Real Estate Investing in Dunbar, Pennsylvania (15431)

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

Fayette County • Population: 4,328 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 15431 (Dunbar, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (59/100)

Mixed — values have been flat. OK for long-horizon buyers, less attractive if you may need to sell soon.

📈 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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 15.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Flat appreciation: Values have barely moved over 5 years (1.4% CAGR).

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

What’s happening in Dunbar, PA (15431)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $137,811
Avg Monthly Rent $882
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $60,227
% Renters 15.6%

Market Analysis: 15431 Dunbar

The 15431 ZIP in Dunbar, PA is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $138K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $138K asset, 15431 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Nearby ZIPs in Dunbar have seen price recovery that 15431 has not matched. Fayette County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

A robust renter share of 16% in 15431 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

Strategy in 15431 is an operator game, not a passive one. Meanwhile, entry prices of $138K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 Dunbar:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 71/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.8%)
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 15431

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
6.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+3.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$37,706/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $106,754 $980 6.6% +3.1% $53,377
3BR $157,825 $1,250 5.7% +3.5% $52,608
4BR $150,826 $1,350 6.4% +2.7% $37,706

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$147K$134K$121K$107K$94K$81KJan 2013Oct 2019Jul 2026

📊 How Does 15431 Compare?

Metric 15431 Dunbar Pittsburgh, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $137,811 $137,811 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 1.4% 1.4% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $882 $882 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.0% 5.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 15431? 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.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 15431 (Dunbar, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 15431 (Dunbar, PA)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.0%
Fair
5yr Growth
+1.4%
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 $137,811
Monthly Rent $882
Price-to-Rent 13.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.7%
Cap Rate 5.0%
5-Year IRR 6.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +1.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +3.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.0%). 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
15.2%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.4%
Flat
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 15431

Population: 4,328

💰 Median Household Income
$60,227
This area
$60,227
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
15.6%
This area
15.6%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.1%
This area
4.1%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
12.7%
This area
12.7%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
47.6 years
This area
47.6 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.2%
This area
15.2%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.6%
Other/Mixed 3.8%
Hispanic/Latino 2.4%
Black/African American 0.4%
Asian 0.1%
👶 Under 18
20.6%
This area
20.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.6%
This area
19.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.1%
This area
9.1%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

3 Nearby 252 Off-Campus Students
C
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Fayette- Eberly
419 students · 4.2 mi
C
Laurel Business Institute
397 students · 8.1 mi
C
Fayette County Career & Technical Institute Practical Nursing Program
69 students · 10.2 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How strict are landlord regulations in Dunbar, PA?

Rental owners in Dunbar, PA deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

How qualified is the tenant pool in Dunbar, PA?

The tenant pool in Dunbar, PA is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $882/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in Dunbar, PA?

Occupancy in Dunbar, PA runs predictable with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $882/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

How viable is house hacking in Dunbar, PA?

The house hack math a challenging in Dunbar, PA. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $882/mo rents and $138K home values.

How much does a house cost in Dunbar, PA?

Homes in Dunbar, PA typically sell near $138K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which reliable long-term demand.

You know 15431 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 15431 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.

Compare Plans

How 15431 ranks in Pittsburgh, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 15431 (Dunbar)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 15431 (Dunbar, PA).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.