Real Estate Investing in Caribou, Maine (04736)

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

Aroostook County • Population: 9,107 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 04736 (Caribou, ME)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (75/100)

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

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

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: 10.4% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Caribou, ME (04736)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $170,767
Avg Monthly Rent $1,026
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $50,286
% Renters 25.5%

Market Analysis: 04736 Caribou

Investors eyeing 04736 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $171K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Rent of $1,026/mo on a $171K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 04736 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

On balance, 04736 offers a low basis, the region around Caribou has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

The 04736 ZIP's population of 9,107 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that reports the need for careful underwriting.

New investors are better served looking at Caribou's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 04736. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Caribou:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 77/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,026/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
🏠

Property Strategy for 04736

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
6.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+9.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$49,232/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $133,394 $1,140 6.2% +9.3% $66,697
3BR $169,994 $1,560 6.6% +8.7% $56,665
4BR $196,930 $1,620 5.9% +8.5% $49,232

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$178K$158K$138K$118K$98K$79KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 04736 Compare?

Metric 04736 Caribou Maine
Home Value $170,767 $170,767 $401,109
5-Year CAGR 7.0% 7.0% 8.6%
Avg Rent $1,026 $1,026 -
Cap Rate 4.7% 4.7% -
💡 Why Invest in 04736? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 04736 (Caribou, ME). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.7%
Fair
5yr Growth
+7.0%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $170,767
Monthly Rent $1,026
Price-to-Rent 13.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.2%
Cap Rate 4.7%
5-Year IRR 11.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.7%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
10.4%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.0%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 04736

Population: 9,107

💰 Median Household Income
$50,286
This area
$50,286
State
$66,371
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
25.5%
This area
25.5%
State
17.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.4%
This area
1.4%
State
-23.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
24.0%
This area
24.0%
State
3.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
51.1 years
This area
51.1 years
State
19.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.4%
This area
10.4%
State
32.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.2%
Other/Mixed 6.4%
Hispanic/Latino 0.4%
Asian 0.3%
👶 Under 18
17.1%
This area
17.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
24.7%
This area
24.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.0%
This area
8.0%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 04736

B+ Avg School Grade
5 Schools
12.1:1 Avg Class Size
$17,981 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Woodland Consolidated Sch

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
167 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$20,103 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Caribou Community School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
773 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$19,540 Per Student
A Very Good

Caribou High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
440 Students
👨‍🏫
15.6:1 Class Size
💰
$19,540 Per Student
B Good

Connor Consolidated School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
31 Students
👨‍🏫
7.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,184 Per Student
B Good

Caribou RegionalTechnology Ctr

📚 Grade N Elementary Limited Data
💰
$19,540 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby 232 Off-Campus Students
C
Northern Maine Community College
772 students · 14.7 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Are tenants stable in Caribou, ME?

Working renters make up the core of the Caribou, ME tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

Are landlord laws favorable in Caribou, ME?

Rental owners in Caribou, ME deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

Which real estate strategy fits Caribou, ME?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Caribou, ME. The numbers - $171K homes against $1,026/mo rents - support that play.

Is Caribou, ME a good market for FHA house hackers?

Caribou, ME is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $171K price point reasonable to enter.

What price range are homes in Caribou, ME?

Median home price in Caribou, ME is near $171K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been steady and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

You know 04736 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 04736 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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