Real Estate Investing in Brownsville, Pennsylvania (15417)

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

Fayette County • Population: 7,709 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 15417 (Brownsville, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (74/100)

Solid choice — stable market with a reasonable entry point and good rental backup if you ever need to move.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (57/100)

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
  • Elevated vacancy: 9.6% 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 Brownsville, PA (15417)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $96,665
Avg Monthly Rent $882
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $58,890
% Renters 32.0%

Market Analysis: 15417 Brownsville

ZIP 15417 in Brownsville, PA carries a substantial set of headwinds. Home values near $97K and rents of $882/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 15417 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Nearby ZIPs in Brownsville have seen price recovery that 15417 has not matched. Fayette County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Employment concentration in 15417 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. substantial returns are possible in 15417, 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 Brownsville:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 73/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 1.6× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $882/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 15417

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
9.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+7.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$30,532/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $76,053 $980 9.3% +7.1% $38,027
3BR $124,130 $1,250 7.3% +6.2% $41,377
4BR $122,127 $1,350 8.0% +5.1% $30,532

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$105K$96K$87K$78K$68K$59KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 15417 Compare?

Metric 15417 Brownsville Pittsburgh, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $96,665 $96,665 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 1.9% 1.9% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $882 $882 N/A -
Cap Rate 7.1% 7.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 15417? 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 15417 (Brownsville, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
7.1%
Good
5yr Growth
+1.9%
Slow

📉 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 $96,665
Monthly Rent $882
Price-to-Rent 9.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 11.0%
Cap Rate 7.1%
5-Year IRR 9.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +1.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Neutral Leverage Cap Rate: 7.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage is roughly neutral here.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) is close to the estimated cap rate (7.1%). Financing this market at current rates produces a cash-on-cash return near the cap rate. Appreciation and tax benefits may still support the investment.

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
9.6%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.9%
Flat
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 15417

Population: 7,709

💰 Median Household Income
$58,890
This area
$58,890
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
32.0%
This area
32.0%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.9%
This area
4.9%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
18.0%
This area
18.0%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
47.7 years
This area
47.7 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.6%
This area
9.6%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 86.4%
Black/African American 7.7%
Other/Mixed 5.7%
Hispanic/Latino 3.7%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
14.5%
This area
14.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.6%
This area
20.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
14.9%
This area
14.9%
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 15417

A+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
13.8:1 Avg Class Size
$21,424 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Brownsville Area El Sch

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
649 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$21,424 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Brownsville Area HS

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
425 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$21,424 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Brownsville Area MS

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
349 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$21,424 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

5 Nearby 1,608 Off-Campus Students
C+
Pennsylvania Western University
11,305 students · 3.8 mi
C
Douglas Education Center
200 students · 10.2 mi
C
Laurel Business Institute
397 students · 12.7 mi
C
Fayette County Career & Technical Institute Practical Nursing Program
69 students · 14.0 mi
C
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly
419 students · 14.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,608 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Brownsville, PA rate as a rental market?

Brownsville, PA scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $97K and rents near $882/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

How tight is the rental market in Brownsville, PA?

Brownsville, PA carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect measured absorption at market rents of $882/mo.

What do landlords charge for rent in Brownsville, PA?

Rent in Brownsville, PA is around $882/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $97K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

Is house hacking profitable in Brownsville, PA?

House hacking works a challenging in Brownsville, PA. Rents of $882/mo against $97K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

What kind of tenants rent in Brownsville, PA?

Tenant quality in Brownsville, PA ranks as solid. Landlords generally report stable occupancy at market rents of $882/mo.

You know 15417 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 15417 ranks in Pittsburgh, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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