Real Estate Investing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (19144)

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

Philadelphia County • Population: 48,542 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 19144 (Philadelphia, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (55/100)

Mixed — values have been flat. OK for long-horizon buyers, less attractive if you may need to sell soon.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (57/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
3 flags
  • Declining values: -2.0% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • Elevated vacancy: 10.4% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • Higher unemployment: 7.2% unemployment — tenant risk signal.

What’s happening in Philadelphia, PA (19144)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $184,426
Avg Monthly Rent $1,499
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $41,078
% Renters 63.4%

Market Analysis: 19144 Philadelphia

Stepping back, ZIP 19144 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $184K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 19144 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

From a cash-flow lens, 19144 offers a low basis, the region around Philadelphia has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

The 19144 ZIP's population of 48,542 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that sits at the need for careful underwriting.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. durable returns are possible in 19144, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Philadelphia:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 51/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
0/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.5× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,499/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.
🏠

Property Strategy for 19144

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
9.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+4.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$49,492/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $135,011 $1,620 8.6% +3.8% $67,506
3BR $148,477 $1,940 9.4% +1.3% $49,492
4BR $219,858 $2,170 7.1% +2.9% $54,965
5BR $333,862 +4.7% $66,772

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$219K$190K$162K$133K$105K$76KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,553$1,419$1,286$1,152$1,019$885Jan 2017Oct 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 19144 Compare?

Metric 19144 Philadelphia Pennsylvania
Home Value $184,426 $260,324 $278,018
5-Year CAGR N/A 1.2% 6.3%
Avg Rent $1,499 $1,659 -
Cap Rate 6.3% 5.6% -
💡 Why Invest in 19144? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

63% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 19144 (Philadelphia, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 19144 (Philadelphia, PA)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Property managers serving Philadelphia County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Atlas Property Management is a boutique team offering personal service for single-family rentals across Napa Valley, serving Napa, Yountville, St. Helena, Calistoga, Sonoma, American Canyon, Hiddenbro summary from their website

Single-family
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Citified Realty & Property Management provides management services for single-family, multi-family, and commercial units in Philadelphia, focusing on tenant satisfaction. summary from their website

Single-familySmall multifamilyCommercial
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Chapel Realty Property Management. summary from their website

Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
6.3%
Good
5yr Growth
-2.0%
Declining

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $184,426
Monthly Rent $1,499
Price-to-Rent 10.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 9.8%
Cap Rate 6.3%
5-Year IRR 4.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR -0.5% ▼
5-Year CAGR -2.0% ▼
10-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +2.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲
Neutral Leverage Cap Rate: 6.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage is roughly neutral here.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) is close to the estimated cap rate (6.3%). 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.

Vacancy
10.4%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
-2.0%
Declining
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 19144

Population: 48,542

💰 Median Household Income
$41,078
This area
$41,078
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
63.4%
This area
63.4%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
7.2%
This area
7.2%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
33.5%
This area
33.5%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
33.1 years
This area
33.1 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.4%
This area
10.4%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 73.4%
White 18.1%
Other/Mixed 6.5%
Hispanic/Latino 2.4%
Asian 2.0%
👶 Under 18
22.2%
This area
22.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.7%
This area
13.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
19.5%
This area
19.5%
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 19144

A+ Avg School Grade
7 Schools
13.3:1 Avg Class Size
$30,220 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Kelly John B Sch

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
352 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$36,791 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Roosevelt Theodore MS

📚 K – 08 School
👥
436 Students
👨‍🏫
10.8:1 Class Size
💰
$36,791 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Lingelbach Anna L Sch

📚 K – 08 School
👥
331 Students
👨‍🏫
12.7:1 Class Size
💰
$36,791 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Fitler Academics Plus

📚 K – 08 School
👥
177 Students
👨‍🏫
10.4:1 Class Size
💰
$36,791 Per Student
A Very Good

Mastery CS John Wister Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
497 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$21,947 Per Student
A Very Good

Mastery CS-Pickett Campus

📚 06 – 12 High School Charter
👥
905 Students
👨‍🏫
15.6:1 Class Size
💰
$22,703 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Wissahickon CS

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
930 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$19,724 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Allen Dr Ethel Sch

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 3200 W Lehigh Ave, Philadelphia
👥
329 Students
👨‍🏫
10.5:1 Class Size
💰
$36,791 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Barry Comm John Sch

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 5900 Race St., Philadelphia
👥
512 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$36,791 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Barton Clara Sch

📚 K – 02 Elementary
📍 4600 Rosehill St, Philadelphia
👥
501 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$36,791 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Bethune Mary McLeod Sch

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 3301 Old York Rd, Philadelphia
👥
451 Students
👨‍🏫
11.0:1 Class Size
💰
$36,791 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Cayuga School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 4344-4358 N 5th St, Philadelphia
👥
335 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$36,791 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 4,742 Off-Campus Students
C
La Salle University
3,554 students · 1.2 mi
C
Roxborough Memorial Hospital School of Nursing
144 students · 1.9 mi
D
ASPIRA City College
14 students · 2.4 mi
C
Philadelphia Technician Training
492 students · 2.7 mi
C
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
3,027 students · 2.9 mi
D
Gratz College
482 students · 3.2 mi
D
Empire Beauty School-Cheltenham
151 students · 3.4 mi
B
Temple University
30,205 students · 3.7 mi

Investor Insight: With 4,742 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Philadelphia, PA a smart market for rental property?

Investors tracking Philadelphia, PA will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $184K median home values and $1,499/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting even-keeled returns.

Which real estate strategy fits Philadelphia, PA?

Most investors in Philadelphia, PA run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 3.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Philadelphia, PA?

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

Is Philadelphia, PA suited for a house hack?

Philadelphia, PA is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $184K price point reasonable to enter.

Are rents high in Philadelphia, PA?

The typical rental in Philadelphia, PA commands about $1,499/mo monthly. That rent profile even-keeled cash flow against the $184K purchase basis.

You know 19144 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 19144 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.

Compare Plans

How 19144 ranks in Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 19144 (Philadelphia)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 19144 (Philadelphia, PA).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.