Real Estate Investing in Falmouth, Massachusetts (02543)

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

Barnstable County • Population: 810 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 02543 (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: 60.5% 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 68.0 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Falmouth, MA (02543)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $1,557,786
Avg Monthly Rent $1,908
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $83,629
% Renters 14.5%

Market Analysis: 02543 Falmouth

This part of Barnstable County is not an easy win. The 02543 ZIP records softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 02543 sits at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Regionally, 02543 sits on the difficult end of the MA spectrum. The a strong candidate for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Resident income in 02543 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

The right play in 02543 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 Falmouth:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 55/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 18.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,908/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 02543

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
1.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+12.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$357,251/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
3BR $1,209,162 $2,810 1.7% +12.1% $403,054
4BR $1,429,002 $2,980 1.5% +12.6% $357,251
5BR $2,884,006 +11.9% $576,801

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$1.6M$1.4M$1.2M$954K$727K$499KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 02543 Compare?

Metric 02543 Falmouth Barnstable Town, MA Massachusetts
Home Value $1,557,786 $1,113,640 N/A $645,115
5-Year CAGR 9.0% 6.8% N/A 7.0%
Avg Rent $1,908 $2,041 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.0% 1.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 02543? 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 02543 (Falmouth, MA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+9.0%
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 $1,557,786
Monthly Rent $1,908
Price-to-Rent 68.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 1.5%
Cap Rate 1.0%
5-Year IRR 9.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +9.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.0%). 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
60.5%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+9.0%
Growing
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 02543

Population: 810

💰 Median Household Income
$83,629
This area
$83,629
State
$107,356
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
14.5%
This area
14.5%
State
28.1%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.9%
This area
1.9%
State
-8.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
83.1%
This area
83.1%
State
32.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
68.5 years
This area
68.5 years
State
22.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
60.5%
This area
60.5%
State
13.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.6%
Other/Mixed 4.4%
Hispanic/Latino 2.5%
👶 Under 18
0.0%
This area
0.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
60.7%
This area
60.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
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

Frequently Asked Questions

How strict are landlord regulations in Falmouth, MA?

MA law tenant-protective for landlords, and Falmouth inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

What kind of market is Falmouth, MA for investors?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Falmouth, MA reflects its $1.6M prices and $1,908/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within MA.

What kind of tenants rent in Falmouth, MA?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Falmouth, MA. The rental market absorbs $1,908/mo rents without meaningful friction.

What is the best play in Falmouth, MA?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Falmouth, MA. With home values at $1.6M and rents near $1,908/mo, other strategies can work but produce predictable rather than outsized returns.

What are home prices like in Falmouth, MA?

Expect median prices around $1.6M in Falmouth, MA. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been stable.

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How 02543 ranks in Barnstable Town, MA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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