Real Estate Investing in Marathon, New York (13803)

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

Cortland County • Population: 3,936 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 13803 (Marathon, NY)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (71/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 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: 10.7% 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 Marathon, NY (13803)?

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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 $209,284
Avg Monthly Rent $1,026
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $59,154
% Renters 17.0%

Market Analysis: 13803 Marathon

This part of Cortland County is not an easy win. The 13803 ZIP comes in at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 13803 reflects the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

From a cash-flow lens, 13803 offers a low basis, the region around Marathon has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Resident income in 13803 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. impressive returns are possible in 13803, 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 Marathon:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 73/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+12.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,026/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
Cortland, NY Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
10.4%
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 Cortland, NY metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 13803

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
6.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+7.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$54,544/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $154,088 $1,140 5.3% +6.5% $77,044
3BR $192,781 $1,440 5.4% +7.2% $64,260
4BR $218,176 $1,890 6.2% +7.5% $54,544

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$218K$192K$166K$139K$113K$86KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 13803 Compare?

Metric 13803 Marathon Cortland, NY New York
Home Value $209,284 $209,284 N/A $505,608
5-Year CAGR 7.4% 7.4% N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $1,026 $1,026 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.8% 3.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 13803? 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 13803 (Marathon, NY). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.4%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Cortland, NY metro

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

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $209,284
Monthly Rent $1,026
Price-to-Rent 17.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.9%
Cap Rate 3.8%
5-Year IRR 11.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +12.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +9.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.8%). 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
10.7%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 13803

Population: 3,936

💰 Median Household Income
$59,154
This area
$59,154
State
$86,376
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
17.0%
This area
17.0%
State
26.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.7%
This area
4.7%
State
-24.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
13.9%
This area
13.9%
State
4.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
33.9 years
This area
33.9 years
State
7.4 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.7%
This area
10.7%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 96.6%
Other/Mixed 3.1%
Hispanic/Latino 1.9%
Asian 0.2%
Black/African American 0.1%
👶 Under 18
29.9%
This area
29.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.3%
This area
17.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
10.2%
This area
10.2%
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

🎓 Schools in 13803

A+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
10.1:1 Avg Class Size
$28,201 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

MARATHON HIGH SCHOOL

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
319 Students
👨‍🏫
9.7:1 Class Size
💰
$28,201 Per Student
A+ Excellent

WILLIAM APPLEBY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
404 Students
👨‍🏫
10.6:1 Class Size
💰
$28,201 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

2 Nearby 1,184 Off-Campus Students
B
State University of New York at Cortland
6,780 students · 11.7 mi
C
Tompkins Cortland Community College
4,720 students · 12.0 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,184 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do home prices stand in Marathon, NY?

Expect median prices around $209K in Marathon, NY. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been steady.

What is the smart move for investors in Marathon, NY?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Marathon, NY. With home values at $209K and rents near $1,026/mo, other strategies can work but produce predictable rather than outsized returns.

What is the typical vacancy rate in Marathon, NY?

Expect elevated vacancy in Marathon, NY. Rents at $1,026/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

Are landlord laws favorable in Marathon, NY?

Marathon, NY falls under NY landlord-tenant law, which is tenant-protective. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

Are renters plentiful in Marathon, NY?

The tenant pool in Marathon, NY is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $1,026/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

You know 13803 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 13803 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 13803 ranks in Cortland, NY

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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