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Best Cities for Rental Property in Massachusetts

8 Massachusetts cities ranked by estimated cap rate. The average cap rate across Massachusetts markets is 3.0%, with median home prices averaging $549K and rents averaging $2,384/mo. Springfield leads with a 3.9% cap rate at a $360K median price. Property taxes average 1.19% across Massachusetts markets.

3.0%
Avg Cap Rate
$549K
Avg Price
$2,384/mo
Avg Rent
8
Cities Tracked

Massachusetts Rental Market Analysis

Massachusetts offers 8 investable rental markets tracked by CapRateCity. The state average cap rate of 3.0% is near the 3.81% national average. No cities pass the 1% rule at median prices, so value-add strategies are essential.

Prices and rents: Massachusetts home prices average $549K, which is 65% above the national average of $333K. Rents average $2,384/mo. The most affordable entry point is New Bedford at $310K, while Springfield offers the highest cap rate at 3.9%.

Taxes and costs: Property taxes average 1.19% across Massachusetts, above the 1.08% national average — investors should model tax expense carefully. Lowell has the lowest rate at 1.15%.Vacancy averages 5.3%, tighter than the national average — favorable for landlords.

Growth outlook: Population growth across Massachusetts averages 0.31% per year, led by Worcester at 0.6%. Home values are appreciating at 2.8% annually on average. Moderate growth provides a stable demand foundation.

Bottom line: Massachusetts is primarily an appreciation market. Cash flow investing requires below-median purchases or value-add strategies. Consider whether the growth and appreciation potential justifies tighter margins.

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How Massachusetts Compares to National Averages

Metric
Massachusetts
National Avg
Avg Cap Rate
3.0%
3.8%
Avg Home Price
$549K
$333K
Avg Rent
$2,384/mo
$1,524/mo
Property Tax
1.19%
1.08%
Vacancy Rate
5.3%
5.6%
Pop. Growth
0.31%/yr
0.92%/yr

Massachusetts Cities by Cap Rate Tier

3% – 4% (4)Below 3% (4)

All 8 Massachusetts Cities Ranked

1
Springfield, MA3.9% cap rate
$360K median$1,900/mo rent1.22% tax0.1% growth
2
New Bedford, MA3.4% cap rate
$310K median$1,480/mo rent1.2% tax0.2% growth
3
Worcester, MA3.2% cap rate
$465K median$2,120/mo rent1.18% tax0.6% growth
4
Lowell, MA3.0% cap rate
$715K median$3,100/mo rent1.15% tax0.4% growth
5
Boston, MA2.9% cap rate
$715K median$3,100/mo rent1.19% tax0.3% growth
6
Brockton, MA2.9% cap rate
$715K median$3,100/mo rent1.22% tax0.3% growth
7
Pittsfield, MA2.8% cap rate
$375K median$1,580/mo rent1.19% tax0.3% growth
8
Barnstable Town, MA2.2% cap rate
$735K median$2,690/mo rent1.19% tax0.3% growth

Other Northeast States

New York (24 cities · 4.2% avg)Delaware (2 cities · 4.1% avg)Pennsylvania (30 cities · 3.8% avg)Maine (4 cities · 3.5% avg)Connecticut (8 cities · 2.9% avg)Vermont (3 cities · 2.6% avg)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Massachusetts a good state for rental property investing?
Massachusetts has an average cap rate of 3.0% across 8 cities. The best-performing city is Springfield at 3.9%. Average home prices of $549K are above the national average. Property taxes at 1.19% are moderate.
What is the best city to buy rental property in Massachusetts?
Springfield leads Massachusetts with a 3.9% cap rate, $360K median price, and $1,900/mo rent. The best city depends on your strategy — cash flow investors should look at the top of this ranking, while growth-focused investors may prefer Worcester (0.6% population growth). Use the calculators on each city page to model specific deals.
What are property taxes like in Massachusetts?
Property taxes in Massachusetts average 1.19%, which is above the 1.08% national average. The lowest rate is in Lowell at 1.15%. On an average-priced home of $549K, annual taxes are approximately $6,544.
How many Massachusetts cities pass the 1% rule?
0 of 8 Massachusetts cities (0%) pass the 1% rule at median prices. None pass at median prices, meaning investors should target below-median properties or use value-add strategies to improve returns. The 1% rule says monthly rent should be at least 1% of purchase price.

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