Real Estate Investing in Falmouth, Massachusetts (02536)

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

Barnstable County • Population: 21,100 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 02536 (Falmouth, MA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (41/100)

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
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 27.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 27.0 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Falmouth, MA (02536)?

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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 $730,907
Avg Monthly Rent $2,259
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $89,132
% Renters 10.2%

Market Analysis: 02536 Falmouth

The 02536 ZIP covers a section of Falmouth that demands careful diligence. Prices near $731K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 02536 clocks in at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

The gap between 02536 and stronger Falmouth ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Resident income in 02536 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. substantial returns are possible in 02536, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Falmouth:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 58/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 8.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,259/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.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Barnstable Town, MA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
48 days
Average time to sell
Average
7.5%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Barnstable Town, MA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 02536

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
3.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+11.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$204,402/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $445,187 $1,910 3.1% +7.2% $445,187
2BR $542,565 $2,510 3.3% +10.1% $271,282
3BR $695,168 $3,090 3.2% +10.3% $231,723
4BR $817,607 $3,550 3.1% +10.4% $204,402
5BR $1,241,633 +11.7% $248,327

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$765K$666K$568K$469K$371K$272KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 02536 Compare?

Metric 02536 Falmouth Barnstable Town, MA Massachusetts
Home Value $730,907 $1,113,640 N/A $645,115
5-Year CAGR 6.4% 6.8% N/A 7.0%
Avg Rent $2,259 $2,041 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.4% 1.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 02536? 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 02536 (Falmouth, MA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.4%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Barnstable Town, MA metro

3/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
61%
Days Pending
1/2
48 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $730,907
Monthly Rent $2,259
Price-to-Rent 27.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.7%
Cap Rate 2.4%
5-Year IRR 8.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.4%). 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
27.7%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 02536

Population: 21,100

💰 Median Household Income
$89,132
This area
$89,132
State
$107,356
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
10.2%
This area
10.2%
State
28.1%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.3%
This area
3.3%
State
-8.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
42.4%
This area
42.4%
State
32.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
54.5 years
This area
54.5 years
State
22.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
27.7%
This area
27.7%
State
13.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 87.1%
Other/Mixed 9.3%
Hispanic/Latino 4.7%
Asian 2.2%
Black/African American 1.4%
👶 Under 18
14.6%
This area
14.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
29.1%
This area
29.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.7%
This area
3.7%
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 02536

A+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
9.9:1 Avg Class Size
$28,918 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

East Falmouth Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
298 Students
👨‍🏫
10.4:1 Class Size
💰
$28,918 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Teaticket

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
255 Students
👨‍🏫
9.4:1 Class Size
💰
$28,918 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

3 Nearby 592 Off-Campus Students
C+
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
1,362 students · 10.2 mi
C
Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School
77 students · 10.3 mi
C
Cape Cod Community College
2,604 students · 13.5 mi

Investor Insight: With 592 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong are rents in Falmouth, MA?

Investors in Falmouth, MA typically see rents near $2,259/mo per month against $731K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

Are tenants stable in Falmouth, MA?

Working renters make up the core of the Falmouth, MA tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

What is the investability score for Falmouth, MA?

Yes - Falmouth, MA a 3.0/5 investability score. With $731K home prices against $2,259/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Falmouth, MA?

Rental vacancy in Falmouth, MA is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

Is house hacking profitable in Falmouth, MA?

House hacking works a challenging in Falmouth, MA. Rents of $2,259/mo against $731K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

You know 02536 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 02536 ranks in Barnstable Town, MA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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