Real Estate Investing in Covington, Virginia (24457)

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

Alleghany County • Population: 390 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 24457 (Covington, VA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (77/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

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

Rare combination of both appreciation and cash flow. These markets don't last long — worth serious consideration.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 39.8% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Elevated poverty: 23.4% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Covington, VA (24457)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $134,253
Avg Monthly Rent $819
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $92,885
% Renters 50.0%

Market Analysis: 24457 Covington

Investors eyeing 24457 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $134K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Rent of $819/mo on a $134K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 24457 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Statewide comparisons place 24457 among VA's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Demographically, 24457 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

Strategically, 24457 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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: 80/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 1.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+24.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $819/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.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$141K$124K$107K$91K$74K$57KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 24457 Compare?

Metric 24457 Covington Virginia
Home Value $134,253 $142,394 $403,170
5-Year CAGR 8.8% 7.3% 6.4%
Avg Rent $819 $858 -
Cap Rate 4.8% 4.8% -
💡 Why Invest in 24457? Click to expand

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

50% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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 24457 (Covington, VA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.8%
Fair
5yr Growth
+8.8%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $134,253
Monthly Rent $819
Price-to-Rent 13.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.3%
Cap Rate 4.8%
5-Year IRR 13.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +24.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +13.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +8.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.8%). 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
39.8%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+8.8%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 24457

Population: 390

💰 Median Household Income
$92,885
This area
$92,885
State
$80,295
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
50.0%
This area
50.0%
State
25.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
-18.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
0.9%
This area
0.9%
State
4.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
51.0 years
This area
51.0 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
39.8%
This area
39.8%
State
16.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 96.1%
Black/African American 3.9%
👶 Under 18
8.7%
This area
8.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
29.8%
This area
29.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
23.4%
This area
23.4%
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

1 Nearby 171 Off-Campus Students
C
Mountain Gateway Community College
1,002 students · 1.6 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the median home value in Covington, VA?

Covington, VA home values average about $134K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $819/mo in monthly income.

What is the renter demographic in Covington, VA?

The renter base in Covington, VA is reasonable for the $819/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields reliable tenants.

What investment strategy works best in Covington, VA?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Covington, VA. With home values at $134K and rents near $819/mo, other strategies can work but produce measured rather than outsized returns.

Is Covington, VA good for house hacking?

Covington, VA is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $134K price point reasonable to enter.

Is Covington, VA a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

Covington, VA scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $134K and rents near $819/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

You know 24457 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 24457 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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