Real Estate Investing in Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania (17972)

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

Schuylkill County • Population: 11,294 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 17972 (Schuylkill Haven, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (71/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 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: 8.6% 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 Schuylkill Haven, PA (17972)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $244,002
Avg Monthly Rent $873
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $63,226
% Renters 26.8%

Market Analysis: 17972 Schuylkill Haven

ZIP 17972 inside Schuylkill County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $244K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

In practical terms, the numbers look inviting — $244K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 17972 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Within PA, ZIP 17972 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Schuylkill County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and impressive enough to shape underwriting.

Who lives in 17972 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

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 Schuylkill Haven:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 74/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $873/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
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
🏠

Property Strategy for 17972

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+10.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$74,529/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $182,959 $970 3.8% +9.5% $91,480
3BR $223,588 $1,270 4.1% +9.5% $74,529
4BR $325,622 $1,330 2.9% +10.0% $81,406

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$255K$223K$191K$159K$128K$96KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 17972 Compare?

Metric 17972 Schuylkill Haven Pottsville, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $244,002 $244,002 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 7.4% 7.4% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $873 $873 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.8% 2.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 17972? 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 17972 (Schuylkill Haven, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.4%
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 $244,002
Monthly Rent $873
Price-to-Rent 23.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.3%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 10.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.8%). 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
8.6%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 17972

Population: 11,294

💰 Median Household Income
$63,226
This area
$63,226
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
26.8%
This area
26.8%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.9%
This area
2.9%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
23.5%
This area
23.5%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
44.0 years
This area
44.0 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.6%
This area
8.6%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.0%
Other/Mixed 5.0%
Hispanic/Latino 2.5%
Black/African American 1.1%
Asian 0.9%
👶 Under 18
17.5%
This area
17.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
23.3%
This area
23.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.3%
This area
2.3%
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 17972

A+ Avg School Grade
5 Schools
12.3:1 Avg Class Size
$24,496 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Blue Mountain HS

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
815 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$26,192 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Blue Mountain El West Sch

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
467 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$26,192 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Schuylkill Haven El Ctr

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
452 Students
👨‍🏫
12.2:1 Class Size
💰
$23,365 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Schuylkill Haven SHS

📚 08 – 12 High School
👥
441 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$23,365 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Schuylkill Haven MS

📚 05 – 07 School
👥
264 Students
👨‍🏫
12.9:1 Class Size
💰
$23,365 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
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Schuylkill
650 students · 4.7 mi
C
Joseph F McCloskey School of Nursing
55 students · 7.2 mi
C
Empire Beauty School-Pottsville
56 students · 8.7 mi
C
Schuylkill Technology Center
74 students · 13.4 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Schuylkill Haven, PA?

For house hackers, Schuylkill Haven, PA is a challenging. The $873/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $244K property.

Is Schuylkill Haven, PA a good place for real estate investing?

Schuylkill Haven, PA scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $244K and rents near $873/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

How strong is the working-renter base in Schuylkill Haven, PA?

Schuylkill Haven, PA draws a stable base of working renters. Demand at the $873/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

How much do tenants pay in Schuylkill Haven, PA?

Average rent in Schuylkill Haven, PA is approximately $873/mo per month. Against $244K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

How much does a house cost in Schuylkill Haven, PA?

Schuylkill Haven, PA median home values land near $244K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $873/mo-per-month rentals.

You know 17972 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 17972 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 17972 ranks in Pottsville, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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