Real Estate Investing in Falmouth, Massachusetts (02556)

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

Barnstable County • Population: 2,586 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 02556 (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: 63.9% 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 42.6 — 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 (02556)?

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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 $1,066,882
Avg Monthly Rent $2,088
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $129,787
% Renters 5.4%

Market Analysis: 02556 Falmouth

ZIP 02556 inside Barnstable County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $1.1M — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Meanwhile, the numbers look inviting — $1.1M purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 02556 is substantial and deserves full respect.

In practical terms, 02556 offers a low basis, the region around Falmouth has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

From an investor standpoint, 2,586 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

tilts toward the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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: 52/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 8.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,088/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 02556

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
2.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+11.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$309,892/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $667,268 $2,320 2.5% +9.7% $333,634
3BR $936,811 $2,860 2.2% +10.2% $312,270
4BR $1,239,569 $3,290 1.9% +11.2% $309,892
5BR $1,730,040 +10.6% $346,008

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$1.1M$978K$838K$697K$556K$415KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 02556 Compare?

Metric 02556 Falmouth Barnstable Town, MA Massachusetts
Home Value $1,066,882 $1,113,640 N/A $645,115
5-Year CAGR 6.0% 6.8% N/A 7.0%
Avg Rent $2,088 $2,041 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.5% 1.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 02556? 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 →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 02556 (Falmouth, MA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.0%
Moderate

📉 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 $1,066,882
Monthly Rent $2,088
Price-to-Rent 42.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.4%
Cap Rate 1.5%
5-Year IRR 7.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.5%). 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.

Vacancy
63.9%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 02556

Population: 2,586

💰 Median Household Income
$129,787
This area
$129,787
State
$107,356
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
5.4%
This area
5.4%
State
28.1%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.9%
This area
3.9%
State
-8.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
66.9%
This area
66.9%
State
32.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
49.3 years
This area
49.3 years
State
22.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
63.9%
This area
63.9%
State
13.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.9%
Asian 1.8%
Black/African American 1.5%
Other/Mixed 0.8%
Hispanic/Latino 0.6%
👶 Under 18
20.3%
This area
20.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
28.7%
This area
28.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.0%
This area
2.0%
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

🎓 Schools in 02556

A+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
10.9:1 Avg Class Size
$28,918 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

North Falmouth Elementary

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
297 Students
👨‍🏫
10.9:1 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

2 Nearby 77 Off-Campus Students
C+
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
1,362 students · 6.9 mi
C
Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School
77 students · 7.7 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical home price in Falmouth, MA?

Homes in Falmouth, MA typically sell near $1.1M. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which reliable long-term demand.

Do rentals sit vacant long in Falmouth, MA?

Expect elevated vacancy in Falmouth, MA. Rents at $2,088/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

Can I live-in-and-rent in Falmouth, MA?

The house hack math a tougher in Falmouth, MA. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $2,088/mo rents and $1.1M home values.

What is the typical rental rate in Falmouth, MA?

Investors in Falmouth, MA typically see rents near $2,088/mo per month against $1.1M home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

How qualified is the tenant pool in Falmouth, MA?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Falmouth, MA. The rental market absorbs $2,088/mo rents without meaningful friction.

You know 02556 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 02556 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 02556 ranks in Barnstable Town, MA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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