Real Estate Investing in Waterboro, Maine (04087)

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

York County • Population: 2,122 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 04087 (Waterboro, ME)? 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: 17.4% 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 Waterboro, ME (04087)?

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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 $425,859
Avg Monthly Rent $1,629
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $90,922
% Renters 9.5%

Market Analysis: 04087 Waterboro

ZIP 04087 inside York County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $426K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 04087 reports the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Within ME, ZIP 04087 trails on several market indicators that neighboring York County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and impressive enough to shape underwriting.

The 04087 ZIP's population of 2,122 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that registers the need for careful underwriting.

seems to 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 Waterboro:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.7× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,629/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
Portland-South Portland, ME Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
35 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.2%
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 Portland-South Portland, ME metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$448K$387K$327K$266K$205K$145KJan 2012May 2019Jul 2026

📊 How Does 04087 Compare?

Metric 04087 Waterboro Portland-South Portland, ME Maine
Home Value $425,859 $416,161 N/A $401,109
5-Year CAGR 5.6% 5.8% N/A 8.6%
Avg Rent $1,629 $1,620 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.0% 3.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 04087? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 04087 (Waterboro, ME). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.6%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $425,859
Monthly Rent $1,629
Price-to-Rent 21.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.6%
Cap Rate 3.0%
5-Year IRR 8.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.0%). 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
17.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 04087

Population: 2,122

💰 Median Household Income
$90,922
This area
$90,922
State
$66,371
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
9.5%
This area
9.5%
State
17.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.5%
This area
3.5%
State
-23.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
19.8%
This area
19.8%
State
3.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
46.1 years
This area
46.1 years
State
19.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
17.4%
This area
17.4%
State
32.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.1%
Other/Mixed 2.9%
👶 Under 18
23.1%
This area
23.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.0%
This area
20.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.4%
This area
6.4%
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 04087

B+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
13.8:1 Avg Class Size
$16,402 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Massabesic High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
898 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$16,402 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Waterboro, ME?

ME law landlord-friendly for landlords, and Waterboro inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

How strong is the working-renter base in Waterboro, ME?

The renter base in Waterboro, ME is reasonable for the $1,629/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields steady tenants.

Where do home prices stand in Waterboro, ME?

Waterboro, ME home values average about $426K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $1,629/mo in monthly income.

Is house hacking profitable in Waterboro, ME?

House hacking in Waterboro, ME is reasonable to execute. Prices around $426K and rents of $1,629/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

What are vacancy rates like in Waterboro, ME?

Vacancy in Waterboro, ME is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $1,629/mo.

You know 04087 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 04087 ranks in Portland-South Portland, ME

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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