Real Estate Investing in Woodsboro, Maryland (21798)

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

Frederick County • Population: 2,765 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 21798 (Woodsboro, MD)? 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 37.7 — 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 Woodsboro, MD (21798)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $513,526
Avg Monthly Rent $1,134
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $120,732
% Renters 23.0%

Market Analysis: 21798 Woodsboro

This part of Frederick County is not an easy win. The 21798 ZIP reflects softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 21798 shows the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Regionally, 21798 sits on the difficult end of the MD spectrum. The a viable market for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

The demographic picture in 21798 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Woodsboro averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

New investors are better served looking at Woodsboro's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 21798. 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 Woodsboro:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 63/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.3× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,134/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.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$536K$477K$418K$359K$301K$242KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 21798 Compare?

Metric 21798 Woodsboro Maryland
Home Value $513,526 $513,526 $424,997
5-Year CAGR 4.6% 4.6% 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,134 $1,134 -
Cap Rate 1.7% 1.7% -
💡 Why Invest in 21798? 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 21798 (Woodsboro, MD). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.6%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $513,526
Monthly Rent $1,134
Price-to-Rent 37.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.7%
Cap Rate 1.7%
5-Year IRR 6.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.7%). 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.

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⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
7.9%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 21798

Population: 2,765

💰 Median Household Income
$120,732
This area
$120,732
State
$107,932
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
23.0%
This area
23.0%
State
23.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
6.4%
This area
6.4%
State
-20.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
34.0%
This area
34.0%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.6 years
This area
38.6 years
State
1.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.9%
This area
7.9%
State
11.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 82.1%
Black/African American 12.0%
Other/Mixed 5.5%
Hispanic/Latino 2.3%
Asian 0.3%
👶 Under 18
23.4%
This area
23.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
12.4%
This area
12.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.0%
This area
5.0%
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

4 Nearby 767 Off-Campus Students
C
Frederick Community College
6,796 students · 8.7 mi
C
Mount St. Mary's University
2,499 students · 10.3 mi
C
Hood College
2,078 students · 10.3 mi
C+
The Temple-A Paul Mitchell Partner School
167 students · 10.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 767 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do home prices stand in Woodsboro, MD?

Woodsboro, MD home values average about $514K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $1,134/mo in monthly income.

What real estate strategy is ideal for Woodsboro, MD?

For Woodsboro, MD, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

How strong is tenant demand in Woodsboro, MD?

Working renters make up the core of the Woodsboro, MD tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

Is Woodsboro in MD worth investing in?

Investors tracking Woodsboro, MD will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $514K median home values and $1,134/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting predictable returns.

What is the typical rental rate in Woodsboro, MD?

Investors in Woodsboro, MD typically see rents near $1,134/mo per month against $514K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

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How 21798 ranks in Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV

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