Real Estate Investing in Clay County, Iowa

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

7 ZIP codes • Population: 15,142

Should you buy in Clay County, IA? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (76/100)

Solid choice β€” values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

πŸ“ˆ For Investors
WEAK
2.6 / 5 (41/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 9.9% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Clay County, IA?

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2.6/ 5

Investability

County-wide average

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

7.3% 5yr CAGR

5.0/ 5

Landlord Climate

Regulatory friendliness

Avg Investability β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…
Avg Home Value $188,102
Avg Monthly Rent $926
ZIP Codes 7

Investing in Clay County Real Estate

Clay County spans 7 ZIP codes across 7 cities in Iowa, with a population of 15,142. The county's sluggish investment metrics reflect deeper structural challenges β€” worth studying before making commitments.

The investment case for Clay County is difficult to make on screen data alone. a challenging fit for a 2.6 rating and cap rates that appear attractive only until real vacancy is underwritten.

The 0% renter share in Clay masks uneven tenant quality across ZIPs, and $N/AK median income leaves little cushion against economic shocks.

A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in Clay County, IA. Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Avg Home Value
$188,102
Avg Monthly Rent
$926
1% Rule
βœ— Below
Landlord Friendly (IA)
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

πŸ“‰ Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Spencer, IA metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
0%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings β†’

Cities in Clay County

ZIP Codes in Clay County, IA

Screen every market in Clay County

Filter this county’s ZIPs by cap rate, vacancy, appreciation and 30+ more criteria, and export your shortlist to CSV — with the Investor plan ($19/mo). Add weekly alerts when these markets move with Investor Pro+.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Clay County

How much does a house cost in, IA?

Homes in, IA typically sell near $188K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which measured long-term demand.

Does, IA favor landlords or tenants?

Rental owners in, IA deal with a tenant-protective legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

Are renters plentiful in, IA?

, IA draws a even-keeled base of working renters. Demand at the $926/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

Where does, IA sit compared to IA statewide?

Compared with IA overall, is broadly in line with on price and yield. $188K homes against $926/mo rents drive the comparison.

Community Ratings

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