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Worcester vs Lowell for Rental Property Investing

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

Worcester wins 5–2 across key metrics
Worcester leads on cash flow (3.33% vs 3.24% cap rate)
Metric
Worcester, MA
Lowell, MA
Est. Cap Rate
3.33%
3.24%
Median Home Price
$355,000
$380,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,650
$1,720
1% Rule
0.46%
0.45%
GRM
17.9x
18.4x
Price / Income
6.8x
6.5x
Property Tax Rate
1.18%
1.15%
Vacancy Rate
4.8%
4.5%
Population Growth
0.6% / yr
0.4% / yr
Annual Appreciation
3%
2.8%
Population
206,518
115,554
Median Income
$52,400
$58,200

Worcester vs Lowell: Which Is Better for Investors?

Cash flow: Worcester has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 3.33% 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 $355,000 in Worcester vs $380,000 in Lowell, while rents come in at $1,650/mo and $1,720/mo respectively.

Growth & appreciation: Worcester is growing faster at 0.6% annually vs Lowell's 0.4%. Worcester leads on home value appreciation at 3% per year.

Costs & risk: Property taxes are 1.18% in Worcester vs 1.15% in Lowell. Vacancy rates of 4.8% and 4.5% are both healthy, suggesting strong tenant demand in both markets.

Bottom line: Worcester edges out Lowell on most key metrics. While cap rates are moderate at 3.33%, Worcester's overall profile is stronger. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Worcester or Lowell.

Worcester, MA
3.33% cap rate · $355,000 median · $1,650/mo
Full analysis →
Lowell, MA
3.24% cap rate · $380,000 median · $1,720/mo
Full analysis →
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