Real Estate Investing in Honesdale, Pennsylvania (18431)

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

Wayne County • Population: 12,576 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 18431 (Honesdale, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (52/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 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: 14.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Honesdale, PA (18431)?

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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 $300,246
Avg Monthly Rent $1,413
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $53,613
% Renters 27.7%

Market Analysis: 18431 Honesdale

This part of Wayne County is not an easy win. The 18431 ZIP posts softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

The investment case in 18431 is impressive only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $300K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Put differently, 18431 offers a low basis, the region around Honesdale has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

A robust renter share of 28% in 18431 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

The right play in 18431 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 Honesdale:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,413/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.
🏠

Property Strategy for 18431

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
3.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+9.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$82,040/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $211,710 $1,120 3.8% +8.4% $105,855
3BR $285,269 $1,400 3.5% +9.3% $95,090
4BR $358,195 $1,880 3.8% +9.4% $89,549
5BR $410,202 +9.7% $82,040

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$313K$278K$243K$208K$172K$137KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,423$1,393$1,364$1,334$1,305$1,275Sep 2025Mar 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 18431 Compare?

Metric 18431 Honesdale Pennsylvania
Home Value $300,246 $300,246 $278,018
5-Year CAGR 5.8% 5.8% 6.3%
Avg Rent $1,413 $1,413 -
Cap Rate 3.7% 3.7% -
💡 Why Invest in 18431? 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 18431 (Honesdale, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.8%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $300,246
Monthly Rent $1,413
Price-to-Rent 17.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.7%
Cap Rate 3.7%
5-Year IRR 9.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.7%). 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
14.2%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 18431

Population: 12,576

💰 Median Household Income
$53,613
This area
$53,613
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
27.7%
This area
27.7%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.4%
This area
3.4%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
21.6%
This area
21.6%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
46.0 years
This area
46.0 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.2%
This area
14.2%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.5%
Other/Mixed 4.5%
Hispanic/Latino 2.5%
Asian 0.7%
Black/African American 0.2%
👶 Under 18
17.2%
This area
17.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
23.5%
This area
23.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.1%
This area
7.1%
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 18431

A+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
12.3:1 Avg Class Size
$26,735 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Honesdale HS

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
692 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$26,735 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Stourbridge Primary Ctr

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
399 Students
👨‍🏫
12.0:1 Class Size
💰
$26,735 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Lakeside Elementary School

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
414 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 Class Size
💰
$26,735 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Wayne Highlands MS

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
397 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$26,735 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What price range are homes in Honesdale, PA?

Median home price in Honesdale, PA is near $300K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been even-keeled and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

Are tenants stable in Honesdale, PA?

Honesdale, PA draws a steady base of working renters. Demand at the $1,413/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

How much do tenants pay in Honesdale, PA?

Expect rents around $1,413/mo per month in Honesdale, PA. With home values at $300K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

How landlord-friendly is Honesdale, PA?

Landlord-friendliness in Honesdale, PA is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

What real estate strategy is ideal for Honesdale, PA?

Honesdale, PA investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($300K prices, $1,413/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

You know 18431 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 18431 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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