Real Estate Investing in Dalton, Pennsylvania (18414)

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

Lackawanna County • Population: 5,390 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 18414 (Dalton, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (53/100)

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: 12.4% 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 Dalton, PA (18414)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $310,124
Avg Monthly Rent $1,359
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $82,009
% Renters 13.6%

Market Analysis: 18414 Dalton

ZIP 18414 inside Lackawanna County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $310K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 18414 clocks in at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

In the broader PA picture, 18414 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Looking more closely, 5,390 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.

tilts toward 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 Dalton:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.8× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,359/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 18414

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+8.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$102,868/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
3BR $308,605 $1,970 4.6% +8.2% $102,868
4BR $418,113 $2,130 3.7% +7.5% $104,528

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$338K$302K$267K$232K$197K$161KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 18414 Compare?

Metric 18414 Dalton Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $310,124 $310,124 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 3.6% 3.6% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $1,359 $1,359 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.4% 3.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 18414? 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 →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 18414 (Dalton, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.6%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $310,124
Monthly Rent $1,359
Price-to-Rent 19.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.3%
Cap Rate 3.4%
5-Year IRR 7.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.4%). 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
12.4%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 18414

Population: 5,390

💰 Median Household Income
$82,009
This area
$82,009
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
13.6%
This area
13.6%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.3%
This area
2.3%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
39.7%
This area
39.7%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
45.5 years
This area
45.5 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
12.4%
This area
12.4%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.7%
Other/Mixed 2.8%
Black/African American 1.6%
Hispanic/Latino 1.3%
Asian 0.9%
👶 Under 18
20.5%
This area
20.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.8%
This area
21.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.1%
This area
4.1%
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 18414

Nearby Schools (1 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

B+ Above Average

Waverly Sch

📚 K – 04 Elementary
📍 103 Waverly Rd, Waverly
👥
311 Students
👨‍🏫
17.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,484 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

8 Nearby 421 Off-Campus Students
C
Keystone College
1,051 students · 2.3 mi
C
Clarks Summit University
558 students · 4.2 mi
C
Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County
76 students · 7.6 mi
D
Johnson College
627 students · 8.0 mi
C+
Marywood University
2,850 students · 9.1 mi
C
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton
838 students · 9.3 mi
D
Fortis Institute-Scranton
205 students · 9.6 mi
C
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
649 students · 9.8 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Are homes affordable in Dalton, PA?

Dalton, PA home values average about $310K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $1,359/mo in monthly income.

Is Dalton, PA landlord-friendly?

PA law landlord-friendly for landlords, and Dalton inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

What is the best play in Dalton, PA?

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

Is house hacking profitable in Dalton, PA?

House hacking in Dalton, PA is reasonable to execute. Prices around $310K and rents of $1,359/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

Are renters plentiful in Dalton, PA?

Dalton, PA draws a consistent base of working renters. Demand at the $1,359/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

You know 18414 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 18414 ranks in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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