Real Estate Investing in Barto, Pennsylvania (19504)

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

Berks County • Population: 5,327 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 19504 (Barto, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (59/100)

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 price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 29.2 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Barto, PA (19504)?

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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 $466,710
Avg Monthly Rent $1,332
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $94,297
% Renters 10.7%

Market Analysis: 19504 Barto

Investors eyeing 19504 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $467K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

The 19504 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

From an investor standpoint, 19504 offers a low basis, the region around Barto has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Employment concentration in 19504 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

New investors are better served looking at Barto's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 19504. 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 Barto:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 64/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,332/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
Reading, PA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
18 days
Average time to sell
Fast
10.5%
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 Reading, PA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 19504

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
3.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+8.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$131,676/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $313,746 $1,480 3.4% +6.5% $156,873
3BR $408,965 $1,800 3.2% +6.9% $136,322
4BR $526,702 $1,960 2.7% +8.1% $131,676

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$485K$432K$378K$325K$271K$218KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 19504 Compare?

Metric 19504 Barto Reading, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $466,710 $466,710 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 5.6% 5.6% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $1,332 $1,332 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.2% 2.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 19504? 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 19504 (Barto, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.6%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Reading, PA metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
23%
Days Pending
0/2
18 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $466,710
Monthly Rent $1,332
Price-to-Rent 29.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.4%
Cap Rate 2.2%
5-Year IRR 7.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.2%). 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
7.7%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 19504

Population: 5,327

💰 Median Household Income
$94,297
This area
$94,297
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
10.7%
This area
10.7%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.8%
This area
0.8%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
31.6%
This area
31.6%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
50.0 years
This area
50.0 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.7%
This area
7.7%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.8%
Asian 3.9%
Other/Mixed 2.1%
Hispanic/Latino 1.9%
Black/African American 0.2%
👶 Under 18
17.1%
This area
17.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
24.2%
This area
24.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.6%
This area
0.6%
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 19504

A+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
14.6:1 Avg Class Size
$17,950 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Washington El Sch

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
511 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$17,950 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

7 Nearby 1,407 Off-Campus Students
C
Metro Beauty Academy
174 students · 11.3 mi
C+
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
7,416 students · 12.6 mi
C
Lincoln Technical Institute-Allentown
529 students · 12.8 mi
C
Cedar Crest College
1,248 students · 12.9 mi
C+
Muhlenberg College
1,818 students · 13.8 mi
D
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Lehigh Valley
954 students · 14.4 mi
C+
DeSales University
2,919 students · 14.5 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,407 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical rental rate in Barto, PA?

The typical rental in Barto, PA commands about $1,332/mo monthly. That rent profile measured cash flow against the $467K purchase basis.

Is housing expensive in Barto, PA?

Barto, PA home values average about $467K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $1,332/mo in monthly income.

Is real estate in Barto, PA a good investment right now?

Barto, PA scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $467K and rents near $1,332/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

How strict are landlord regulations in Barto, PA?

Barto, PA operates under PA law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect reliable treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

Should investors worry about vacancy in Barto, PA?

Vacancy in Barto, PA is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $1,332/mo.

You know 19504 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 19504 ranks in Reading, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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