Real Estate Investing in Lebanon, Pennsylvania (17046)

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

Lebanon County • Population: 31,701 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 17046 (Lebanon, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (63/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 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: 9.9% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Lebanon, PA (17046)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $263,892
Avg Monthly Rent $1,172
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $54,589
% Renters 36.5%

Market Analysis: 17046 Lebanon

Looking more closely, ZIP 17046 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $264K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 17046 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

In the broader PA picture, 17046 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Resident income in 17046 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. resilient returns are possible in 17046, 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 Lebanon:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 71/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,172/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 17046

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+10.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$77,993/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $213,785 $1,360 4.6% +10.3% $106,892
3BR $254,394 $1,730 4.9% +10.0% $84,798
4BR $311,974 $1,890 4.4% +9.3% $77,993

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$275K$242K$209K$175K$142K$108KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,184$1,150$1,116$1,081$1,047$1,013May 2024Jun 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 17046 Compare?

Metric 17046 Lebanon Lebanon, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $263,892 $143,571 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 8.1% 7.6% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $1,172 $1,315 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.5% 3.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 17046? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 37% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 17046 (Lebanon, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+8.1%
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 $263,892
Monthly Rent $1,172
Price-to-Rent 18.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.3%
Cap Rate 3.5%
5-Year IRR 11.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +8.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +2.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.5%). 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
9.9%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+8.1%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 17046

Population: 31,701

💰 Median Household Income
$54,589
This area
$54,589
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
36.5%
This area
36.5%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.4%
This area
4.4%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
11.9%
This area
11.9%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.3 years
This area
40.3 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.9%
This area
9.9%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 68.5%
Other/Mixed 27.5%
Hispanic/Latino 25.9%
Black/African American 2.8%
Asian 1.1%
👶 Under 18
23.2%
This area
23.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.0%
This area
18.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
13.2%
This area
13.2%
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 17046

A Avg School Grade
5 Schools
14.3:1 Avg Class Size
$16,199 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Ebenezer El Sch

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
526 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$16,686 Per Student
A Very Good

Northwest El Sch

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
583 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,874 Per Student
A Very Good

Union Canal El Sch

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
390 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$16,686 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Houck El Sch

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
370 Students
👨‍🏫
16.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,874 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Lebanon MS

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
1,064 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$15,874 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 64 Off-Campus Students
D
Champ's Barber School-Lebanon
19 students · 3.1 mi
C
Lebanon County Area Vocational Technical School
64 students · 3.5 mi
C+
Empire Beauty School-Lebanon
33 students · 4.9 mi
C+
Lebanon Valley College
2,142 students · 5.7 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How expensive is real estate in Lebanon, PA?

Median home price in Lebanon, PA is near $264K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been predictable and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

What real estate strategy is ideal for Lebanon, PA?

For Lebanon, PA, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

Are tenants stable in Lebanon, PA?

Lebanon, PA draws a stable base of working renters. Demand at the $1,172/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

Does Lebanon, PA favor landlords or tenants?

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

Is Lebanon, PA suited for a house hack?

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

You know 17046 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 17046 ranks in Lebanon, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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