Real Estate Investing in Waverly, Pennsylvania (18471)

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

Lackawanna County • Population: 527 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 18471 (Waverly, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (35/100)

Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.

📈 For Investors
WEAK
2.0 / 5 (33/100)

Structural challenges here. The numbers may look cheap but operational risk is high. Only for experienced, hands-on investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 16.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Declining values: -1.4% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 28.7 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Waverly, PA (18471)?

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2.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $467,754
Avg Monthly Rent $1,359
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $118,125
% Renters 2.3%

Market Analysis: 18471 Waverly

Investors eyeing 18471 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $468K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $468K asset, 18471 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

The gap between 18471 and stronger Waverly ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

The 18471 ZIP's population of 527 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that registers the need for careful underwriting.

New investors are better served looking at Waverly's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 18471. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Waverly:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 50/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
5/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.9%)
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: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
⚖️
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

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$564K$512K$460K$408K$355K$303KAug 2011Feb 2019Jul 2026

📊 How Does 18471 Compare?

Metric 18471 Waverly Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $467,754 $467,754 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $1,359 $1,359 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.3% 2.3% - -
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 18471 (Waverly, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
2.3%
Low
5yr Growth
-1.4%
Declining

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $467,754
Monthly Rent $1,359
Price-to-Rent 28.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.5%
Cap Rate 2.3%
5-Year IRR 0.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.9% ▼
3-Year CAGR -4.4% ▼
5-Year CAGR -1.4% ▼
10-Year CAGR +3.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.3%). 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
16.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
-1.4%
Flat
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 18471

Population: 527

💰 Median Household Income
$118,125
This area
$118,125
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
2.3%
This area
2.3%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
79.5%
This area
79.5%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
49.4 years
This area
49.4 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
16.4%
This area
16.4%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 100.0%
👶 Under 18
17.8%
This area
17.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.7%
This area
22.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
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

🎓 Schools in 18471

B+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
17.4:1 Avg Class Size
$15,484 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Waverly Sch

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
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
Clarks Summit University
558 students · 2.4 mi
C
Keystone College
1,051 students · 4.6 mi
C
Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County
76 students · 5.8 mi
D
Johnson College
627 students · 6.2 mi
C+
Marywood University
2,850 students · 7.3 mi
C
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Scranton
838 students · 7.3 mi
D
Fortis Institute-Scranton
205 students · 8.1 mi
C
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
649 students · 8.3 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Should investors worry about vacancy in Waverly, PA?

Waverly, PA sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader PA rental market.

What is the smart move for investors in Waverly, PA?

Most investors in Waverly, PA run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 2.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

How deep is the rental pool in Waverly, PA?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Waverly, PA. The rental market absorbs $1,359/mo rents without meaningful friction.

Is housing expensive in Waverly, PA?

Waverly, PA median home values land near $468K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,359/mo-per-month rentals.

Does Waverly, PA make sense for an investment property?

With a 2.0/5 investability score, Waverly, PA ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $468K and rents of $1,359/mo drive the underlying numbers.

You know 18471 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 18471 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 18471 ranks in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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