Real Estate Investing in Zion Grove, Pennsylvania (17985)

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

Columbia County • Population: 1,265 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 17985 (Zion Grove, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (64/100)

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
  • High vacancy: 19.4% 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 Zion Grove, PA (17985)?

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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 $238,971
Avg Monthly Rent $1,197
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $70,703
% Renters 14.4%

Market Analysis: 17985 Zion Grove

ZIP 17985 in Zion Grove, PA carries a significant set of headwinds. Home values near $239K and rents of $1,197/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

The investment case in 17985 is substantial only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $239K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Statewide comparisons place 17985 among PA's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Stepping back, 1,265 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

Strategically, 17985 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Zion Grove:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+9.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,197/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)

$249K$221K$193K$166K$138K$110KJan 2013Oct 2019Jul 2026

📊 How Does 17985 Compare?

Metric 17985 Zion Grove Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $238,971 $238,971 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 5.8% 5.8% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $1,197 $1,197 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.9% 3.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 17985? 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 17985 (Zion Grove, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.8%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $238,971
Monthly Rent $1,197
Price-to-Rent 16.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.0%
Cap Rate 3.9%
5-Year IRR 9.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +9.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.9%). 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
19.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 17985

Population: 1,265

💰 Median Household Income
$70,703
This area
$70,703
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
14.4%
This area
14.4%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.1%
This area
1.1%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
13.9%
This area
13.9%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
48.3 years
This area
48.3 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
19.4%
This area
19.4%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.8%
Black/African American 3.3%
Other/Mixed 2.8%
Hispanic/Latino 2.6%
Asian 0.1%
👶 Under 18
17.8%
This area
17.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
24.5%
This area
24.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.0%
This area
2.0%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

5 Nearby 536 Off-Campus Students
C
Schuylkill Technology Center
74 students · 9.9 mi
C
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton
510 students · 11.7 mi
C+
Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania
11,088 students · 12.6 mi
C
Hazleton Area Career Center
7 students · 13.3 mi
C
Empire Beauty School-Pottsville
56 students · 14.9 mi

Investor Insight: With 536 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical renter like in Zion Grove, PA?

Zion Grove, PA offers a even-keeled renter base at the $1,197/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

Is real estate in Zion Grove, PA a good investment right now?

Zion Grove, PA scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $239K and rents near $1,197/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

What are home prices like in Zion Grove, PA?

Median home price in Zion Grove, PA is near $239K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been consistent and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

Is Zion Grove, PA good for landlords?

For rental operators, Zion Grove, PA rates as landlord-friendly. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

Is vacancy a concern in Zion Grove, PA?

Expect elevated vacancy in Zion Grove, PA. Rents at $1,197/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

You know 17985 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 17985 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 17985 ranks in Bloomsburg-Berwick, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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