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RE Intelligence

Rental numbers for ZIP 02898 (Richmond, RI)

Negative cash flow at any interest rate with 25% down: the rent does not cover operating costs and principal.

Rent here is HUD's Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom, because Zillow does not publish a rent index for this ZIP. It is the 40th percentile of gross rents, so market rent for a typical home is likely higher and the yield and cash flow below are conservative.
Gross yield
4.7%
rent x 12 / price
Est. cap rate
1.1%
NOI / price
Cash flow
-$2,221/mo
at 7.78%, 25% down
Typical price
$500,000
Zillow ZHVI, Aug 2026
HUD Fair Market Rent
$1,960/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent, 2 bedroom, FY2026

The pro forma

Typical home, default assumptions

Income and expenses, per year
OperatorLineAmountSource
Gross rent$23,520
Vacancy$1,176
Management$1,788
Property tax$7,029
Insurance$2,875
Maintenance$4,996
Net operating income$5,656
Loan payments$32,306
Cash flow-$26,649
Purchase and loan
OperatorLineAmountSource
Typical price$499,594
Down payment (25%)$124,899
Loan$374,696
Rate7.78%
Monthly payment$2,692
Cash in$139,886
Cash-on-cash return-19.1%
DSCR0.18
Break-even ratenone
Down payment25%
A common minimum for investment-property and DSCR loans.
Interest rate7.78%
Freddie Mac 30-year 7.03% (week of 2026-09-24) + 0.75 point investor premium.
Loan term30 years
Fixed, fully amortising.
Closing costs3% of price
Added to cash invested.
Insurance$2,875 a year
NAIC 2023 average homeowners (HO-3) premium for Rhode Island, $2,396, x 1.2 for a landlord policy.
Maintenance1% of price a year
The 1% rule of thumb; older homes run higher.
Vacancy5% of rent
About 18 days empty a year.
Management8% of collected rent
A typical full-service fee; zero if you self-manage.

Trends

Five years to August 2026

Price, 12 months
+3.8%
Rent, 12 months
n/a
no Zillow rent series here
Rent minus price growth
n/a
positive means yields are improving
Typical value (Zillow ZHVI)Indexed to 100 at Aug 2021
9010011012013014020222023202420252026
Show the numbers
MonthTypical value
Aug 2021$379,932
Aug 2022$421,672
Aug 2023$431,306
Aug 2024$463,967
Aug 2025$481,100
Aug 2026$499,594

Rent references

Two sources, never blended

SourceStudio1 bed2 bed3 bed4 bed
HUD Small Area FMR, FY2026$1,510$1,570$1,960$2,390$2,750
Zillow observed rent, Aug 2026not published for this ZIP

HUD's Fair Market Rent is the 40th percentile gross rent (rent plus utilities) for a standard unit, and it is what Section 8 vouchers pay against. Zillow's index tracks asking rents on listed homes. The two measure different things, so they are shown side by side and never averaged. HUD area: Providence-Fall River, RI-MA HUD Metro FMR Area.

Property tax

Effective rate
1.41%
ZIP area, ACS
At the typical price
$7,029/yr

Median real estate taxes paid divided by median home value, Census ACS 2020 to 2024. Washington County: 1.00%. Actual bills depend on the assessment, exemptions and any non-homestead rate.

Supply

Permits per 1,000 households
5.5
Washington County, last 12 months
National percentile
51th
among US counties

290 new housing units permitted in 2025-09 to 2026-08, Census Building Permits Survey. A high figure means more new supply competing for tenants.

Nearby ZIP codes

ZIPDistanceTypical priceRentGross yieldCash flow /mo
02812Richmond2.8 mi$533,000$1,980*4.5%-$2,393
02832Hopkinton3.2 mi$503,000$1,650*3.9%-$2,551
02892Richmond3.7 mi$602,000$2,270*4.5%-$2,642
02894Richmond5.3 mi$499,000$1,820*4.4%-$2,332
02822Exeter5.7 mi$623,000$2,190*4.2%-$2,802
02873Hopkinton5.9 mi$513,000$1,840*4.3%-$2,587
02833Hopkinton6.4 mi$503,000$1,730*4.1%-$2,547
02817West Greenwich7.7 mi$566,000$2,590*5.5%-$2,069

* HUD Fair Market Rent, 2 bedroom (no Zillow rent index for that ZIP).

Every ZIP in Washington CountyProvidence, RI metroRhode Island

Run the numbers on a real listing

The calculator opens with this ZIP's figures. Swap in a listing's price and rent, your rate and your costs.

Open the calculator for 02898

Questions

Is 02898 good for rental property?
On the typical home here, priced at $500,000 and renting for $1,960 a month (HUD Fair Market Rent, 2 bedroom, FY2026), the gross yield is 4.7% and the estimated cap rate is 1.1%. At a 7.78% investor rate with 25% down, estimated cash flow is -$2,221 a month. The median gross yield across the 8,418 ZIP codes with full Zillow data is 5.6%. These are figures for a typical property, not a judgement on any particular one.
What is the typical rent in 02898?
Zillow does not publish a rent index for 02898. HUD's FY2026 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom here is $1,960, the 40th percentile of gross rents and the basis for Section 8 payment standards.
What is the property tax rate in 02898?
The effective property tax rate is about 1.41% of value (median taxes paid divided by median home value, Census ACS 2020 to 2024). On the typical $500,000 home that is about $7,029 a year. Your bill depends on the assessment and local exemptions.
What interest rate makes a rental in 02898 break even?
With the default assumptions, no interest rate brings cash flow to zero: rent does not cover operating costs plus principal on a 30-year loan with 25% down.
How fast are prices and rents changing in 02898?
Over the 12 months to August 2026, the typical home value changed +3.8%.

Sources and method

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.