Real Estate Investing in Lebanon, Pennsylvania (17042)

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

Lebanon County • Population: 39,626 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 17042 (Lebanon, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (76/100)

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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Lebanon, PA (17042)?

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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 $310,391
Avg Monthly Rent $1,457
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $72,366
% Renters 29.1%

Market Analysis: 17042 Lebanon

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Lebanon's 17042 ZIP records signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $310K pricing implies.

For an experienced owner, 17042 can be a an appealing option for hunting ground — but the discount at $310K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

From an investor standpoint, 17042 offers a low basis, the region around Lebanon has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Resident income in 17042 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Strategy in 17042 is an operator game, not a passive one. From an investor standpoint, entry prices of $310K 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 Lebanon:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 76/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,457/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Lebanon, PA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
22 days
Average time to sell
Fast
11.4%
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 Lebanon, PA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 17042

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+9.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$93,345/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $235,097 $1,430 4.4% +9.7% $117,548
3BR $280,035 $1,820 4.7% +8.9% $93,345
4BR $449,280 $1,990 3.2% +8.4% $112,320
5BR $496,282 +8.5% $99,256

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$323K$288K$252K$216K$181K$145KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,559$1,486$1,413$1,340$1,268$1,195Dec 2023Apr 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 17042 Compare?

Metric 17042 Lebanon Lebanon, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $310,391 $143,571 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 7.2% 7.6% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $1,457 $1,315 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.7% 3.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 17042? 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 17042 (Lebanon, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.2%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Lebanon, PA metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
27%
Days Pending
0/2
22 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $310,391
Monthly Rent $1,457
Price-to-Rent 17.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.6%
Cap Rate 3.7%
5-Year IRR 10.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +8.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.7%). 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
5.9%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.2%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 17042

Population: 39,626

💰 Median Household Income
$72,366
This area
$72,366
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
29.1%
This area
29.1%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.0%
This area
3.0%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
26.9%
This area
26.9%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
44.1 years
This area
44.1 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.9%
This area
5.9%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 80.2%
Other/Mixed 14.9%
Hispanic/Latino 11.6%
Black/African American 3.1%
Asian 1.8%
👶 Under 18
21.2%
This area
21.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.9%
This area
20.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.3%
This area
8.3%
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 17042

B+ Avg School Grade
10 Schools
14.1:1 Avg Class Size
$16,701 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Cleona El Sch

📚 K – 02 Elementary
👥
309 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$20,070 Per Student
A Very Good

Cornwall El Sch

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
532 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$16,686 Per Student
A Very Good

Harding El Sch

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
572 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,874 Per Student
A Very Good

South Lebanon El Sch

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
564 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$16,686 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Southeast El Sch

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
472 Students
👨‍🏫
16.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,874 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Southwest El Sch

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
414 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$15,874 Per Student
B Good

Cedar Crest MS

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
1,235 Students
👨‍🏫
17.0:1 Class Size
💰
$16,686 Per Student
B Good

Lebanon SHS

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,429 Students
👨‍🏫
17.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,874 Per Student
B Good

Cedar Crest HS

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,648 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$16,686 Per Student
B Good

Lebanon County Career and Technology Center

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
10 Students
👨‍🏫
0.3:1 Class Size
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 64 Off-Campus Students
C+
Empire Beauty School-Lebanon
33 students · 1.1 mi
D
Champ's Barber School-Lebanon
19 students · 3.0 mi
C
Lebanon County Area Vocational Technical School
64 students · 3.6 mi
C+
Lebanon Valley College
2,142 students · 5.4 mi
C+
Elizabethtown College
2,152 students · 13.5 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lebanon, PA good for landlords?

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

How much do tenants pay in Lebanon, PA?

Expect rents around $1,457/mo per month in Lebanon, PA. With home values at $310K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

What is the tenant pool like in Lebanon, PA?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Lebanon, PA. The rental market absorbs $1,457/mo rents without meaningful friction.

What type of investing works in Lebanon, PA?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Lebanon, PA best. The market produces predictable results for that approach at the $310K price point.

How much should I expect to pay for a home in Lebanon, PA?

Typical homes in Lebanon, PA go for around $310K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% steady price movement.

You know 17042 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 17042 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 17042 ranks in Lebanon, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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