Real Estate Investing in Blacksville, West Virginia (26521)

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

Monongalia County • Population: 119 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 26521 (Blacksville, WV)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (40/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 25.0% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Blacksville, WV (26521)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $141,019
Avg Monthly Rent $999
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income N/A
% Renters 11.7%

Market Analysis: 26521 Blacksville

The 26521 ZIP covers a section of Blacksville that demands careful diligence. Prices near $141K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

The investment case in 26521 is significant only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $141K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Regionally, 26521 sits on the difficult end of the WV spectrum. The a credible choice for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Who lives in 26521 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

New investors are better served looking at Blacksville's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 26521. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Blacksville:

Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost × the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+9.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $999/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Morgantown, WV Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.6%
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 Morgantown, WV metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$154K$141K$128K$115K$102K$88KFeb 2019Nov 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 26521 Compare?

Metric 26521 Blacksville Morgantown, WV West Virginia
Home Value $141,019 $141,019 N/A $169,372
5-Year CAGR 3.6% 3.6% N/A 6.1%
Avg Rent $999 $999 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.5% 5.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 26521? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

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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 26521 (Blacksville, WV). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.5%
Fair
5yr Growth
+3.6%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Morgantown, WV metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
57%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $141,019
Monthly Rent $999
Price-to-Rent 11.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.5%
Cap Rate 5.5%
5-Year IRR 9.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +9.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.5%). 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
25.0%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 26521

Population: 119

💰 Median Household Income
N/A
🏠 Renter Occupied
11.7%
This area
11.7%
State
19.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
-19.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
10.1%
This area
10.1%
State
-9.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
52.0 years
This area
52.0 years
State
-3.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
25.0%
This area
25.0%
State
23.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 100.0%
👶 Under 18
9.7%
This area
9.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
25.0%
This area
25.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
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 26521

A Avg School Grade
2 Schools
12.3:1 Avg Class Size
$15,071 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Clay-Battelle High School

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
346 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
💰
$15,071 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Mason Dixon Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
298 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,071 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 17 Off-Campus Students
C
Waynesburg University
1,315 students · 13.1 mi
C+
Greene County Career and Technology Center
19 students · 13.1 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average home sale price in Blacksville, WV?

Blacksville, WV median home values land near $141K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $999/mo-per-month rentals.

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in Blacksville, WV?

Expect elevated vacancy in Blacksville, WV. Rents at $999/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

What is the investability score for Blacksville, WV?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Blacksville, WV ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $141K and rents of $999/mo drive the underlying numbers.

How do experienced investors play Blacksville, WV?

Blacksville, WV investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($141K prices, $999/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

How deep is the rental pool in Blacksville, WV?

Blacksville, WV draws a measured base of working renters. Demand at the $999/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

You know 26521 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 26521 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 26521 ranks in Morgantown, WV

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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