Real Estate Investing in Port Carbon, Pennsylvania (17965)

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

Schuylkill County • Population: 1,869 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 17965 (Port Carbon, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GREAT FIT
Grade A (86/100)

Strong fundamentals — affordable, appreciating, and stable. A confident pick for primary residence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

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: 10.4% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

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

What’s happening in Port Carbon, PA (17965)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $132,883
Avg Monthly Rent $918
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $55,130
% Renters 20.1%

Market Analysis: 17965 Port Carbon

Stepping back, ZIP 17965 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $133K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

On balance, the numbers look inviting — $133K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 17965 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Statewide comparisons place 17965 among PA's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Demographically, 17965 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 17965 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 Port Carbon:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 80/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $918/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This area shows favorable conditions for homebuyers. Solid fundamentals with reasonable affordability.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Pottsville, PA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
36 days
Average time to sell
Average
7.8%
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 Pottsville, PA metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$141K$123K$105K$87K$69K$50KFeb 2009Nov 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 17965 Compare?

Metric 17965 Port Carbon Pottsville, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $132,883 $132,883 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 7.6% 7.6% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $918 $918 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.4% 5.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 17965? 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 17965 (Port Carbon, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.4%
Fair
5yr Growth
+7.6%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Pottsville, PA metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
47%
Days Pending
0/2
36 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $132,883
Monthly Rent $918
Price-to-Rent 12.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.3%
Cap Rate 5.4%
5-Year IRR 13.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +8.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.4%). 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
10.4%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.6%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 17965

Population: 1,869

💰 Median Household Income
$55,130
This area
$55,130
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
20.1%
This area
20.1%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.0%
This area
4.0%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
14.9%
This area
14.9%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
48.5 years
This area
48.5 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.4%
This area
10.4%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.4%
Other/Mixed 3.7%
Hispanic/Latino 3.0%
Black/African American 2.4%
Asian 0.5%
👶 Under 18
18.1%
This area
18.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
23.9%
This area
23.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.5%
This area
5.5%
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 17965

Nearby Schools (1 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Saint Clair Area El/MS

📚 K – 08 School
📍 227 S Mill St, Saint Clair
👥
536 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$22,921 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 411 Off-Campus Students
C
Empire Beauty School-Pottsville
56 students · 1.2 mi
C
Joseph F McCloskey School of Nursing
55 students · 1.6 mi
C
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Schuylkill
650 students · 4.1 mi
C
Schuylkill Technology Center
74 students · 6.3 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Do rentals sit vacant long in Port Carbon, PA?

Rental vacancy in Port Carbon, PA is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

Does house hacking work in Port Carbon, PA?

House hacking works a challenging in Port Carbon, PA. Rents of $918/mo against $133K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

Is housing expensive in Port Carbon, PA?

Port Carbon, PA median home values land near $133K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $918/mo-per-month rentals.

What is the average monthly rent in Port Carbon, PA?

Rent in Port Carbon, PA is around $918/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $133K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

How deep is the rental pool in Port Carbon, PA?

The tenant pool in Port Carbon, PA is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $918/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

You know 17965 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 17965 ranks in Pottsville, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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