Real Estate Investing in Chesterfield, Virginia (23838)

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

Chesterfield County • Population: 17,213 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 23838 (Chesterfield, VA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (64/100)

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 30.7 — 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 Chesterfield, VA (23838)?

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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 $576,626
Avg Monthly Rent $1,566
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $124,512
% Renters 4.0%

Market Analysis: 23838 Chesterfield

Investors eyeing 23838 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $577K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

In practical terms, the numbers look inviting — $577K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 23838 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Regionally, 23838 sits on the difficult end of the VA spectrum. The a strong candidate for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Employment concentration in 23838 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 Chesterfield's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 23838. 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 Chesterfield:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,566/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
Richmond, VA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
31 days
Average time to sell
Average
11.4%
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 Richmond, VA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 23838

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$133,031/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $288,766 $1,740 4.3% +8.1% $144,383
3BR $399,094 $2,190 4.0% +8.0% $133,031
4BR $575,268 $2,690 3.4% +7.4% $143,817
5BR $714,895 +6.8% $142,979

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$600K$531K$463K$394K$325K$256KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 23838 Compare?

Metric 23838 Chesterfield Richmond, VA Virginia
Home Value $576,626 $441,302 N/A $403,170
5-Year CAGR 6.1% 6.0% N/A 6.4%
Avg Rent $1,566 $1,816 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.1% 3.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 23838? 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 23838 (Chesterfield, VA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.1%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.1%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Richmond, VA metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
29%
Days Pending
0/2
31 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $576,626
Monthly Rent $1,566
Price-to-Rent 30.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.3%
Cap Rate 2.1%
5-Year IRR 8.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.1%). 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
2.0%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.1%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 23838

Population: 17,213

💰 Median Household Income
$124,512
This area
$124,512
State
$80,295
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
4.0%
This area
4.0%
State
25.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.9%
This area
1.9%
State
-18.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
43.0%
This area
43.0%
State
4.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
48.2 years
This area
48.2 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
2.0%
This area
2.0%
State
16.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 77.3%
Black/African American 10.1%
Other/Mixed 9.1%
Hispanic/Latino 4.9%
Asian 3.6%
👶 Under 18
19.1%
This area
19.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.2%
This area
18.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.1%
This area
3.1%
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 23838

B Avg School Grade
1 Schools
14.2:1 Avg Class Size
$13,618 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Matoaca High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,650 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,618 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

8 Nearby 1,073 Off-Campus Students
D
Empire Beauty School-Midlothian
87 students · 8.6 mi
C
Brightpoint Community College
9,023 students · 12.5 mi
C+
Virginia State University
5,190 students · 13.1 mi
C
Southside College of Health Sciences
91 students · 13.2 mi
D
Centura College-Richmond Main
31 students · 13.5 mi
C
Another Level Barbering and Cosmetology School
77 students · 14.0 mi
D
Galen Health Institutes-Richmond
374 students · 14.2 mi
D
Chester Career College
147 students · 14.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,073 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong is Chesterfield, VA for real estate investors?

Chesterfield, VA sits at an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $577K and average rents around $1,566/mo. That combination puts it in the robust tier for investor interest.

What do rentals go for in Chesterfield, VA?

Rent in Chesterfield, VA is around $1,566/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $577K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

Is the tenant base reliable in Chesterfield, VA?

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

What investment strategy works best in Chesterfield, VA?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Chesterfield, VA. The numbers - $577K homes against $1,566/mo rents - support that play.

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Chesterfield, VA?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Chesterfield, VA reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

You know 23838 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 23838 ranks in Richmond, VA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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