Real Estate Investing in Houston, Pennsylvania (15342)

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

Washington County • Population: 5,110 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 15342 (Houston, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (67/100)

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
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.4% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

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

What’s happening in Houston, PA (15342)?

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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 $259,524
Avg Monthly Rent $1,179
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $91,510
% Renters 14.7%

Market Analysis: 15342 Houston

ZIP 15342 inside Washington County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $260K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $260K asset, 15342 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

From a cash-flow lens, 15342 offers a low basis, the region around Houston has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Employment concentration in 15342 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 15342 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Houston:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 72/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,179/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 15342

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+5.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$85,418/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $177,941 $1,310 5.3% +4.8% $88,970
3BR $256,254 $1,670 4.7% +5.3% $85,418
4BR $386,609 $1,800 3.4% +5.8% $96,652

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$269K$241K$213K$185K$157K$130KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 15342 Compare?

Metric 15342 Houston Pittsburgh, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $259,524 $259,524 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 3.8% 3.8% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $1,179 $1,179 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.5% 3.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 15342? 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 15342 (Houston, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.8%
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 $259,524
Monthly Rent $1,179
Price-to-Rent 18.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.5%
Cap Rate 3.5%
5-Year IRR 7.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.5%). 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
8.4%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 15342

Population: 5,110

💰 Median Household Income
$91,510
This area
$91,510
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
14.7%
This area
14.7%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.4%
This area
3.4%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
31.1%
This area
31.1%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
45.0 years
This area
45.0 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.4%
This area
8.4%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.1%
Black/African American 4.5%
Other/Mixed 1.4%
Hispanic/Latino 0.7%
👶 Under 18
19.4%
This area
19.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.4%
This area
20.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.8%
This area
4.8%
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 15342

A Avg School Grade
2 Schools
15.4:1 Avg Class Size
$18,775 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Chartiers-Houston JSHS

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
534 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$18,775 Per Student
A Very Good

Allison Park El Sch

📚 K – 06 School
👥
694 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$18,775 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

6 Nearby
C
Western Area Career & Technology Center
39 students · 1.5 mi
C
Washington Health System School of Nursing
39 students · 4.4 mi
C+
Penn Commercial Business/Technical School
223 students · 4.5 mi
C+
Washington & Jefferson College
1,162 students · 5.3 mi
C
Pittsburgh Technical College
864 students · 12.5 mi
C+
South Hills Beauty Academy
282 students · 13.7 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How do experienced investors play Houston, PA?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Houston, PA. The numbers - $260K homes against $1,179/mo rents - support that play.

How much do tenants pay in Houston, PA?

Rent in Houston, PA is around $1,179/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $260K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

What is the typical vacancy rate in Houston, PA?

Houston, PA vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

How landlord-friendly is Houston, PA?

Landlord-friendliness in Houston, PA is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

What is the tenant pool like in Houston, PA?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Houston, PA. The rental market absorbs $1,179/mo rents without meaningful friction.

You know 15342 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 15342 ranks in Pittsburgh, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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