Real Estate Investing in Tamaqua, Pennsylvania (18252)

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

Schuylkill County • Population: 11,065 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 18252 (Tamaqua, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (80/100)

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

📈 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
  • High vacancy: 14.1% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Tamaqua, PA (18252)?

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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 $160,199
Avg Monthly Rent $1,070
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $65,856
% Renters 27.5%

Market Analysis: 18252 Tamaqua

ZIP 18252 in Tamaqua, PA carries a durable set of headwinds. Home values near $160K and rents of $1,070/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Rent of $1,070/mo on a $160K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 18252 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Within PA, ZIP 18252 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Schuylkill County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and robust enough to shape underwriting.

The demographic picture in 18252 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Tamaqua averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. sturdy returns are possible in 18252, 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 Tamaqua:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 84/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,070/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
🏠

Property Strategy for 18252

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
8.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+13.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$37,060/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $138,885 $1,360 7.1% +10.0% $69,442
3BR $141,373 $1,740 8.9% +9.8% $47,124
4BR $170,636 $1,810 7.6% +10.0% $42,659
5BR $185,299 +13.0% $37,060

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$169K$147K$126K$104K$83K$61KFeb 2009Nov 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,183$1,157$1,132$1,107$1,081$1,056Aug 2025Feb 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 18252 Compare?

Metric 18252 Tamaqua Pottsville, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $160,199 $160,199 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 7.6% 7.6% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $1,070 $1,070 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.2% 5.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 18252? 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 18252 (Tamaqua, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.2%
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 $160,199
Monthly Rent $1,070
Price-to-Rent 12.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.0%
Cap Rate 5.2%
5-Year IRR 12.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.2%). 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
14.1%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.6%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 18252

Population: 11,065

💰 Median Household Income
$65,856
This area
$65,856
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
27.5%
This area
27.5%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.6%
This area
3.6%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
16.8%
This area
16.8%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
44.4 years
This area
44.4 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.1%
This area
14.1%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 90.6%
Other/Mixed 9.1%
Hispanic/Latino 4.7%
Black/African American 0.3%
👶 Under 18
22.8%
This area
22.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.6%
This area
19.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
10.7%
This area
10.7%
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 18252

A Avg School Grade
3 Schools
14.8:1 Avg Class Size
$16,499 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Tamaqua Area MS

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
467 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$16,499 Per Student
A Very Good

Tamaqua Area SHS

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
654 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$16,499 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Tamaqua El Sch

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
680 Students
👨‍🏫
16.2:1 Class Size
💰
$16,499 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 481 Off-Campus Students
C
Empire Beauty School-Pottsville
56 students · 12.0 mi
C
Joseph F McCloskey School of Nursing
55 students · 12.8 mi
C
Schuylkill Technology Center
74 students · 13.1 mi
C
Hazleton Area Career Center
7 students · 13.3 mi
C
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Schuylkill
650 students · 13.7 mi
C
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Hazleton
510 students · 14.5 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the investability score for Tamaqua, PA?

Tamaqua, PA rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $160K and rents near $1,070/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

What are home prices like in Tamaqua, PA?

Typical homes in Tamaqua, PA go for around $160K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% consistent price movement.

What do rentals go for in Tamaqua, PA?

Expect rents around $1,070/mo per month in Tamaqua, PA. With home values at $160K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

Should investors worry about vacancy in Tamaqua, PA?

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

Is rental property easy to operate in Tamaqua, PA?

Tamaqua, PA falls under PA landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

You know 18252 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 18252 ranks in Pottsville, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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