Real Estate Investing in Sunbury, Pennsylvania (17801)

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

Northumberland County • Population: 16,229 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 17801 (Sunbury, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (59/100)

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: 8.1% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Sunbury, PA (17801)?

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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 $178,439
Avg Monthly Rent $800
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $52,937
% Renters 34.9%

Market Analysis: 17801 Sunbury

From a cash-flow lens, ZIP 17801 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $178K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 17801 reflects the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Within PA, ZIP 17801 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Northumberland County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and robust enough to shape underwriting.

Employment concentration in 17801 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

looks to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Sunbury:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.4× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $800/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
Sunbury, PA Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very 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 Sunbury, PA metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$202K$182K$163K$143K$123K$104KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$854$842$831$819$808$796Oct 2025Mar 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 17801 Compare?

Metric 17801 Sunbury Sunbury, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $178,439 $178,439 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 2.3% 2.3% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $800 $800 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.5% 3.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 17801? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 17801 (Sunbury, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+2.3%
Slow

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Sunbury, PA metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
59%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $178,439
Monthly Rent $800
Price-to-Rent 18.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.4%
Cap Rate 3.5%
5-Year IRR 5.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +3.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
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
8.1%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 17801

Population: 16,229

💰 Median Household Income
$52,937
This area
$52,937
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
34.9%
This area
34.9%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.6%
This area
2.6%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
15.7%
This area
15.7%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.5 years
This area
43.5 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.1%
This area
8.1%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 91.6%
Other/Mixed 6.5%
Hispanic/Latino 4.6%
Black/African American 1.8%
Asian 0.1%
👶 Under 18
20.8%
This area
20.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.0%
This area
21.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.5%
This area
11.5%
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 17801

B+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
19.7:1 Avg Class Size
$17,652 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Oaklyn Sch

📚 K – 02 Elementary
👥
372 Students
👨‍🏫
17.1:1 Class Size
💰
$17,652 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Chief Shikellamy Sch

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
618 Students
👨‍🏫
18.9:1 Class Size
💰
$17,652 Per Student
B Good

Shikellamy HS

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
896 Students
👨‍🏫
23.1:1 Class Size
💰
$17,652 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

6 Nearby 80 Off-Campus Students
C
Triangle Tech Inc-Sunbury
64 students · 1.3 mi
C
Empire Beauty School-Shamokin Dam
75 students · 3.3 mi
C+
Susquehanna University
2,247 students · 6.7 mi
B+
Bucknell University
3,892 students · 10.4 mi
C
Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit LPN Career
87 students · 10.4 mi
C
Miller-Motte College-McCann-Lewisburg
129 students · 12.1 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Which investment style suits Sunbury, PA?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Sunbury, PA best. The market produces even-keeled results for that approach at the $178K price point.

How strong is tenant demand in Sunbury, PA?

Working renters make up the core of the Sunbury, PA tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

Is Sunbury, PA a smart market for rental property?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Sunbury, PA ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $178K and rents of $800/mo drive the underlying numbers.

Does Sunbury, PA favor landlords or tenants?

Sunbury, PA operates under PA law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect reliable treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

Can I live-in-and-rent in Sunbury, PA?

House hacking in Sunbury, PA is a challenging. With home values around $178K and rents at $800/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

You know 17801 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 17801 ranks in Sunbury, PA

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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