Real Estate Investing in Gouldsboro, Pennsylvania (18424)

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

Lackawanna County • Population: 5,076 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 18424 (Gouldsboro, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (57/100)

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: 51.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Gouldsboro, PA (18424)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $265,724
Avg Monthly Rent $900
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $58,606
% Renters 13.0%

Market Analysis: 18424 Gouldsboro

Investors eyeing 18424 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $266K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

The investment case in 18424 is significant only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $266K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Looking more closely, 18424 offers a low basis, the region around Gouldsboro has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

From a cash-flow lens, 5,076 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.

The right play in 18424 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Gouldsboro:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 72/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.5× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $900/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
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
39 days
Average time to sell
Average
9.8%
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 Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 18424

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+12.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$86,524/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $177,605 $1,400 5.7% +12.5% $88,802
3BR $259,572 $1,840 5.1% +12.7% $86,524
4BR $347,554 $2,150 4.5% +10.9% $86,889
5BR $441,682 +9.7% $88,336

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$289K$250K$211K$172K$133K$94KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

No data available

📊 How Does 18424 Compare?

Metric 18424 Gouldsboro Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $265,724 $265,724 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 8.3% 8.3% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $900 $900 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.6% 2.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 18424? 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 18424 (Gouldsboro, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+8.3%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $265,724
Monthly Rent $900
Price-to-Rent 24.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.1%
Cap Rate 2.6%
5-Year IRR 11.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +8.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.6%). 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
51.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+8.3%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 18424

Population: 5,076

💰 Median Household Income
$58,606
This area
$58,606
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
13.0%
This area
13.0%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.6%
This area
3.6%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
20.9%
This area
20.9%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
49.3 years
This area
49.3 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
51.4%
This area
51.4%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 92.3%
Other/Mixed 4.6%
Hispanic/Latino 3.2%
Black/African American 2.6%
Asian 0.4%
👶 Under 18
19.2%
This area
19.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.7%
This area
20.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.3%
This area
9.3%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 362 Off-Campus Students
B
Yeshivath Beth Moshe
41 students · 12.6 mi
C
Empire Beauty School-Wyoming Valley
137 students · 13.1 mi
C+
University of Scranton
4,825 students · 13.3 mi
C
Lackawanna College
1,939 students · 13.7 mi
C
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
649 students · 13.7 mi
D
Fortis Institute-Scranton
205 students · 13.8 mi
C+
Marywood University
2,850 students · 14.5 mi
C
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton
838 students · 14.6 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best play in Gouldsboro, PA?

For Gouldsboro, PA, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

How does Gouldsboro, PA rate as a rental market?

Gouldsboro, PA scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $266K and rents near $900/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

How quickly do rentals get leased in Gouldsboro, PA?

Gouldsboro, PA carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect steady absorption at market rents of $900/mo.

Is PA a landlord-friendly state?

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

Is the tenant base reliable in Gouldsboro, PA?

Tenant demand in Gouldsboro, PA is solid. The local workforce $900/mo rents across most rental classes.

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How 18424 ranks in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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