 years
State
22.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.4%
This area
3.4%
State
13.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 70.6%
Black/African American 16.0%
Other/Mixed 7.6%
Asian 6.0%
Hispanic/Latino 3.5%
👶 Under 18
25.4%
This area
25.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.0%
This area
16.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.2%
This area
3.2%
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 02186

A+ Avg School Grade
6 Schools
12.9:1 Avg Class Size
$20,245 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Charles S Pierce Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
960 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$20,245 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Collicot

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
586 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$20,245 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Cunningham School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
611 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$20,245 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Glover

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
622 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$20,245 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Tucker

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
449 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 Class Size
💰
$20,245 Per Student
A Very Good

Milton High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,092 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$20,245 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Boston Community Leadership Academy

📚 07 – 12 High School
📍 655 Metropolitan Ave, Hyde Park
👥
569 Students
👨‍🏫
8.3:1 Class Size
💰
$47,393 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Mattahunt Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 123 Alabama St, Mattapan
👥
512 Students
👨‍🏫
9.8:1 Class Size
💰
$47,393 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Mildred Avenue K-8 School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 5 Mildred Avenue, Mattapan
👥
590 Students
👨‍🏫
10.2:1 Class Size
💰
$47,393 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Roosevelt K-8 School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 95 Needham Road, Hyde Park
👥
331 Students
👨‍🏫
9.3:1 Class Size
💰
$47,393 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Taylor Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 1060 Morton Street, Mattapan
👥
343 Students
👨‍🏫
8.1:1 Class Size
💰
$47,393 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 657 Off-Campus Students
C
Curry College
1,994 students · 1.6 mi
C+
Boston Baptist College
33 students · 1.7 mi
C
Laboure College of Healthcare
717 students · 2.0 mi
C
Blue Hills Regional Technical School
38 students · 4.0 mi
C
Quincy College
2,603 students · 4.3 mi
C
Massachusetts School of Barbering
48 students · 4.3 mi
C
Eastern Nazarene College
458 students · 4.4 mi
C+
Jupiter Beauty Academy
207 students · 4.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 657 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do rents currently stand in Milton, MA?

The typical rental in Milton, MA commands about $2,950/mo monthly. That rent profile even-keeled cash flow against the $1.1M purchase basis.

How quickly do rentals get leased in Milton, MA?

Vacancy risk in Milton, MA is elevated. That supports stable cash flow for typical rental holds.

How expensive is real estate in Milton, MA?

Median home price in Milton, MA is near $1.1M, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been steady and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

Is Milton, MA landlord-friendly?

MA ranks as a tenant-protective state for landlord-tenant law. Milton generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

How strong is tenant demand in Milton, MA?

Milton, MA draws a predictable base of working renters. Demand at the $2,950/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

You know 02186 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 02186 ranks in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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