Real Estate Investing in Butler, Pennsylvania (16002)

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

Butler County • Population: 15,722 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 16002 (Butler, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (72/100)

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 (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
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 26.2 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

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

What’s happening in Butler, PA (16002)?

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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 $299,756
Avg Monthly Rent $954
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $76,034
% Renters 11.8%

Market Analysis: 16002 Butler

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Butler's 16002 ZIP posts signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $300K pricing implies.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $300K asset, 16002 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Stepping back, 16002 offers a low basis, the region around Butler has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Employment concentration in 16002 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

The 16002 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Butler:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 69/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $954/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 16002

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+6.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$98,713/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
3BR $300,658 $1,360 3.3% +6.7% $100,219
4BR $394,851 $1,460 2.7% +6.2% $98,713

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$335K$295K$255K$214K$174K$133KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 16002 Compare?

Metric 16002 Butler Pittsburgh, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $299,756 $258,575 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 4.5% 4.1% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $954 $977 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.5% 3.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 16002? 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 16002 (Butler, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.5%
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 $299,756
Monthly Rent $954
Price-to-Rent 26.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.8%
Cap Rate 2.5%
5-Year IRR 7.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.5%). 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
2.9%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 16002

Population: 15,722

💰 Median Household Income
$76,034
This area
$76,034
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
11.8%
This area
11.8%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.4%
This area
3.4%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
27.7%
This area
27.7%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
48.2 years
This area
48.2 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
2.9%
This area
2.9%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 96.6%
Black/African American 1.8%
Other/Mixed 1.5%
Hispanic/Latino 0.9%
Asian 0.1%
👶 Under 18
19.2%
This area
19.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
23.5%
This area
23.5%
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 16002

A Avg School Grade
1 Schools
13.7:1 Avg Class Size
$18,656 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Summit Township El Sch

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
246 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$18,656 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 1,646 Off-Campus Students
C
Butler County Community College
2,468 students · 3.0 mi
C+
Butler Beauty Academy
14 students · 3.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,646 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are home prices like in Butler, PA?

Expect median prices around $300K in Butler, PA. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been consistent.

How tight is the rental market in Butler, PA?

Occupancy in Butler, PA runs consistent with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $954/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

What approach is best for Butler, PA real estate?

In Butler, PA the impressive play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $300K prices and $954/mo rents suits that approach.

Is PA a landlord-friendly state?

For rental operators, Butler, PA rates as landlord-friendly. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

What do landlords charge for rent in Butler, PA?

Average rent in Butler, PA is approximately $954/mo per month. Against $300K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

You know 16002 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 16002 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 16002 ranks in Pittsburgh, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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