Real Estate Investing in Wilmington, New York (12997)

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

Essex County • Population: 1,280 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 12997 (Wilmington, NY)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (46/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 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
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 34.1% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 27.6 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

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

What’s happening in Wilmington, NY (12997)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $431,852
Avg Monthly Rent $1,305
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $69,758
% Renters 20.1%

Market Analysis: 12997 Wilmington

Investors eyeing 12997 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $432K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 12997 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

In the broader NY picture, 12997 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Put differently, 1,280 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.

The right play in 12997 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Wilmington:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 60/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,305/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 12997

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
3.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+11.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$147,183/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $327,448 $1,450 3.2% +10.7% $163,724
3BR $444,044 $1,780 2.9% +11.7% $148,015
4BR $588,731 $2,010 2.5% +10.5% $147,183

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$454K$389K$324K$259K$195K$130KJun 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 12997 Compare?

Metric 12997 Wilmington New York
Home Value $431,852 $431,852 $505,608
5-Year CAGR 8.9% 8.9% 6.6%
Avg Rent $1,305 $1,305 -
Cap Rate 2.4% 2.4% -
💡 Why Invest in 12997? 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 12997 (Wilmington, NY). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+8.9%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $431,852
Monthly Rent $1,305
Price-to-Rent 27.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.6%
Cap Rate 2.4%
5-Year IRR 11.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +8.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.4%). 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
34.1%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+8.9%
Growing
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 12997

Population: 1,280

💰 Median Household Income
$69,758
This area
$69,758
State
$86,376
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
20.1%
This area
20.1%
State
26.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.6%
This area
1.6%
State
-24.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
34.8%
This area
34.8%
State
4.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
49.1 years
This area
49.1 years
State
7.4 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
34.1%
This area
34.1%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.8%
Other/Mixed 2.1%
Hispanic/Latino 0.5%
Black/African American 0.2%
👶 Under 18
11.6%
This area
11.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
24.3%
This area
24.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.2%
This area
4.2%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby 736 Off-Campus Students
C
North Country Community College
1,615 students · 14.2 mi

Investor Insight: With 736 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do experienced investors play Wilmington, NY?

Wilmington, NY investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($432K prices, $1,305/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

Does house hacking make sense in Wilmington, NY?

For house hackers, Wilmington, NY is a challenging. The $1,305/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $432K property.

What is the typical vacancy rate in Wilmington, NY?

Expect elevated vacancy in Wilmington, NY. Rents at $1,305/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

Is housing expensive in Wilmington, NY?

Expect median prices around $432K in Wilmington, NY. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been consistent.

How does Wilmington, NY rate as a rental market?

Investors tracking Wilmington, NY will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $432K median home values and $1,305/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting even-keeled returns.

You know 12997 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 12997 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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