Real Estate Investing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (15209)

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

Allegheny County • Population: 11,769 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 15209 (Pittsburgh, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (64/100)

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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Pittsburgh, PA (15209)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $238,765
Avg Monthly Rent $1,086
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $72,554
% Renters 24.0%

Market Analysis: 15209 Pittsburgh

The 15209 ZIP covers a section of Pittsburgh that demands careful diligence. Prices near $239K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 15209 posts the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Within PA, ZIP 15209 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Allegheny County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and resilient enough to shape underwriting.

Who lives in 15209 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Strategically, 15209 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Pittsburgh:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 74/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,086/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Pittsburgh, PA Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
42 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.7%
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 Pittsburgh, PA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 15209

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
7.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+8.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$82,131/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $104,763 $1,040 7.1% +8.1% $104,763
2BR $164,262 $1,260 5.5% +5.3% $82,131
3BR $249,320 $1,610 4.6% +5.4% $83,107
4BR $356,370 $1,740 3.5% +5.4% $89,093

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$252K$219K$185K$151K$118K$84KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,276$1,235$1,194$1,153$1,113$1,072Jan 2025Oct 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 15209 Compare?

Metric 15209 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $238,765 $139,617 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 3.1% 2.0% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $1,086 $1,523 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.6% 5.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 15209? 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 15209 (Pittsburgh, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Allegheny County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Real Property Management Keystone offers property management services in Pittsburgh, PA and surrounding areas. summary from their website

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Real Property Management Pittsburgh is a property management company in Pittsburgh, PA. summary from their website

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Real Property Management Three Rivers is a property management company in Pittsburgh, PA. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.1%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Pittsburgh, PA metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
48%
Days Pending
1/2
42 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $238,765
Monthly Rent $1,086
Price-to-Rent 18.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.5%
Cap Rate 3.6%
5-Year IRR 6.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -5.9% ▼
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.6%). 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
6.2%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 15209

Population: 11,769

💰 Median Household Income
$72,554
This area
$72,554
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
24.0%
This area
24.0%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.0%
This area
3.0%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
35.8%
This area
35.8%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
44.4 years
This area
44.4 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.2%
This area
6.2%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 91.7%
Other/Mixed 4.6%
Black/African American 3.1%
Hispanic/Latino 1.2%
Asian 0.7%
👶 Under 18
15.3%
This area
15.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.4%
This area
19.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.3%
This area
5.3%
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 15209

A+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
11.4:1 Avg Class Size
$24,366 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Marzolf Primary Sch

📚 K – 03 Elementary
👥
297 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$24,366 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Shaler Area HS

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,174 Students
👨‍🏫
11.4:1 Class Size
💰
$24,366 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Pittsburgh Allegheny K-5

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 810 Arch Street, Pittsburgh
👥
626 Students
👨‍🏫
10.1:1 Class Size
💰
$37,128 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Pittsburgh Arsenal K-5

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 215 39th St, Pittsburgh
👥
321 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$37,128 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Shaler Area MS

📚 07 – 08 Middle
📍 1810 Mt Royal Blvd, Glenshaw
👥
581 Students
👨‍🏫
10.6:1 Class Size
💰
$24,366 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Pittsburgh Sunnyside K-8

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 4801 Stanton Avenue, Pittsburgh
👥
247 Students
👨‍🏫
8.1:1 Class Size
💰
$37,128 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Propel CS-Northside

📚 K – 08 School Charter
📍 1805 Buena Vista Street, Pittsburgh
👥
350 Students
👨‍🏫
10.5:1 Class Size
💰
$20,772 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 794 Off-Campus Students
C
Empire Beauty School-North Hills
59 students · 2.1 mi
D
Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Saints Cyril and Methodius
35 students · 2.4 mi
C
Western Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing
145 students · 3.0 mi
C
Triangle Tech Inc-Pittsburgh
90 students · 3.3 mi
C
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
223 students · 3.6 mi
D
UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing
594 students · 3.6 mi
C+
Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science Inc
402 students · 3.7 mi
B+
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus
34,525 students · 4.0 mi

Investor Insight: With 794 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pittsburgh, PA a good place for real estate investing?

Pittsburgh, PA scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $239K and rents near $1,086/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Pittsburgh, PA?

For house hackers, Pittsburgh, PA is a challenging. The $1,086/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $239K property.

What are vacancy rates like in Pittsburgh, PA?

Expect elevated vacancy in Pittsburgh, PA. Rents at $1,086/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

How do home values compare in Pittsburgh, PA?

Pittsburgh, PA median home values land near $239K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,086/mo-per-month rentals.

What do landlords charge for rent in Pittsburgh, PA?

Average rent in Pittsburgh, PA is approximately $1,086/mo per month. Against $239K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

You know 15209 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 15209 ranks in Pittsburgh, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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