Real Estate Investing in Catawissa, Pennsylvania (17820)

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

Columbia County • Population: 5,528 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 17820 (Catawissa, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (53/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 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
  • High vacancy: 14.6% of homes vacant — above national norms.

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

What’s happening in Catawissa, PA (17820)?

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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 $261,985
Avg Monthly Rent $1,017
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $65,270
% Renters 23.2%

Market Analysis: 17820 Catawissa

The 17820 ZIP covers a section of Catawissa that demands careful diligence. Prices near $262K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 17820 stands at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

In the broader PA picture, 17820 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Who lives in 17820 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. resilient returns are possible in 17820, 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 Catawissa:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 63/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+9.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,017/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
Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
10.3%
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 Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$274K$249K$225K$200K$176K$151KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 17820 Compare?

Metric 17820 Catawissa Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $261,985 $261,985 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 3.3% 3.3% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $1,017 $1,017 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.0% 3.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 17820? 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 →
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 17820 (Catawissa, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.3%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $261,985
Monthly Rent $1,017
Price-to-Rent 21.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.7%
Cap Rate 3.0%
5-Year IRR 6.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +9.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.0%). 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
14.6%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 17820

Population: 5,528

💰 Median Household Income
$65,270
This area
$65,270
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
23.2%
This area
23.2%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.3%
This area
2.3%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
25.6%
This area
25.6%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
47.8 years
This area
47.8 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.6%
This area
14.6%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.8%
Other/Mixed 4.7%
Hispanic/Latino 4.2%
Asian 0.4%
Black/African American 0.1%
👶 Under 18
19.4%
This area
19.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
26.1%
This area
26.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.2%
This area
5.2%
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 17820

A+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
13.3:1 Avg Class Size
$19,006 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Hartman El Ctr

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
461 Students
👨‍🏫
13.3:1 Class Size
💰
$19,006 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Southern Columbia HS

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
364 Students
👨‍🏫
13.3:1 Class Size
💰
$19,006 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Southern Columbia MS

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
382 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$19,006 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

2 Nearby 466 Off-Campus Students
C+
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania
11,088 students · 7.7 mi
C
Schuylkill Technology Center
74 students · 12.7 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a house cost in Catawissa, PA?

Homes in Catawissa, PA typically sell near $262K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which measured long-term demand.

What is the tenant pool like in Catawissa, PA?

The tenant pool in Catawissa, PA is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $1,017/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

What are rental rates like in Catawissa, PA?

Rental rates in Catawissa, PA average $1,017/mo. Tenant demand and $262K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

Is PA a landlord-friendly state?

The landlord environment in Catawissa, PA is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Catawissa, PA?

Expect elevated vacancy in Catawissa, PA. Rents at $1,017/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

You know 17820 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 17820 ranks in Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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