Real Estate Investing in Towanda, Pennsylvania (18848)

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

Bradford County • Population: 8,625 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 18848 (Towanda, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (60/100)

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: 16.1% 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 Towanda, PA (18848)?

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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 $205,927
Avg Monthly Rent $972
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $53,843
% Renters 31.5%

Market Analysis: 18848 Towanda

This part of Bradford County is not an easy win. The 18848 ZIP registers softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

The 18848 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Nearby ZIPs in Towanda have seen price recovery that 18848 has not matched. Bradford County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Demographically, 18848 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

The right play in 18848 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 Towanda:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 67/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $972/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Sayre, PA Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.2%
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 Sayre, PA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 18848

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+7.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$47,918/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $162,127 $1,080 4.8% +6.3% $81,063
3BR $201,042 $1,360 4.9% +6.3% $67,014
4BR $228,127 $1,540 4.9% +6.2% $57,032
5BR $239,590 +7.3% $47,918

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$213K$192K$171K$151K$130K$109KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 18848 Compare?

Metric 18848 Towanda Sayre, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $205,927 $205,927 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 5.5% 5.5% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $972 $972 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.7% 3.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 18848? 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 18848 (Towanda, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.5%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Sayre, PA metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
0%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $205,927
Monthly Rent $972
Price-to-Rent 17.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.7%
Cap Rate 3.7%
5-Year IRR 9.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.6% ▲

🏠 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
16.1%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 18848

Population: 8,625

💰 Median Household Income
$53,843
This area
$53,843
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
31.5%
This area
31.5%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.4%
This area
2.4%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
20.0%
This area
20.0%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
47.8 years
This area
47.8 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
16.1%
This area
16.1%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 96.1%
Other/Mixed 2.0%
Black/African American 1.9%
Hispanic/Latino 1.3%
👶 Under 18
20.7%
This area
20.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
24.1%
This area
24.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.2%
This area
11.2%
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 18848

B+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
11.6:1 Avg Class Size
$18,811 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Towanda Area El Sch

📚 03 – 06 School
👥
428 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$18,811 Per Student
A Very Good

Morrow El Sch

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
363 Students
👨‍🏫
16.2:1 Class Size
💰
$18,811 Per Student
A Very Good

Towanda Area JSHS

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
698 Students
👨‍🏫
15.6:1 Class Size
💰
$18,811 Per Student
B Good

Northern Tier Career Center

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
15 Students
👨‍🏫
1.1:1 Class Size
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

1 Nearby 9 Off-Campus Students
D
Northern Tier Career Center
37 students · 3.7 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is rent in Towanda, PA?

Towanda, PA rentals go for roughly $972/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $206K acquisition costs.

Does Towanda, PA favor landlords or tenants?

Rental owners in Towanda, PA deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

What kind of market is Towanda, PA for investors?

Investors tracking Towanda, PA will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $206K median home values and $972/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting reliable returns.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Towanda, PA?

Towanda, PA vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

How viable is house hacking in Towanda, PA?

The house hack math a challenging in Towanda, PA. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $972/mo rents and $206K home values.

You know 18848 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 18848 ranks in Sayre, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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