Real Estate Investing in Merrill, New York (12955)

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

Clinton County • Population: 494 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 12955 (Merrill, NY)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (60/100)

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: 49.0% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Merrill, NY (12955)?

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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 $210,038
Avg Monthly Rent $1,008
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $60,417
% Renters 8.2%

Market Analysis: 12955 Merrill

This part of Clinton County is not an easy win. The 12955 ZIP registers softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $210K asset, 12955 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

ZIP 12955's metrics run below Clinton County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Resident income in 12955 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. solid returns are possible in 12955, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Merrill:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+11.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,008/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
Plattsburgh, NY Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
9.6%
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 Plattsburgh, NY metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$218K$195K$172K$148K$125K$102KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 12955 Compare?

Metric 12955 Merrill Plattsburgh, NY New York
Home Value $210,038 $210,038 N/A $505,608
5-Year CAGR 5.6% 5.6% N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $1,008 $1,008 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.7% 3.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 12955? 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 12955 (Merrill, NY). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.6%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Plattsburgh, NY metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
72%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $210,038
Monthly Rent $1,008
Price-to-Rent 17.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.8%
Cap Rate 3.7%
5-Year IRR 9.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +11.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.7%). 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.

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⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
49.0%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 12955

Population: 494

💰 Median Household Income
$60,417
This area
$60,417
State
$86,376
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
8.2%
This area
8.2%
State
26.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.2%
This area
1.2%
State
-24.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
21.4%
This area
21.4%
State
4.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
55.3 years
This area
55.3 years
State
7.4 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
49.0%
This area
49.0%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 98.3%
Other/Mixed 1.7%
👶 Under 18
7.0%
This area
7.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
28.4%
This area
28.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.9%
This area
11.9%
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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Merrill in NY worth investing in?

Merrill, NY rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $210K and rents near $1,008/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

Is it easy to find good tenants in Merrill, NY?

Merrill, NY offers a steady renter base at the $1,008/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

Should investors worry about vacancy in Merrill, NY?

Vacancy risk in Merrill, NY is elevated. That supports consistent cash flow for typical rental holds.

Where do home prices stand in Merrill, NY?

Expect median prices around $210K in Merrill, NY. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been even-keeled.

How should investors approach Merrill, NY?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Merrill, NY. With home values at $210K and rents near $1,008/mo, other strategies can work but produce reliable rather than outsized returns.

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How 12955 ranks in Plattsburgh, NY

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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