Real Estate Investing in Covington, Virginia (24426)

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

Alleghany County • Population: 13,611 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 24426 (Covington, VA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (69/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

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 vacancy: 19.6% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Covington, VA (24426)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $169,078
Avg Monthly Rent $927
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $51,686
% Renters 18.0%

Market Analysis: 24426 Covington

Investors eyeing 24426 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $169K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 24426 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Regionally, 24426 sits on the difficult end of the VA spectrum. The a strong candidate for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

The demographic picture in 24426 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Covington averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

The right play in 24426 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Covington:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 79/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+12.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $927/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This area shows favorable conditions for homebuyers. Solid fundamentals with reasonable affordability.
🏠

Property Strategy for 24426

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
8.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+10.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$48,955/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $76,223 $860 8.1% +9.5% $76,223
2BR $97,910 $1,030 7.6% +10.6% $48,955
3BR $172,966 $1,440 6.0% +8.4% $57,655
4BR $220,171 $1,700 5.6% +9.1% $55,043
5BR $248,548 +9.4% $49,710

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$176K$157K$137K$118K$99K$80KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 24426 Compare?

Metric 24426 Covington Virginia
Home Value $169,078 $142,394 $403,170
5-Year CAGR 8.0% 7.3% 6.4%
Avg Rent $927 $858 -
Cap Rate 4.3% 4.8% -
💡 Why Invest in 24426? 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 24426 (Covington, VA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.3%
Fair
5yr Growth
+8.0%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $169,078
Monthly Rent $927
Price-to-Rent 15.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.6%
Cap Rate 4.3%
5-Year IRR 12.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +12.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +8.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +8.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.3%). 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
19.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+8.0%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 24426

Population: 13,611

💰 Median Household Income
$51,686
This area
$51,686
State
$80,295
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
18.0%
This area
18.0%
State
25.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.3%
This area
1.3%
State
-18.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
14.0%
This area
14.0%
State
4.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
45.2 years
This area
45.2 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
19.6%
This area
19.6%
State
16.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 90.2%
Black/African American 7.5%
Other/Mixed 1.8%
Asian 0.5%
Hispanic/Latino 0.3%
👶 Under 18
20.0%
This area
20.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.8%
This area
21.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.2%
This area
11.2%
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 24426

B+ Avg School Grade
6 Schools
13.0:1 Avg Class Size
$14,502 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Mountain View Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
435 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$14,502 Per Student
A Very Good

Covington Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
622 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,502 Per Student
A Very Good

Jeter-Watson Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
502 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,502 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Alleghany High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
831 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,502 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Callaghan Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
257 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,502 Per Student
C+ Average

Jackson River Tech Ctr

📚 Grade N Elementary Limited Data
💰
$14,502 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

1 Nearby 171 Off-Campus Students
C
Mountain Gateway Community College
1,002 students · 12.3 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical renter like in Covington, VA?

Covington, VA offers a reliable renter base at the $927/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

What kind of market is Covington, VA for investors?

Our data puts Covington, VA at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $169K and rents around $927/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

What price range are homes in Covington, VA?

The median home value in Covington, VA is roughly $169K. That puts it reasonable relative to the VA statewide average.

Is Covington, VA suited for a house hack?

For house hackers, Covington, VA is a challenging. The $927/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $169K property.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Covington, VA?

VA ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Covington generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

You know 24426 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 24426 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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