Real Estate Investing in Morgantown, Pennsylvania (19543)

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

Berks County • Population: 6,172 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 19543 (Morgantown, PA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (67/100)

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 25.4 — 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 Morgantown, PA (19543)?

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

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $452,524
Avg Monthly Rent $1,485
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $103,264
% Renters 12.2%

Market Analysis: 19543 Morgantown

On the rental side, ZIP 19543 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $453K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 19543 registers the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

The gap between 19543 and stronger Morgantown ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Resident income in 19543 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 19543 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Morgantown:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 69/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,485/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 19543

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+8.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$122,912/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $271,232 $1,650 4.4% +8.0% $135,616
3BR $368,735 $2,040 4.0% +8.0% $122,912
4BR $514,809 $2,180 3.0% +8.6% $128,702

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$470K$419K$367K$315K$264K$212KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 19543 Compare?

Metric 19543 Morgantown Reading, PA Pennsylvania
Home Value $452,524 $452,524 N/A $278,018
5-Year CAGR 6.5% 6.5% N/A 6.3%
Avg Rent $1,485 $1,485 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.6% 2.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 19543? 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.
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 19543 (Morgantown, PA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 19543 (Morgantown, PA)?

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

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.5%
Strong

📉 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 $452,524
Monthly Rent $1,485
Price-to-Rent 25.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.9%
Cap Rate 2.6%
5-Year IRR 9.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.6%). 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
6.5%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.5%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 19543

Population: 6,172

💰 Median Household Income
$103,264
This area
$103,264
State
$73,647
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
12.2%
This area
12.2%
State
23.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.9%
This area
1.9%
State
-7.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
40.2%
This area
40.2%
State
12.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.3 years
This area
41.3 years
State
25.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.5%
This area
6.5%
State
14.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.6%
Asian 1.8%
Other/Mixed 1.8%
Hispanic/Latino 1.2%
Black/African American 0.7%
👶 Under 18
25.3%
This area
25.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
11.3%
This area
11.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.8%
This area
5.8%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 655 Off-Campus Students
C
Alvernia University
2,485 students · 9.9 mi
C
American Barber and Beauty Academy
118 students · 10.4 mi
C+
Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences
270 students · 11.2 mi
C
Reading Area Community College
4,788 students · 11.6 mi
C
European Medical School of Massage
23 students · 11.9 mi
C
Miller-Motte College-Berks Technical Institute
452 students · 12.8 mi
D
Universal Technical Institute of Pennsylvania Inc
1,004 students · 13.1 mi
C
Albright College
1,652 students · 13.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 655 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are homes affordable in Morgantown, PA?

Morgantown, PA home values average about $453K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $1,485/mo in monthly income.

Are rents high in Morgantown, PA?

Morgantown, PA rentals go for roughly $1,485/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $453K acquisition costs.

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

Most investors in Morgantown, 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.

Is house hacking profitable in Morgantown, PA?

House hacking in Morgantown, PA is reasonable to execute. Prices around $453K and rents of $1,485/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

How qualified is the tenant pool in Morgantown, PA?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Morgantown, PA. The rental market absorbs $1,485/mo rents without meaningful friction.

You know 19543 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 19543 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 19543 ranks in Reading, PA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 19543 (Morgantown)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 19543 (Morgantown, PA).

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