Real Estate Investing in Saint Thomas, Pennsylvania (17252)

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

Franklin County • Population: 4,290 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 17252 (Saint Thomas, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (61/100)

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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

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

What’s happening in Saint Thomas, PA (17252)?

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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 $266,205
Avg Monthly Rent $1,269
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $56,543
% Renters 28.4%

Market Analysis: 17252 Saint Thomas

ZIP 17252 inside Franklin County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $266K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

For an experienced owner, 17252 can be a a solid fit for hunting ground — but the discount at $266K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Within PA, ZIP 17252 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Franklin County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and significant enough to shape underwriting.

Who lives in 17252 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 17252 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Saint Thomas:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 58/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,269/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
37 days
Average time to sell
Average
9.7%
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 Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 17252

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
5.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+6.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$83,709/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
3BR $261,884 $1,870 5.1% +6.6% $87,295
4BR $334,835 $2,040 4.4% $83,709

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$277K$249K$221K$193K$164K$136KAug 2007Feb 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 17252 Compare?

Metric 17252 Saint Thomas Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $266,205 $266,205 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 3.2% 3.2% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $1,269 $1,269 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.7% 3.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 17252? 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 17252 (Saint Thomas, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.2%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $266,205
Monthly Rent $1,269
Price-to-Rent 17.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.7%
Cap Rate 3.7%
5-Year IRR 6.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
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
3.1%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 17252

Population: 4,290

💰 Median Household Income
$56,543
This area
$56,543
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
28.4%
This area
28.4%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.0%
This area
5.0%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
11.2%
This area
11.2%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
31.7 years
This area
31.7 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.1%
This area
3.1%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 98.5%
Asian 1.3%
Hispanic/Latino 0.1%
Black/African American 0.1%
Other/Mixed 0.1%
👶 Under 18
31.9%
This area
31.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
11.8%
This area
11.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.7%
This area
9.7%
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 17252

A Avg School Grade
1 Schools
13.2:1 Avg Class Size
$19,432 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

St Thomas El Sch

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
295 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$19,432 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

3 Nearby 31 Off-Campus Students
D
Franklin County Career and Technology Center
51 students · 7.3 mi
C
Wilson College
1,694 students · 9.2 mi
C
Triangle Tech-Chambersburg
63 students · 10.9 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of market is Saint Thomas, PA for investors?

Our data puts Saint Thomas, PA at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $266K and rents around $1,269/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

What is the renter demographic in Saint Thomas, PA?

Tenant quality in Saint Thomas, PA ranks as solid. Landlords generally report consistent occupancy at market rents of $1,269/mo.

Are there empty rentals in Saint Thomas, PA?

Vacancy in Saint Thomas, PA is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $1,269/mo.

Does house hacking make sense in Saint Thomas, PA?

House hacking in Saint Thomas, PA is reasonable to execute. Prices around $266K and rents of $1,269/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

What is the average monthly rent in Saint Thomas, PA?

Expect rents around $1,269/mo per month in Saint Thomas, PA. With home values at $266K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

You know 17252 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 17252 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 17252 ranks in Chambersburg-Waynesboro, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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