Real Estate Investing in Brooks, Maine (04921)

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

Waldo County • Population: 1,716 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 04921 (Brooks, 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: 21.3% 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 Brooks, ME (04921)?

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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 $293,791
Avg Monthly Rent $1,269
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $58,313
% Renters 24.2%

Market Analysis: 04921 Brooks

Stepping back, ZIP 04921 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $294K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $294K asset, 04921 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Regionally, 04921 sits on the difficult end of the ME spectrum. The a solid fit for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Employment concentration in 04921 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

appears 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 Brooks:

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 5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,269/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.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$310K$269K$229K$188K$148K$108KJul 2013Jan 2020Jul 2026

📊 How Does 04921 Compare?

Metric 04921 Brooks Maine
Home Value $293,791 $293,791 $401,109
5-Year CAGR 6.3% 6.3% 8.6%
Avg Rent $1,269 $1,269 -
Cap Rate 3.4% 3.4% -
💡 Why Invest in 04921? 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 04921 (Brooks, ME). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.3%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $293,791
Monthly Rent $1,269
Price-to-Rent 19.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.2%
Cap Rate 3.4%
5-Year IRR 9.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.4%). 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
21.3%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.3%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 04921

Population: 1,716

💰 Median Household Income
$58,313
This area
$58,313
State
$66,371
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
24.2%
This area
24.2%
State
17.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.0%
This area
4.0%
State
-23.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
30.3%
This area
30.3%
State
3.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
46.5 years
This area
46.5 years
State
19.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
21.3%
This area
21.3%
State
32.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.1%
Other/Mixed 5.0%
Hispanic/Latino 2.4%
Black/African American 0.9%
Asian 0.1%
👶 Under 18
14.4%
This area
14.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.7%
This area
17.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
15.6%
This area
15.6%
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 04921

A Avg School Grade
1 Schools
9.2:1 Avg Class Size
$18,553 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Morse Memorial School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
95 Students
👨‍🏫
9.2:1 Class Size
💰
$18,553 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

Should investors consider Brooks, ME?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Brooks, ME reflects its $294K prices and $1,269/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within ME.

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

The renter base in Brooks, ME is reasonable for the $1,269/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields reliable tenants.

What are rental rates like in Brooks, ME?

Average rent in Brooks, ME is approximately $1,269/mo per month. Against $294K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

Where do home prices stand in Brooks, ME?

Brooks, ME median home values land near $294K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,269/mo-per-month rentals.

How do experienced investors play Brooks, ME?

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

You know 04921 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 04921 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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