Real Estate Investing in Saint Albans, Vermont (05478)

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

Franklin County • Population: 16,016 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 05478 (Saint Albans, VT)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (58/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 11.7% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Saint Albans, VT (05478)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $381,729
Avg Monthly Rent $1,650
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $67,705
% Renters 31.7%

Market Analysis: 05478 Saint Albans

ZIP 05478 in Saint Albans, VT carries a healthy set of headwinds. Home values near $382K and rents of $1,650/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Rent of $1,650/mo on a $382K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 05478 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

The gap between 05478 and stronger Saint Albans ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

A healthy renter share of 32% in 05478 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

trends toward 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 Saint Albans:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,650/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Burlington-South Burlington, VT Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
43 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.6%
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 Burlington-South Burlington, VT metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 05478

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$99,736/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $309,424 $1,770 4.1% +8.0% $154,712
3BR $373,643 $2,270 4.4% +7.5% $124,548
4BR $398,945 $2,340 4.2% +7.4% $99,736

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$398K$353K$308K$263K$218K$173KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

No data available

📊 How Does 05478 Compare?

Metric 05478 Saint Albans Burlington-South Burlington, VT Vermont
Home Value $381,729 $381,729 N/A $387,631
5-Year CAGR 5.6% 5.6% N/A 6.4%
Avg Rent $1,650 $1,650 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.4% 3.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 05478? 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 →
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 ZIP 05478 (Saint Albans, VT). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.6%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $381,729
Monthly Rent $1,650
Price-to-Rent 19.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.2%
Cap Rate 3.4%
5-Year IRR 9.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.4%). 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
11.7%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
3.0/5
Balanced
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 05478

Population: 16,016

💰 Median Household Income
$67,705
This area
$67,705
State
$75,625
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
31.7%
This area
31.7%
State
19.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.9%
This area
0.9%
State
-24.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
27.8%
This area
27.8%
State
2.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.5 years
This area
40.5 years
State
11.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
11.7%
This area
11.7%
State
26.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 92.4%
Other/Mixed 7.1%
Hispanic/Latino 2.4%
Black/African American 0.3%
Asian 0.3%
👶 Under 18
19.0%
This area
19.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.4%
This area
18.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.5%
This area
7.5%
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 05478

A+ Avg School Grade
5 Schools
11.5:1 Avg Class Size
$25,743 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Georgia Elementary & Middle School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
603 Students
👨‍🏫
10.0:1 Class Size
💰
$22,549 Per Student
A+ Excellent

St. Albans City Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
684 Students
👨‍🏫
10.6:1 Class Size
💰
$26,541 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans)

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
891 Students
👨‍🏫
11.2:1 Class Size
💰
$26,541 Per Student
A+ Excellent

St. Albans Town Educational Center

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
764 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$26,541 Per Student
B Good

Northwest Technical Center

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$26,541 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in Saint Albans, VT?

Expect elevated vacancy in Saint Albans, VT. Rents at $1,650/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

How do home values compare in Saint Albans, VT?

The median home value in Saint Albans, VT is roughly $382K. That puts it reasonable relative to the VT statewide average.

How does Saint Albans, VT stack up for property investment?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Saint Albans, VT ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $382K and rents of $1,650/mo drive the underlying numbers.

Is VT a landlord-friendly state?

VT law balanced for landlords, and Saint Albans inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

How much do tenants pay in Saint Albans, VT?

The typical rental in Saint Albans, VT commands about $1,650/mo monthly. That rent profile steady cash flow against the $382K purchase basis.

You know 05478 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 05478 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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How 05478 ranks in Burlington-South Burlington, VT

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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