Real Estate Investing in Pownal, Vermont (05261)

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

Bennington County • Population: 2,200 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 05261 (Pownal, VT)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (64/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 14.6% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Higher unemployment: 8.5% unemployment — tenant risk signal.

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

What’s happening in Pownal, VT (05261)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $292,965
Avg Monthly Rent $1,485
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $71,711
% Renters 8.0%

Market Analysis: 05261 Pownal

ZIP 05261 in Pownal, VT carries a notable set of headwinds. Home values near $293K and rents of $1,485/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 05261 shows the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

ZIP 05261's metrics run below Bennington County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

In practical terms, 2,200 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

looks to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Pownal:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 61/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,485/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Bennington, VT Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
5.1%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Bennington, VT metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$306K$272K$238K$205K$171K$137KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 05261 Compare?

Metric 05261 Pownal Bennington, VT Vermont
Home Value $292,965 $292,965 N/A $387,631
5-Year CAGR 4.9% 4.9% N/A 6.4%
Avg Rent $1,485 $1,485 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.0% 4.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 05261? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 05261 (Pownal, VT). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.9%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Bennington, VT metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
54%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $292,965
Monthly Rent $1,485
Price-to-Rent 16.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.1%
Cap Rate 4.0%
5-Year IRR 8.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.0%). 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
14.6%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
3.0/5
Balanced
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 05261

Population: 2,200

💰 Median Household Income
$71,711
This area
$71,711
State
$75,625
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
8.0%
This area
8.0%
State
19.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
8.5%
This area
8.5%
State
-24.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
24.6%
This area
24.6%
State
2.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.0 years
This area
41.0 years
State
11.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.6%
This area
14.6%
State
26.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.4%
Other/Mixed 2.5%
Hispanic/Latino 2.3%
👶 Under 18
24.6%
This area
24.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.3%
This area
20.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
1.7%
This area
1.7%
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 05261

B+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
15.4:1 Avg Class Size
$16,672 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Pownal Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
261 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$16,672 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

4 Nearby 22 Off-Campus Students
A
Williams College
2,168 students · 4.3 mi
C
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts
933 students · 8.0 mi
B
Charles H McCann Technical School
45 students · 9.5 mi
C+
Bennington College
867 students · 10.1 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Pownal, VT?

House hacking in Pownal, VT is a challenging. With home values around $293K and rents at $1,485/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

What kind of tenants rent in Pownal, VT?

Tenant demand in Pownal, VT is solid. The local workforce $1,485/mo rents across most rental classes.

Is Pownal, VT good for landlords?

Pownal, VT operates under VT law, which is balanced overall for landlords. Expect consistent treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

Is Pownal in VT worth investing in?

Pownal, VT scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $293K and rents near $1,485/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

How expensive is real estate in Pownal, VT?

Homes in Pownal, VT typically sell near $293K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which consistent long-term demand.

You know 05261 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 05261 ranks in Bennington, VT

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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