Real Estate Investing in Washington, Maine (04574)

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

Knox County • Population: 1,618 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 04574 (Washington, ME)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (45/100)

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: 13.6% 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 Washington, ME (04574)?

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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 $355,179
Avg Monthly Rent $1,440
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $57,692
% Renters 10.7%

Market Analysis: 04574 Washington

Investors eyeing 04574 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $355K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 04574 shows the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Regionally, 04574 sits on the difficult end of the ME spectrum. The a viable market for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Resident income in 04574 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Strategically, 04574 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Washington:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 57/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,440/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.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$372K$334K$296K$257K$219K$181KFeb 2019Nov 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 04574 Compare?

Metric 04574 Washington Maine
Home Value $355,179 $355,179 $401,109
5-Year CAGR 5.2% 5.2% 8.6%
Avg Rent $1,440 $1,440 -
Cap Rate 3.2% 3.2% -
💡 Why Invest in 04574? 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 04574 (Washington, ME). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.2%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $355,179
Monthly Rent $1,440
Price-to-Rent 20.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.9%
Cap Rate 3.2%
5-Year IRR 8.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.2%). 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
13.6%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 04574

Population: 1,618

💰 Median Household Income
$57,692
This area
$57,692
State
$66,371
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
10.7%
This area
10.7%
State
17.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.7%
This area
0.7%
State
-23.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
23.4%
This area
23.4%
State
3.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.8 years
This area
43.8 years
State
19.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
13.6%
This area
13.6%
State
32.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 96.3%
Other/Mixed 2.8%
Hispanic/Latino 0.8%
Asian 0.8%
👶 Under 18
16.1%
This area
16.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.7%
This area
17.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.4%
This area
7.4%
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 04574

A Avg School Grade
1 Schools
8.7:1 Avg Class Size
$16,955 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Prescott Memorial School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
108 Students
👨‍🏫
8.7:1 Class Size
💰
$16,955 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

What kind of market is Washington, ME for investors?

Washington, ME rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $355K and rents near $1,440/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

How much rent can I charge in Washington, ME?

Rental rates in Washington, ME average $1,440/mo. Tenant demand and $355K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

Is Washington, ME suited for a house hack?

House hacking works a challenging in Washington, ME. Rents of $1,440/mo against $355K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

Is Washington, ME better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

The best-fit strategy in Washington, ME is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

What is the typical home price in Washington, ME?

The median home value in Washington, ME is roughly $355K. That puts it reasonable relative to the ME statewide average.

You know 04574 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 04574 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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