Real Estate Investing in Merchantville, New Jersey (08109)

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

Camden County • Population: 24,004 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 08109 (Merchantville, NJ)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GREAT FIT
Grade A (85/100)

Strong fundamentals — affordable, appreciating, and stable. A confident pick for primary residence.

📈 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
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

What’s happening in Merchantville, NJ (08109)?

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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 $356,667
Avg Monthly Rent $1,967
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $80,527
% Renters 27.5%

Market Analysis: 08109 Merchantville

The 08109 ZIP in Merchantville, NJ is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $357K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 08109 registers the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

In the broader NJ picture, 08109 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Who lives in 08109 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Strategy in 08109 is an operator game, not a passive one. On balance, entry prices of $357K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 Merchantville:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 76/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,967/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 08109

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+12.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$87,655/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $267,700 $1,580 4.2% +11.9% $133,850
3BR $339,093 $1,890 4.0% +12.1% $113,031
4BR $383,170 $2,120 4.0% +11.3% $95,792
5BR $438,276 +10.8% $87,655

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$373K$327K$281K$235K$188K$142KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,977$1,946$1,915$1,884$1,853$1,822Mar 2026May 2026Jun 2026

📊 How Does 08109 Compare?

Metric 08109 Merchantville New Jersey
Home Value $356,667 $356,667 $559,826
5-Year CAGR 7.9% 7.9% 8.4%
Avg Rent $1,967 $1,967 -
Cap Rate 4.3% 4.3% -
💡 Why Invest in 08109? 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 08109 (Merchantville, NJ). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.3%
Fair
5yr Growth
+7.9%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $356,667
Monthly Rent $1,967
Price-to-Rent 15.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.6%
Cap Rate 4.3%
5-Year IRR 12.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.3%). 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
5.0%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.9%
Growing
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 08109

Population: 24,004

💰 Median Household Income
$80,527
This area
$80,527
State
$113,906
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
27.5%
This area
27.5%
State
28.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.2%
This area
5.2%
State
-9.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
26.9%
This area
26.9%
State
25.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.8 years
This area
39.8 years
State
22.0 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.0%
This area
5.0%
State
9.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 44.4%
Other/Mixed 24.5%
Black/African American 22.7%
Hispanic/Latino 21.9%
Asian 8.5%
👶 Under 18
22.1%
This area
22.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.8%
This area
15.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.6%
This area
11.6%
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 08109

A+ Avg School Grade
8 Schools
10.7:1 Avg Class Size
$30,646 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Benjamin Franklin Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 03 Elementary
👥
373 Students
👨‍🏫
11.0:1 Class Size
💰
$31,247 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Camden County Technical School-Pennsauken

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
769 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$27,157 Per Student
A+ Excellent

G.H. Carson Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 03 Elementary
👥
359 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$31,247 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Merchantville Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
396 Students
👨‍🏫
11.2:1 Class Size
💰
$30,529 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Pennsauken Intermediate School

📚 04 – 05 Elementary
👥
645 Students
👨‍🏫
10.4:1 Class Size
💰
$31,247 Per Student
A+ Excellent

George B. Fine Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 03 Elementary
👥
285 Students
👨‍🏫
8.5:1 Class Size
💰
$31,247 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Howard M. Phifer Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
1,010 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$31,247 Per Student
👥
162 Students
👨‍🏫
10.1:1 Class Size
💰
$31,247 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Collingswood Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 414 COLLINGS AVE, COLLINGSWOOD
👥
470 Students
👨‍🏫
10.7:1 Class Size
💰
$23,356 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Dr. Henry H. Davis Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 3425 Cramer Street, CAMDEN
👥
508 Students
👨‍🏫
8.3:1 Class Size
💰
$46,480 Per Student
A+ Excellent

East Side High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 3100 Federal Street, CAMDEN
👥
593 Students
👨‍🏫
9.4:1 Class Size
💰
$46,480 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Howard Yocum Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 01 Elementary
📍 748 North Forklanding Road, MAPLE SHADE
👥
536 Students
👨‍🏫
9.7:1 Class Size
💰
$26,029 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Maude M. Wilkins Elementary School

📚 02 – 04 Elementary
📍 34 WEST MILL ROAD, MAPLE SHADE
👥
571 Students
👨‍🏫
11.4:1 Class Size
💰
$26,029 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

8 Nearby 646 Off-Campus Students
D
Prism Career Institute-Cherry Hill
328 students · 1.3 mi
D
Empire Beauty School-Cherry Hill
125 students · 1.9 mi
D
American Institute-Cherry Hill
400 students · 2.0 mi
B
Rutgers University-Camden
5,776 students · 3.8 mi
C
Lincoln Technical Institute-Moorestown
633 students · 5.0 mi
C
Jean Madeline Aveda Institute
239 students · 5.2 mi
C
Missio Theological Seminary
49 students · 5.3 mi
D
P B Cosmetology Education Center
113 students · 5.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 646 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Merchantville, NJ stack up for property investment?

Merchantville, NJ reflects an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $357K and average rents around $1,967/mo. That combination puts it in the sturdy tier for investor interest.

Where do rents currently stand in Merchantville, NJ?

The typical rental in Merchantville, NJ commands about $1,967/mo monthly. That rent profile even-keeled cash flow against the $357K purchase basis.

Which investment style suits Merchantville, NJ?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Merchantville, NJ. With home values at $357K and rents near $1,967/mo, other strategies can work but produce steady rather than outsized returns.

How tight is the rental market in Merchantville, NJ?

Merchantville, NJ carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect even-keeled absorption at market rents of $1,967/mo.

How viable is house hacking in Merchantville, NJ?

House hacking in Merchantville, NJ is a challenging. With home values around $357K and rents at $1,967/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

You know 08109 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 08109 ranks in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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