Real Estate Investing in North East, Pennsylvania (16428)

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

Erie County • Population: 12,508 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 16428 (North East, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (71/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 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
  • Elevated vacancy: 10.6% 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 North East, PA (16428)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $270,768
Avg Monthly Rent $954
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $68,591
% Renters 25.2%

Market Analysis: 16428 North East

ZIP 16428 in North East, PA carries a solid set of headwinds. Home values near $271K and rents of $954/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 16428 stands at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

The gap between 16428 and stronger North East ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Resident income in 16428 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. substantial returns are possible in 16428, 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 North East:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 72/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+11.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $954/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Erie, PA Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
19 days
Average time to sell
Fast
10.0%
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 Erie, PA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 16428

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+8.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$63,747/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $201,512 $1,060 3.8% +8.0% $100,756
3BR $245,292 $1,310 3.8% +8.0% $81,764
4BR $292,269 $1,470 3.6% +8.3% $73,067
5BR $318,736 +8.3% $63,747

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$283K$248K$213K$179K$144K$109KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 16428 Compare?

Metric 16428 North East Erie, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $270,768 $270,768 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 7.5% 7.5% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $954 $954 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.8% 2.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 16428? 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 16428 (North East, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.5%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Erie, PA metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
41%
Days Pending
0/2
19 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $270,768
Monthly Rent $954
Price-to-Rent 23.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.2%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 10.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +11.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.8%). 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
10.6%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.5%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 16428

Population: 12,508

💰 Median Household Income
$68,591
This area
$68,591
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
25.2%
This area
25.2%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.3%
This area
3.3%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
26.2%
This area
26.2%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.4 years
This area
40.4 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.6%
This area
10.6%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 92.1%
Other/Mixed 6.6%
Hispanic/Latino 5.1%
Black/African American 0.8%
Asian 0.5%
👶 Under 18
23.4%
This area
23.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.1%
This area
18.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.8%
This area
6.8%
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 16428

A+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
10.0:1 Avg Class Size
$21,110 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

North East High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
543 Students
👨‍🏫
8.1:1 Class Size
💰
$21,110 Per Student
A+ Excellent

North East Intermediate Elementary

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
310 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$21,110 Per Student
A+ Excellent

North East Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
330 Students
👨‍🏫
8.2:1 Class Size
💰
$21,110 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Earle C. Davis Primary

📚 K – 02 Elementary
👥
309 Students
👨‍🏫
12.1:1 Class Size
💰
$21,110 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

4 Nearby 212 Off-Campus Students
C+
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Erie-Behrend College
3,323 students · 8.7 mi
C
Mercyhurst University
2,668 students · 12.3 mi
C+
Gannon University
4,548 students · 13.5 mi
D
Great Lakes Institute of Technology
303 students · 14.9 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of market is North East, PA for investors?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in North East, PA reflects its $271K prices and $954/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within PA.

What is the rental occupancy rate in North East, PA?

Vacancy risk in North East, PA is elevated. That supports predictable cash flow for typical rental holds.

Where do rents currently stand in North East, PA?

North East, PA rentals go for roughly $954/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $271K acquisition costs.

How much does a house cost in North East, PA?

North East, PA home values average about $271K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $954/mo in monthly income.

Is North East, PA a good market for FHA house hackers?

The a challenging house-hack environment in North East, PA reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

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How 16428 ranks in Erie, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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