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Lowell vs New Bedford for Rental Property Investing

Side-by-side comparison of Lowell, MA and New Bedford, MA — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.

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Dead heat across key metrics
New Bedford leads on cash flow (3.40% vs 3.24% cap rate) · Lowell leads on population growth
Metric
Lowell, MA
New Bedford, MA
Est. Cap Rate
3.24%
3.40%
Median Home Price
$380,000
$310,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,720
$1,480
1% Rule
0.45%
0.48%
GRM
18.4x
17.5x
Price / Income
6.5x
7.7x
Property Tax Rate
1.15%
1.2%
Vacancy Rate
4.5%
5.8%
Population Growth
0.4% / yr
0.2% / yr
Annual Appreciation
2.8%
2.8%
Population
115,554
101,000
Median Income
$58,200
$40,200

Lowell vs New Bedford: Which Is Better for Investors?

Cash flow: New Bedford has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 3.40% compared to Lowell's 3.24%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $380,000 in Lowell vs $310,000 in New Bedford, while rents come in at $1,720/mo and $1,480/mo respectively.

Growth & appreciation: Lowell is growing faster at 0.4% annually vs New Bedford's 0.2%. Lowell leads on home value appreciation at 2.8% per year.

Costs & risk: Property taxes are 1.15% in Lowell vs 1.2% in New Bedford. Vacancy rates of 4.5% and 5.8% are both healthy, suggesting strong tenant demand in both markets.

Bottom line: These two markets are remarkably similar — the best choice depends on your strategy. New Bedford is better for cash flow, Lowell for growth. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Lowell or New Bedford.

Lowell, MA
3.24% cap rate · $380,000 median · $1,720/mo
Full analysis →
New Bedford, MA
3.40% cap rate · $310,000 median · $1,480/mo
Full analysis →
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