Real Estate Investing in Scranton, Pennsylvania (18503)
Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.
Should you buy in 18503 (Scranton, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.
Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.
A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.
- High vacancy: 29.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.
- Elevated poverty: 32.4% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
- Lower household income: $35,333 median — tenant affordability is tighter.
What’s happening in Scranton, PA (18503)?
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Market Analysis: 18503 Scranton
The 18503 ZIP covers a section of Scranton that demands careful diligence. Prices near $166K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.
Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 18503 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.
Nearby ZIPs in Scranton have seen price recovery that 18503 has not matched. Lackawanna County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.
Resident income in 18503 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.
Strategically, 18503 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.
Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Scranton:
Market Trends
Home Value History (with trend line)
Rent History (with trend line)
📊 How Does 18503 Compare?
| Metric | 18503 | Scranton | Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Value | $166,037 | $192,047 | N/A | $278,018 |
| 5-Year CAGR | N/A | 8.7% | N/A | 6.3% |
| Avg Rent | $1,400 | $1,310 | N/A | - |
| Cap Rate | 6.6% | 5.4% | - | - |
Similar ZIPs Within 25 Miles
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Landlord Ground Truth
Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 18503 (Scranton, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.
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📊 Market Snapshot
| Home Value | $166,037 |
| Monthly Rent | $1,400 |
| Price-to-Rent | 9.9:1 |
| 1% Rule | ✗ Fails |
💰 Return Metrics
| Gross Yield | 10.1% |
| Cap Rate | 6.6% |
| 5-Year IRR | 7.3% |
📈 Home Appreciation
| 1-Year | +5.1% ▲ |
| 3-Year CAGR | +0.7% ▲ |
| 5-Year CAGR | N/A |
| 10-Year CAGR | N/A |
🏠 Rent Trends
| 1-Year | N/A |
| 3-Year CAGR | N/A |
| 5-Year CAGR | N/A |
The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) is close to the estimated cap rate (6.6%). Financing this market at current rates produces a cash-on-cash return near the cap rate. Appreciation and tax benefits may still support the investment.
⚠️ Risk Signals
Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.
Demographics in 18503
Population: 1,537
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 18503
Nearby Schools (5 more)
Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area
Howard Gardner Multiple Intelligence CS
Isaac Tripp El Sch
John F. Kennedy #7
Frances Willard #32
John G Whittier #2
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What are rental rates like in Scranton, PA?
Rent in Scranton, PA is around $1,400/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $166K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.
What is the rental occupancy rate in Scranton, PA?
Vacancy risk in Scranton, PA is elevated. That supports consistent cash flow for typical rental holds.
Is Scranton, PA a good market for buy-and-hold investors?
The 3.0/5 investability rating in Scranton, PA reflects its $166K prices and $1,400/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within PA.
What strategy should investors use in Scranton, PA?
For Scranton, PA, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.
Can I live-in-and-rent in Scranton, PA?
House hacking in Scranton, PA is reasonable to execute. Prices around $166K and rents of $1,400/mo solid owner-occupant economics.
You know 18503 now. You don’t know where it ranks.
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How 18503 ranks in Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA
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