Real Estate Investing in Afton, Virginia (22920)

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

Nelson County • Population: 3,744 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 22920 (Afton, VA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (48/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 21.1% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 27.4 — 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 Afton, VA (22920)?

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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 $461,978
Avg Monthly Rent $1,404
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $97,500
% Renters 17.1%

Market Analysis: 22920 Afton

Stepping back, ZIP 22920 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $462K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $462K asset, 22920 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Nearby ZIPs in Afton have seen price recovery that 22920 has not matched. Nelson County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

From an investor standpoint, 3,744 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 22920 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 Afton:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,404/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
Charlottesville, VA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
58 days
Average time to sell
Average
8.7%
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 Charlottesville, VA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 22920

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
3.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+8.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$137,636/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $319,201 $1,560 3.5% +7.8% $159,600
3BR $412,907 $1,940 3.4% +7.9% $137,636
4BR $691,273 $2,360 2.5% +8.4% $172,818

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$482K$424K$366K$309K$251K$193KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 22920 Compare?

Metric 22920 Afton Charlottesville, VA Virginia
Home Value $461,978 $461,978 N/A $403,170
5-Year CAGR 5.6% 5.6% N/A 6.4%
Avg Rent $1,404 $1,404 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.4% 2.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 22920? 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 22920 (Afton, VA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.6%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Charlottesville, VA metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
46%
Days Pending
1/2
58 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $461,978
Monthly Rent $1,404
Price-to-Rent 27.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.7%
Cap Rate 2.4%
5-Year IRR 8.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.4%). 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
21.1%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 22920

Population: 3,744

💰 Median Household Income
$97,500
This area
$97,500
State
$80,295
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
17.1%
This area
17.1%
State
25.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.4%
This area
0.4%
State
-18.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
46.6%
This area
46.6%
State
4.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
54.0 years
This area
54.0 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
21.1%
This area
21.1%
State
16.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.5%
Black/African American 2.8%
Other/Mixed 2.8%
Hispanic/Latino 1.6%
Asian 0.9%
👶 Under 18
10.1%
This area
10.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
29.7%
This area
29.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.0%
This area
4.0%
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

🎓 Schools in 22920

A Avg School Grade
1 Schools
12.9:1 Avg Class Size
$19,080 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Rockfish River Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
292 Students
👨‍🏫
12.9:1 Class Size
💰
$19,080 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Afton, VA make sense for an investment property?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Afton, VA reflects its $462K prices and $1,404/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within VA.

What is the average monthly rent in Afton, VA?

Expect rents around $1,404/mo per month in Afton, VA. With home values at $462K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

How strong is the working-renter base in Afton, VA?

Tenant demand in Afton, VA is solid. The local workforce $1,404/mo rents across most rental classes.

Does house hacking work in Afton, VA?

House hacking in Afton, VA is reasonable to execute. Prices around $462K and rents of $1,404/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

Are there empty rentals in Afton, VA?

Afton, VA sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader VA rental market.

You know 22920 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 22920 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.

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How 22920 ranks in Charlottesville, VA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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