Real Estate Investing in Lexington, Massachusetts (02421)
Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.
Should you buy in 02421 (Lexington, 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 34.6 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.
What’s happening in Lexington, MA (02421)?
Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.
Market Analysis: 02421 Lexington
Investors eyeing 02421 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $1.6M come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.
The 02421 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.
Regionally, 02421 sits on the difficult end of the MA spectrum. The a viable market for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.
A durable renter share of 22% in 02421 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 02421 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.
Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Lexington:
Property Strategy for 02421
Which property type performs best in this market?
📊 Compare All Property Types →
| Type | Median Value | Est. Rent | Cap Rate | 5yr CAGR | $/Bedroom |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2BR | $947,571 | $4,200 | 3.2% | +6.6% | $473,785 |
| 3BR | $1,247,154 | $5,040 | 2.9% | +7.6% | $415,718 |
| 4BR | $1,686,350 | $5,560 | 2.4% | +8.1% | $421,588 |
| 5BR | $2,313,746 | — | — | +7.7% | $462,749 |
Market Trends
Home Value History (with trend line)
Rent History (with trend line)
📊 How Does 02421 Compare?
| Metric | 02421 | Lexington | Massachusetts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Value | $1,645,466 | $1,596,655 | $645,115 |
| 5-Year CAGR | 6.5% | 6.3% | 7.0% |
| Avg Rent | $3,964 | $4,119 | - |
| Cap Rate | 1.9% | 2.0% | - |
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 02421 (Lexington, 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 | $1,645,466 |
| Monthly Rent | $3,964 |
| Price-to-Rent | 34.6:1 |
| 1% Rule | ✗ Fails |
💰 Return Metrics
| Gross Yield | 2.9% |
| Cap Rate | 1.9% |
| 5-Year IRR | 8.4% |
📈 Home Appreciation
| 1-Year | +5.5% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +5.0% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | +6.5% ▲ |
| 10-Year CAGR | +5.7% ▲ |
🏠 Rent Trends
| 1-Year | +9.6% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | N/A |
| 5-Year CAGR | N/A |
The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.9%). 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.
Demographics in 02421
Population: 17,798
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 02421
Schools in This ZIP Code
Nearby Schools (5 more)
Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area
Douglas MacArthur Elementary School
Fiske
Hanscom Middle
Harrington
Joseph Estabrook
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 1,134 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are rents high in Lexington, MA?
Rents in Lexington, MA run near $3,964/mo. Compared with median home prices of $1.6M that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.
Do rentals sit vacant long in Lexington, MA?
Expect elevated vacancy in Lexington, MA. Rents at $3,964/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.
Is Lexington, MA a smart market for rental property?
The 3.0/5 investability rating in Lexington, MA reflects its $1.6M prices and $3,964/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within MA.
Does house hacking work in Lexington, MA?
House hacking works a tougher in Lexington, MA. Rents of $3,964/mo against $1.6M acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.
Are landlord laws favorable in Lexington, MA?
Lexington, MA operates under MA law, which is tenant-protective overall for landlords. Expect even-keeled treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.
You know 02421 now. You don’t know where it ranks.
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How 02421 ranks in Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
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