Real Estate Investing in Fort Defiance, Virginia (24437)

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

Augusta County • Population: 1,625 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 24437 (Fort Defiance, VA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (64/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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
  • Higher unemployment: 7.4% unemployment — tenant risk signal.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 35.4 — 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 Fort Defiance, VA (24437)?

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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 $443,944
Avg Monthly Rent $1,044
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $87,083
% Renters 0.0%

Market Analysis: 24437 Fort Defiance

The 24437 ZIP covers a section of Fort Defiance that demands careful diligence. Prices near $444K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 24437 reflects the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Regionally, 24437 sits on the difficult end of the VA spectrum. The a credible choice for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

A significant renter share of 0% in 24437 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

Strategically, 24437 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 Fort Defiance:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 56/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,044/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Staunton, VA Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
10.8%
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 Staunton, VA metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$460K$413K$365K$318K$270K$223KJan 2012May 2019Jul 2026

📊 How Does 24437 Compare?

Metric 24437 Fort Defiance Staunton, VA Virginia
Home Value $443,944 $443,944 N/A $403,170
5-Year CAGR 4.5% 4.5% N/A 6.4%
Avg Rent $1,044 $1,044 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.8% 1.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 24437? 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 →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 24437 (Fort Defiance, VA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.5%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Staunton, VA metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
34%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $443,944
Monthly Rent $1,044
Price-to-Rent 35.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 2.8%
Cap Rate 1.8%
5-Year IRR 6.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.8%). 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
0.0%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 24437

Population: 1,625

💰 Median Household Income
$87,083
This area
$87,083
State
$80,295
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
25.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
7.4%
This area
7.4%
State
-18.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
26.3%
This area
26.3%
State
4.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
53.8 years
This area
53.8 years
State
9.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
16.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 87.9%
Other/Mixed 12.0%
Hispanic/Latino 11.2%
👶 Under 18
18.7%
This area
18.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.7%
This area
20.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.7%
This area
7.7%
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 24437

B+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
14.8:1 Avg Class Size
$14,259 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

S. Gordon Stewart Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
516 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,259 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Edward G. Clymore Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
776 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,259 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Fort Defiance High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
737 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$14,259 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

4 Nearby 461 Off-Campus Students
C
Blue Ridge Community College
3,718 students · 4.7 mi
C
Mary Baldwin University
1,792 students · 8.4 mi
C
Staunton School of Cosmetology
25 students · 8.6 mi
C
Bridgewater College
1,436 students · 11.7 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do tenants pay in Fort Defiance, VA?

Expect rents around $1,044/mo per month in Fort Defiance, VA. With home values at $444K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

How qualified is the tenant pool in Fort Defiance, VA?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Fort Defiance, VA. The rental market absorbs $1,044/mo rents without meaningful friction.

What is the average home sale price in Fort Defiance, VA?

Expect median prices around $444K in Fort Defiance, VA. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been consistent.

What does house hacking look like in Fort Defiance, VA?

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

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Fort Defiance, VA?

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

You know 24437 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 24437 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 24437 ranks in Staunton, VA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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