Real Estate Investing in Irwin, Pennsylvania (15642)

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

Westmoreland County • Population: 46,727 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 15642 (Irwin, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (80/100)

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 (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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Irwin, PA (15642)?

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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 $265,969
Avg Monthly Rent $1,468
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $85,210
% Renters 15.6%

Market Analysis: 15642 Irwin

Looking more closely, ZIP 15642 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $266K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 15642 clocks in at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

The gap between 15642 and stronger Irwin ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Resident income in 15642 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Strategy in 15642 is an operator game, not a passive one. In practical terms, entry prices of $266K 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 Irwin:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 76/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,468/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 15642

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+7.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$86,005/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $177,220 $1,220 5.0% +7.6% $88,610
3BR $258,015 $1,560 4.4% +7.0% $86,005
4BR $421,603 $1,680 2.9% +5.7% $105,401
5BR $510,351 +5.4% $102,070

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$281K$252K$223K$194K$165K$135KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,495$1,416$1,337$1,258$1,179$1,100Jan 2025Oct 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 15642 Compare?

Metric 15642 Irwin Pittsburgh, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $265,969 $265,969 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 4.2% 4.2% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $1,468 $1,468 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.3% 4.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 15642? 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 15642 (Irwin, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.3%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.2%
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 $265,969
Monthly Rent $1,468
Price-to-Rent 15.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.6%
Cap Rate 4.3%
5-Year IRR 8.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +19.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.3%). 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
4.6%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 15642

Population: 46,727

💰 Median Household Income
$85,210
This area
$85,210
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
15.6%
This area
15.6%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.1%
This area
3.1%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
39.9%
This area
39.9%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
45.5 years
This area
45.5 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.6%
This area
4.6%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.5%
Other/Mixed 2.9%
Hispanic/Latino 1.3%
Asian 1.3%
Black/African American 1.2%
👶 Under 18
21.1%
This area
21.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.7%
This area
20.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.4%
This area
4.4%
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 15642

B+ Avg School Grade
10 Schools
15.5:1 Avg Class Size
$16,235 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

West Hempfield El Sch

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
504 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$18,211 Per Student
A+ Excellent

West Hempfield MS

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
559 Students
👨‍🏫
11.1:1 Class Size
💰
$18,211 Per Student
A Very Good

Sunrise El Sch

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
421 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$16,655 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Hahntown El Sch

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
432 Students
👨‍🏫
15.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,611 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Hillcrest Intermediate Sch

📚 05 – 06 School
👥
766 Students
👨‍🏫
17.1:1 Class Size
💰
$15,611 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Sheridan Terrace El Sch

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
445 Students
👨‍🏫
17.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,611 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Stewartsville El Sch

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
412 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,611 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Norwin MS

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
803 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,611 Per Student
B Good

Sunset Valley El Sch

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
477 Students
👨‍🏫
18.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,611 Per Student
B Good

Norwin HS

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,712 Students
👨‍🏫
16.9:1 Class Size
💰
$15,611 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 860 Off-Campus Students
C
West Virginia Junior College-United Career Institute
57 students · 1.6 mi
C
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Greater Allegheny
361 students · 5.9 mi
C+
Bella Capelli Academy
194 students · 8.4 mi
C
Empire Beauty School-Monroeville
65 students · 8.6 mi
C
Seton Hill University
1,984 students · 8.7 mi
C
Triangle Tech Inc-Greensburg
100 students · 9.6 mi
C
Westmoreland County Community College
4,275 students · 10.2 mi
C
University of Pittsburgh-Greensburg
1,326 students · 10.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 860 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong are rents in Irwin, PA?

Rental rates in Irwin, PA average $1,468/mo. Tenant demand and $266K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

How do experienced investors play Irwin, PA?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Irwin, PA best. The market produces measured results for that approach at the $266K price point.

Is real estate in Irwin, PA a good investment right now?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Irwin, PA ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $266K and rents of $1,468/mo drive the underlying numbers.

Is Irwin, PA a friendly market for rental owners?

PA law landlord-friendly for landlords, and Irwin inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

How strong is the working-renter base in Irwin, PA?

The tenant pool in Irwin, PA is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $1,468/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

You know 15642 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 15642 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 15642 ranks in Pittsburgh, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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