Real Estate Investing in Polk County, Oregon

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

5 ZIP codes • Population: 84,624

Should you buy in Polk County, OR? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (54/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

πŸ“ˆ For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

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

⚠️ Risks to Know
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Polk County, OR?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

County-wide average

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

3.7% 5yr CAGR

4.0/ 5

Landlord Climate

Regulatory friendliness

Avg Investability β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…
Avg Home Value $452,319
Avg Monthly Rent $1,625
ZIP Codes 5

Investing in Polk County Real Estate

Polk County spans 5 ZIP codes across 5 cities in Oregon, with a population of 84,624. The county's lackluster investment metrics reflect deeper structural challenges β€” worth studying before making commitments.

A 3.0 rating and a 0.0% 5-year CAGR are the kinds of numbers that warrant real local underwriting. Polk County sits firmly in that category.

A 84,624 population and $N/AK household income profile is what makes Polk a challenging rental region β€” the base is present, but the affordability math is tight.

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 Polk County, OR. Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Avg Home Value
$452,319
Avg Monthly Rent
$1,625
1% Rule
βœ— Below
Landlord Friendly (OR)
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜†

πŸ“‰ Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Salem, OR metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
41%
Days Pending
1/2
51 days

View all metro crash risk rankings β†’

πŸŽ“ Colleges & Universities in Polk County

8 Colleges 14,692 Students 2,529 Off-Campus Renters
C+
Willamette University
4-Year Private Β· 2,112 students
C+
Phagans School of Beauty
2-Year For-Profit Β· 38 students
C
Western Oregon University
4-Year Public Β· 3,857 students
πŸ“ ~389 students rent off-campus
C
Chemeketa Community College
4-Year Public Β· 7,433 students
πŸ“ ~2,140 students rent off-campus
C
College of Hair Design Careers
2-Year For-Profit Β· 66 students
C
Corban University
4-Year Private Β· 866 students
C
Institute of Technology
2-Year For-Profit Β· 261 students
C
Johnny Matthew's Hairdressing Training School
Vocational For-Profit Β· 59 students

Investor Insight: With 2,529 students living off-campus, Polk County has substantial rental demand from the college population β€” typically stable, lease-renewing tenants.

Cities in Polk County

ZIP Codes in Polk County, OR

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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 Polk County

What price range are homes in, OR?

Homes in, OR typically sell near $452K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which even-keeled long-term demand.

Does, OR favor landlords or tenants?

, OR falls under OR landlord-tenant law, which is tenant-protective. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

Is the tenant base reliable in, OR?

Tenant quality in, OR ranks as solid. Landlords generally report measured occupancy at market rents of $1,625/mo.

Is, OR better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

The best-fit strategy in, OR is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

Community Ratings

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