Rental numbers for Massachusetts
3 of 210 ZIP codes with full Zillow data in this state are cash-flow positive; the median gross yield is 4.8%.
- Gross yield
- n/a
- no Zillow rent index
- Median ZIP yield
- 4.8%
- 210 ZIPs with full data
- Cash flow
- n/a
- at 7.78%, 25% down
- Typical price
- $662,000
- Zillow ZHVI, Aug 2026
- Typical rent
- $2,770/mo
- median across 210 tier A ZIPs, Aug 2026
Counties
Gross yield uses Zillow county rent where published, otherwise the median ZIP yield
| Franklin County | $374,000 | $2,070 | 6.7% | 2.7% | -$1,177 | +7.1% |
| Hampden County | $355,000 | $1,818 | 6.2% | 2.2% | -$1,272 | +4.4% |
| Hampshire County | $455,000 | $2,325 | 6.1% | 2.4% | -$1,552 | +3.3% |
| Berkshire County | $392,000 | $1,825 | 5.6% | 1.9% | -$1,488 | +4.0% |
| Suffolk County | $751,000 | $3,280 | 5.2% | 2.6% | -$2,432 | +2.6% |
| Worcester County | $498,000 | $2,133 | 5.1% | 1.7% | -$1,980 | +1.1% |
| Plymouth County | $653,000 | $2,754 | 5.1% | 1.9% | -$2,508 | +2.5% |
| Middlesex County | $814,000 | $3,132 | 4.6% | 1.7% | -$3,240 | +2.5% |
| Norfolk County | $773,000 | $2,932 | 4.5% | 1.6% | -$3,147 | +1.5% |
| Bristol County | $549,000 | $2,060 | 4.5% | 1.4% | -$2,317 | +3.0% |
| Essex County | $723,000 | $2,632 | 4.4% | 1.4% | -$3,034 | +2.1% |
| Barnstable County | $762,000 | $2,574 | 4.0% | 1.5% | -$3,136 | +0.5% |
| Dukes County | $1,558,000 | not published | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Nantucket County | $3,171,000 | not published | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
Highest-yield ZIP codes in Massachusetts
Tier A only: Zillow value against Zillow rent
| ZIP | Typical price | Rent | Gross yield | Cash flow /mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01103Springfield | $137,000 | $1,539 | 13.5% | +$105 |
| 01608Worcester | $188,000 | $1,845 | 11.8% | +$84 |
| 01035Hadley | $530,000 | $4,995 | 11.3% | +$402 |
| 01109Springfield | $283,000 | $2,166 | 9.2% | -$399 |
| 01375Sunderland | $489,000 | $3,420 | 8.4% | -$765 |
| 01108Springfield | $307,000 | $1,942 | 7.6% | -$807 |
| 01840Lawrence | $386,000 | $2,347 | 7.3% | -$901 |
| 01105Springfield | $267,000 | $1,500 | 6.8% | -$860 |
| 01040Holyoke | $335,000 | $1,863 | 6.7% | -$1,080 |
| 01610Worcester | $380,000 | $2,100 | 6.6% | -$1,149 |
Trends
Five years to August 2026
- Price, 12 months
- +2.3%
- Rent, 12 months
- n/a
- Rent minus price growth
- n/a
- Property tax
- 1.07%
- effective rate, ACS 2024
Show the numbers
| Month | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Aug 2021 | $528,345 |
| Aug 2022 | $583,129 |
| Aug 2023 | $598,715 |
| Aug 2024 | $638,417 |
| Aug 2025 | $646,955 |
| Aug 2026 | $661,896 |
Costs that vary by state
- Effective property tax
- 1.07%
- Census ACS 2024
- Landlord insurance default
- $2,561/yr
- NAIC HO-3 $2,134 x 1.2
- Permits per 1,000 households
- 5.0
- last 12 months
- Median typical price
- $685,000
- tier A ZIPs
Metros
Questions
- Is Massachusetts good for rental property?
- 3 of 210 ZIP codes with full Zillow data in this state are cash-flow positive; the median gross yield is 4.8%. Cash flow assumes the typical home in each ZIP, 7.78% with 25% down and the default costs.
- What is the average property tax rate in Massachusetts?
- About 1.07% of value statewide (Census ACS median taxes paid over median value). Rates vary widely by county; the county table above links to each.
- What does landlord insurance cost in Massachusetts?
- NAIC's 2023 average homeowners (HO-3) premium in Massachusetts was $2,134. Landlord policies usually cost more, so this site assumes $2,561 a year. Quotes depend on the property, coverage and claims history.
Sources and method
- Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), mid tier, smoothed and seasonally adjusted
Zillow Research. Read: 2026-08.
Typical home value by ZIP, county, metro and state, and the price trend.
- Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI), all homes plus multifamily, smoothed
Zillow Research. Read: 2026-08.
Typical market rent by ZIP, county and metro, and the rent trend (tier A pages).
- HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents, FY2026
US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Read: FY2026.
Rent by bedroom count for every ZIP. The rent used on tier B pages, and a reference on all pages. It is the 40th percentile gross rent, so it runs below market.
- American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020 to 2024 (B25103 median real estate taxes paid, B25077 median home value, B11001 households)
US Census Bureau. Read: 2020 to 2024.
Effective property tax rate (median taxes paid divided by median value) by ZIP code tabulation area, county and state; households for the permits ratio.
- Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey, 30-year fixed (FRED series MORTGAGE30US)
Freddie Mac via the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Read: 2026-09-24.
The weekly 30-year rate. The site adds a disclosed investor premium to it for the loan payment.
- Building Permits Survey, county monthly files
US Census Bureau. Read: 2025-09 to 2026-08.
New housing units permitted in the last 12 months per 1,000 households, a supply-pressure signal.
- NAIC Homeowners Insurance Report, data for 2023
National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Read: 2023.
Average HO-3 homeowners premium by state, multiplied by 1.2 as a landlord-policy assumption.
Data: Zillow Research (ZHVI, ZORI), HUD, US Census Bureau, Freddie Mac. Every formula is on the methodology page.
Estimates from public data for a typical property. Not investment, tax or legal advice. Your property, financing and costs will differ.