Real Estate Investing in Sutton, New Hampshire (03278)

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

Merrimack County • Population: 3,024 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 03278 (Sutton, NH)? 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
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 19.3% of homes vacant — above national norms.

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

What’s happening in Sutton, NH (03278)?

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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 $475,271
Avg Monthly Rent $1,647
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $86,806
% Renters 30.1%

Market Analysis: 03278 Sutton

Meanwhile, ZIP 03278 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $475K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $475K asset, 03278 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Statewide comparisons place 03278 among NH's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

The demographic picture in 03278 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Sutton averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 03278 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Sutton:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,647/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
Concord, NH Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
34 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.5%
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 Concord, NH metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 03278

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+9.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$142,465/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $376,441 $1,830 3.5% +9.7% $188,220
3BR $472,579 $2,410 3.7% +9.3% $157,526
4BR $569,860 $2,420 3.1% +8.5% $142,465

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$497K$434K$371K$307K$244K$181KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 03278 Compare?

Metric 03278 Sutton Concord, NH New Hampshire
Home Value $475,271 $475,271 N/A $496,656
5-Year CAGR 6.4% 6.4% N/A 9.6%
Avg Rent $1,647 $1,647 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.7% 2.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 03278? 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 03278 (Sutton, NH). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.4%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Concord, NH metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
36%
Days Pending
0/2
34 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $475,271
Monthly Rent $1,647
Price-to-Rent 24.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.2%
Cap Rate 2.7%
5-Year IRR 9.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.7%). 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
19.3%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 03278

Population: 3,024

💰 Median Household Income
$86,806
This area
$86,806
State
$93,430
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
30.1%
This area
30.1%
State
18.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.9%
This area
0.9%
State
-6.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
36.8%
This area
36.8%
State
29.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
44.7 years
This area
44.7 years
State
34.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
19.3%
This area
19.3%
State
22.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.7%
Other/Mixed 4.6%
Hispanic/Latino 2.6%
Black/African American 0.9%
Asian 0.8%
👶 Under 18
17.8%
This area
17.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.6%
This area
22.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.2%
This area
4.2%
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 03278

A+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
7.1:1 Avg Class Size
$24,436 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Simonds Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
130 Students
👨‍🏫
7.1:1 Class Size
💰
$24,436 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
C+
Magdalen College
58 students · 1.5 mi
D
New England College
2,856 students · 8.1 mi
C
Colby-Sawyer College
950 students · 11.0 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Sutton, NH stack up for property investment?

Yes - Sutton, NH a 3.0/5 investability score. With $475K home prices against $1,647/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

How strong is tenant demand in Sutton, NH?

Sutton, NH draws a stable base of working renters. Demand at the $1,647/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

What is the average monthly rent in Sutton, NH?

Rent in Sutton, NH is around $1,647/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $475K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Sutton, NH?

Sutton, NH vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

What strategy should investors use in Sutton, NH?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Sutton, NH best. The market produces stable results for that approach at the $475K price point.

You know 03278 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 03278 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 03278 ranks in Concord, NH

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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