Real Estate Investing in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (15238)

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

Allegheny County • Population: 13,000 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 15238 (Pittsburgh, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (59/100)

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: 8.0% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 28.0 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Pittsburgh, PA (15238)?

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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 $581,326
Avg Monthly Rent $1,731
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $124,394
% Renters 22.7%

Market Analysis: 15238 Pittsburgh

ZIP 15238 inside Allegheny County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $581K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

In practical terms, the numbers look inviting — $581K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 15238 is substantial and deserves full respect.

The gap between 15238 and stronger Pittsburgh ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Demographically, 15238 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.

seems to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,731/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 15238

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+7.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$118,715/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $237,430 $1,330 4.0% +5.9% $118,715
3BR $400,505 $1,700 3.1% +5.5% $133,502
4BR $732,719 $1,830 1.8% +6.8% $183,180
5BR $1,154,393 +7.3% $230,879

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$609K$539K$469K$398K$328K$258KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,004$1,929$1,855$1,780$1,705$1,631Jan 2025Oct 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 15238 Compare?

Metric 15238 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $581,326 $139,617 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 5.7% 2.0% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $1,731 $1,523 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.3% 5.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 15238? 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 15238 (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
2.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.7%
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 $581,326
Monthly Rent $1,731
Price-to-Rent 28.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.6%
Cap Rate 2.3%
5-Year IRR 8.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -9.7% ▼
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.3%). 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
8.0%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 15238

Population: 13,000

💰 Median Household Income
$124,394
This area
$124,394
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
22.7%
This area
22.7%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.4%
This area
1.4%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
72.5%
This area
72.5%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
48.2 years
This area
48.2 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.0%
This area
8.0%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 87.9%
Asian 7.3%
Other/Mixed 3.7%
Hispanic/Latino 1.2%
Black/African American 1.1%
👶 Under 18
21.9%
This area
21.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
25.4%
This area
25.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.0%
This area
4.0%
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 15238

A+ Avg School Grade
5 Schools
12.9:1 Avg Class Size
$24,861 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Hartwood El Sch

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
392 Students
👨‍🏫
11.2:1 Class Size
💰
$24,861 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Fairview El Sch

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
371 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$24,861 Per Student
A+ Excellent

OHara El Sch

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
719 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$24,861 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Dorseyville MS

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
960 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$24,861 Per Student
A Very Good

Fox Chapel Area HS

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,280 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$24,861 Per Student

Nearby Schools (3 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Kerr El Sch

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 341 Kittanning Pike, Pittsburgh
👥
434 Students
👨‍🏫
10.5:1 Class Size
💰
$24,861 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Riverview JSHS

📚 07 – 12 High School
📍 100 Hulton Rd, Oakmont
👥
419 Students
👨‍🏫
10.8:1 Class Size
💰
$29,412 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Tenth Street El Sch

📚 K – 06 School
📍 901 Pennsylvania Ave, Oakmont
👥
390 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$29,412 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
D
UPMC St. Margaret School of Nursing
91 students · 3.1 mi
C
Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
223 students · 5.1 mi
C
Citizens School of Nursing
115 students · 5.1 mi
C
Institute of Medical Careers
866 students · 5.6 mi
C+
Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science Inc
402 students · 5.8 mi
C
Western Pennsylvania Hospital School of Nursing
145 students · 6.0 mi
D
UPMC Shadyside School of Nursing
594 students · 6.3 mi
C+
Chatham University
2,319 students · 6.4 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the smart move for investors in Pittsburgh, PA?

The best-fit strategy in Pittsburgh, PA is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

What monthly rent should investors expect in Pittsburgh, PA?

Expect rents around $1,731/mo per month in Pittsburgh, PA. With home values at $581K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

How deep is the rental pool in Pittsburgh, PA?

Pittsburgh, PA offers a predictable renter base at the $1,731/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

How viable is house hacking in Pittsburgh, PA?

House hacking in Pittsburgh, PA is reasonable to execute. Prices around $581K and rents of $1,731/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

What are vacancy rates like in Pittsburgh, PA?

Expect elevated vacancy in Pittsburgh, PA. Rents at $1,731/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

You know 15238 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 15238 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 15238 ranks in Pittsburgh, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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