Real Estate Investing in Cato, New York (13033)

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

Cayuga County • Population: 3,660 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 13033 (Cato, NY)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (66/100)

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
  • Elevated vacancy: 10.0% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

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

What’s happening in Cato, NY (13033)?

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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 $229,132
Avg Monthly Rent $1,143
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $75,300
% Renters 14.1%

Market Analysis: 13033 Cato

ZIP 13033 in Cato, NY carries a durable set of headwinds. Home values near $229K and rents of $1,143/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Rent of $1,143/mo on a $229K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 13033 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Within NY, ZIP 13033 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Cayuga County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and solid enough to shape underwriting.

Demographically, 13033 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

The right play in 13033 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 Cato:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,143/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
Auburn, NY Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
10.0%
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 Auburn, NY metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 13033

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
5.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+8.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$62,190/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $181,367 $1,270 5.0% +7.2% $90,683
3BR $218,604 $1,650 5.4% +8.1% $72,868
4BR $248,760 $1,900 5.5% +8.6% $62,190

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$240K$211K$182K$153K$124K$95KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 13033 Compare?

Metric 13033 Cato Auburn, NY New York
Home Value $229,132 $229,132 N/A $505,608
5-Year CAGR 6.5% 6.5% N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $1,143 $1,143 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.9% 3.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 13033? 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 13033 (Cato, NY). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.5%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Auburn, NY metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
55%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $229,132
Monthly Rent $1,143
Price-to-Rent 16.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.0%
Cap Rate 3.9%
5-Year IRR 10.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.9%). 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
10.0%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.5%
Growing
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 13033

Population: 3,660

💰 Median Household Income
$75,300
This area
$75,300
State
$86,376
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
14.1%
This area
14.1%
State
26.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.0%
This area
3.0%
State
-24.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
18.0%
This area
18.0%
State
4.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.9 years
This area
38.9 years
State
7.4 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.0%
This area
10.0%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.2%
Other/Mixed 4.2%
Hispanic/Latino 1.6%
Asian 0.6%
👶 Under 18
24.3%
This area
24.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
14.0%
This area
14.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.9%
This area
6.9%
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

🎓 Schools in 13033

A+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
11.3:1 Avg Class Size
$24,494 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

CATO-MERIDIAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
489 Students
👨‍🏫
12.0:1 Class Size
💰
$24,494 Per Student
A+ Excellent

CATO-MERIDIAN JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
374 Students
👨‍🏫
10.6:1 Class Size
💰
$24,494 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

Is housing expensive in Cato, NY?

Typical homes in Cato, NY go for around $229K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% even-keeled price movement.

Is Cato, NY a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

Cato, NY scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $229K and rents near $1,143/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Cato, NY?

The house hack math a challenging in Cato, NY. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $1,143/mo rents and $229K home values.

Should investors worry about vacancy in Cato, NY?

Cato, NY carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect measured absorption at market rents of $1,143/mo.

What is it like being a landlord in Cato, NY?

Landlord-friendliness in Cato, NY is tenant-protective. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

You know 13033 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 13033 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 13033 ranks in Auburn, NY

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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