Real Estate Investing in Mathews, Virginia (23109)

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

Mathews County • Population: 2,525 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 23109 (Mathews, VA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (47/100)

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
  • Elevated vacancy: 10.7% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 25.1 — 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 Mathews, VA (23109)?

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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 $344,465
Avg Monthly Rent $1,143
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $72,582
% Renters 24.9%

Market Analysis: 23109 Mathews

This part of Mathews County is not an easy win. The 23109 ZIP shows softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $344K asset, 23109 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

ZIP 23109's metrics run below Mathews County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Resident income in 23109 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. notable returns are possible in 23109, 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 Mathews:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 58/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,143/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.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$356K$325K$293K$262K$230K$198KFeb 2009Nov 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 23109 Compare?

Metric 23109 Mathews Virginia
Home Value $344,465 $344,465 $403,170
5-Year CAGR 3.8% 3.8% 6.4%
Avg Rent $1,143 $1,143 -
Cap Rate 2.6% 2.6% -
💡 Why Invest in 23109? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 23109 (Mathews, VA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.8%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $344,465
Monthly Rent $1,143
Price-to-Rent 25.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.0%
Cap Rate 2.6%
5-Year IRR 6.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +3.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.6%  |  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
10.7%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 23109

Population: 2,525

💰 Median Household Income
$72,582
This area
$72,582
State
$80,295
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
24.9%
This area
24.9%
State
25.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.2%
This area
5.2%
State
-18.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
26.8%
This area
26.8%
State
4.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
44.0 years
This area
44.0 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.7%
This area
10.7%
State
16.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 83.7%
Black/African American 13.3%
Other/Mixed 3.1%
Hispanic/Latino 1.7%
👶 Under 18
23.4%
This area
23.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
25.0%
This area
25.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.6%
This area
6.6%
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 23109

A+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
10.7:1 Avg Class Size
$19,205 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Mathews Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
298 Students
👨‍🏫
11.0:1 Class Size
💰
$19,205 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Mathews High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
297 Students
👨‍🏫
10.1:1 Class Size
💰
$19,205 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Thomas Hunter Middle

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
245 Students
👨‍🏫
10.9:1 Class Size
💰
$19,205 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

Is housing expensive in Mathews, VA?

Typical homes in Mathews, VA go for around $344K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% reliable price movement.

Is it easy to find good tenants in Mathews, VA?

Tenant quality in Mathews, VA ranks as solid. Landlords generally report steady occupancy at market rents of $1,143/mo.

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Mathews, VA?

Mathews, VA vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Mathews, VA?

The house hack math a challenging in Mathews, VA. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $1,143/mo rents and $344K home values.

How strict are landlord regulations in Mathews, VA?

For rental operators, Mathews, VA rates as landlord-friendly. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

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How 23109 ranks in Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC

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