Real Estate Investing in Harlan County, Kentucky

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

17 ZIP codes • Population: 24,914

Should you buy in Harlan County, KY? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (84/100)

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

πŸ“ˆ For Investors
STRONG
4.2 / 5 (88/100)

A balanced market β€” moderate cash flow and moderate appreciation. A "steady" investor profile fits best.

⚠️ Risks to Know
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 19.2% of homes vacant β€” above national norms.
  • Elevated poverty: 26.1% poverty rate β€” can affect rent collection.
  • Lower household income: $39,676 median β€” tenant affordability is tighter.

What’s happening in Harlan County, KY?

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4.2/ 5

Investability

County-wide average

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

7.6% 5yr CAGR

5.0/ 5

Landlord Climate

Regulatory friendliness

Avg Investability β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…
Avg Home Value $79,219
Avg Monthly Rent $832
ZIP Codes 17

Investing in Harlan County Real Estate

Harlan County (KY) covers 17 ZIPs and 12 municipalities. unambiguously the fundamentals here skew distressed, and both rent and price trends have been tepid across most of the geography.

decisively Harlan County's β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜† aggregate rating reflects subdued investor metrics across the board β€” soft rent growth, soft appreciation, and structural headwinds worth taking seriously.

Population dynamics in Harlan haven't been supportive. less favorable for combined with soft income growth, the demographic backdrop complicates any purely financial underwriting.

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 Harlan County, KY. Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Avg Home Value
$79,219
Avg Monthly Rent
$832
1% Rule
βœ“ Passes
Landlord Friendly (KY)
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…

πŸŽ“ Colleges & Universities in Harlan County

1 College 3,144 Students 1,446 Off-Campus Renters
C
Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College
2-Year Public Β· 3,144 students
πŸ“ ~1,446 students rent off-campus

Investor Insight: With 1,446 students living off-campus, Harlan County has substantial rental demand from the college population β€” typically stable, lease-renewing tenants.

Cities in Harlan County

ZIP Codes in Harlan County, KY

40831 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Harlan
Population 4,719
Avg Home $104,876
Avg Rent $783/mo
40828 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Evarts
Population 4,431
Avg Home $62,288
Avg Rent $981/mo
40823 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Cumberland
Population 3,907
Avg Home $69,092
Avg Rent $783/mo
40873 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Wallins Creek
Population 2,329
Avg Home $80,561
Avg Rent $918/mo
40806 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Baxter
Population 1,827
Avg Home $106,884
Avg Rent $828/mo
40810 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Bledsoe
Population 1,403
Avg Home $88,216
Avg Rent $783/mo
40854 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Loyall
Population 853
Avg Home $71,515
Avg Rent $783/mo
40815 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Cawood
Population 815
Avg Home $70,958
Avg Rent $783/mo
40863 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Pathfork
Population 801
Avg Home $69,725
Avg Rent $819/mo
40855 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Cumberland
Population 782
Avg Home $55,519
Avg Rent $891/mo
40927 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Holmes Mill
Population 728
Avg Home $66,974
Avg Rent $783/mo
40870 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Totz
Population 635
Avg Home $97,895
Avg Rent $783/mo
40819 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Wallins Creek
Population 632
Avg Home $95,866
Avg Rent $783/mo
40807 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Cumberland
Population 535
Avg Home $63,767
Avg Rent $783/mo
40865 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Baxter
Population 365
Avg Home $96,702
Avg Rent $819/mo
40847 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Evarts
Population 97
Avg Home $52,389
Avg Rent $981/mo
40820 β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜… β˜…
Cranks
Population 55
Avg Home $93,502
Avg Rent $855/mo

Screen every market in Harlan 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 Harlan County

Are rents high in, KY?

Rental rates in, KY average $832/mo. Tenant demand and $79K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in, KY?

The landlord environment in, KY is tenant-protective. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

Is, KY a good place for real estate investing?

With a 4.2/5 investability score, KY ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $79K and rents of $832/mo drive the underlying numbers.

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in, KY?

Rental vacancy in, KY is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

Community Ratings

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