Real Estate Investing in Barnstable, Massachusetts (02648)

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

Barnstable County • Population: 7,592 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 02648 (Barnstable, MA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (52/100)

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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 13.1% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

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

What’s happening in Barnstable, MA (02648)?

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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 $698,460
Avg Monthly Rent $2,547
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $130,177
% Renters 6.0%

Market Analysis: 02648 Barnstable

On the rental side, ZIP 02648 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $698K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $698K asset, 02648 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Nearby ZIPs in Barnstable have seen price recovery that 02648 has not matched. Barnstable County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Who lives in 02648 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

trends 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 Barnstable:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 64/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,547/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
⚖️
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 02648

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+9.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$209,889/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $543,468 $2,830 3.7% +9.5% $271,734
3BR $666,727 $3,490 3.8% +9.6% $222,242
4BR $839,555 $4,000 3.4% +9.7% $209,889
5BR $1,165,060 +9.4% $233,012

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$734K$637K$541K$444K$348K$251KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 02648 Compare?

Metric 02648 Barnstable Barnstable Town, MA Massachusetts
Home Value $698,460 $827,661 N/A $645,115
5-Year CAGR 6.4% 5.9% N/A 7.0%
Avg Rent $2,547 $2,672 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.8% 2.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 02648? 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 02648 (Barnstable, MA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.8%
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 $698,460
Monthly Rent $2,547
Price-to-Rent 22.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.4%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 9.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
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: 2.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.8%). 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
13.1%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 02648

Population: 7,592

💰 Median Household Income
$130,177
This area
$130,177
State
$107,356
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
6.0%
This area
6.0%
State
28.1%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
-8.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
39.4%
This area
39.4%
State
32.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
50.1 years
This area
50.1 years
State
22.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
13.1%
This area
13.1%
State
13.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.4%
Other/Mixed 3.5%
Hispanic/Latino 2.8%
Black/African American 1.9%
Asian 1.1%
👶 Under 18
17.0%
This area
17.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.8%
This area
19.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
1.1%
This area
1.1%
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 02648

A+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
11.6:1 Avg Class Size
$26,364 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Barnstable United Elementary School

📚 04 – 05 Elementary
👥
706 Students
👨‍🏫
10.4:1 Class Size
💰
$26,364 Per Student
A+ Excellent

West Villages Elementary School

📚 K – 03 Elementary
👥
399 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$26,364 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
Cape Cod Community College
2,604 students · 4.3 mi
C
Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School
77 students · 9.8 mi
C+
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
1,362 students · 11.7 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How tight is the rental market in Barnstable, MA?

Barnstable, MA carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect even-keeled absorption at market rents of $2,547/mo.

How much do tenants pay in Barnstable, MA?

Rent in Barnstable, MA is around $2,547/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $698K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

How expensive is real estate in Barnstable, MA?

Median home price in Barnstable, MA is near $698K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been even-keeled and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

What approach is best for Barnstable, MA real estate?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Barnstable, MA. The numbers - $698K homes against $2,547/mo rents - support that play.

Is Barnstable, MA a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

Our data puts Barnstable, MA at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $698K and rents around $2,547/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

You know 02648 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 02648 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 02648 ranks in Barnstable Town, MA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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