Real Estate Investing in Dennis, Massachusetts (02638)

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

Barnstable County • Population: 3,256 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 02638 (Dennis, MA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (36/100)

Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.

📈 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: 53.1% 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 37.4 — 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 Dennis, MA (02638)?

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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 $958,092
Avg Monthly Rent $2,133
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $105,639
% Renters 17.8%

Market Analysis: 02638 Dennis

ZIP 02638 in Dennis, MA carries a impressive set of headwinds. Home values near $958K and rents of $2,133/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 02638 records the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Nearby ZIPs in Dennis have seen price recovery that 02638 has not matched. Barnstable County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

In practical terms, 3,256 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.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. solid returns are possible in 02638, 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 Dennis:

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 9.1× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,133/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 02638

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
3.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+11.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$286,817/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $573,634 $2,370 3.0% +9.5% $286,817
3BR $884,843 $2,920 2.4% +9.9% $294,948
4BR $1,444,038 $3,350 1.7% +11.0% $361,010
5BR $2,035,034 +11.2% $407,007

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$1.0M$881K$750K$618K$487K$355KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 02638 Compare?

Metric 02638 Dennis Barnstable Town, MA Massachusetts
Home Value $958,092 $731,052 N/A $645,115
5-Year CAGR 5.8% 6.3% N/A 7.0%
Avg Rent $2,133 $2,048 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.7% 2.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 02638? 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 02638 (Dennis, MA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.8%
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 $958,092
Monthly Rent $2,133
Price-to-Rent 37.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.7%
Cap Rate 1.7%
5-Year IRR 7.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲
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: 1.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.7%). 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
53.1%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 02638

Population: 3,256

💰 Median Household Income
$105,639
This area
$105,639
State
$107,356
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
17.8%
This area
17.8%
State
28.1%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.6%
This area
1.6%
State
-8.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
39.1%
This area
39.1%
State
32.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
61.5 years
This area
61.5 years
State
22.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
53.1%
This area
53.1%
State
13.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.8%
Other/Mixed 4.5%
Hispanic/Latino 1.3%
Black/African American 0.9%
Asian 0.9%
👶 Under 18
7.3%
This area
7.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
40.9%
This area
40.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.7%
This area
6.7%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby 515 Off-Campus Students
C
Cape Cod Community College
2,604 students · 7.9 mi

Investor Insight: With 515 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Dennis, MA make sense for an investment property?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Dennis, MA reflects its $958K prices and $2,133/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within MA.

What is the average monthly rent in Dennis, MA?

Expect rents around $2,133/mo per month in Dennis, MA. With home values at $958K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

How strong is the working-renter base in Dennis, MA?

Tenant demand in Dennis, MA is solid. The local workforce $2,133/mo rents across most rental classes.

What are vacancy rates like in Dennis, MA?

Vacancy in Dennis, MA is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $2,133/mo.

Can I house hack in Dennis, MA?

Dennis, MA offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $2,133/mo rent level.

You know 02638 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 02638 ranks in Barnstable Town, MA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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