Real Estate Investing in Saint Albans, West Virginia (25177)

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

Kanawha County • Population: 23,211 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 25177 (Saint Albans, WV)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (72/100)

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

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

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: 14.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Saint Albans, WV (25177)?

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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 $153,662
Avg Monthly Rent $825
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $57,279
% Renters 29.1%

Market Analysis: 25177 Saint Albans

Investors eyeing 25177 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $154K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

For an experienced owner, 25177 can be a an appealing option for hunting ground — but the discount at $154K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Nearby ZIPs in Saint Albans have seen price recovery that 25177 has not matched. Kanawha County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Who lives in 25177 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

New investors are better served looking at Saint Albans's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 25177. 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 Saint Albans:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 78/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.7× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $825/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.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Charleston, WV Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
41 days
Average time to sell
Average
7.8%
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 Charleston, WV metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 25177

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
7.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+8.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$52,778/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $75,461 $790 7.5% +4.1% $75,461
2BR $112,408 $1,000 6.4% +7.7% $56,204
3BR $159,700 $1,370 6.2% +7.0% $53,233
4BR $214,435 $1,580 5.3% +8.0% $53,609
5BR $263,889 +6.4% $52,778

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$161K$147K$132K$118K$103K$89KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$899$872$846$819$792$766Sep 2025Mar 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 25177 Compare?

Metric 25177 Saint Albans Charleston, WV West Virginia
Home Value $153,662 $153,662 N/A $169,372
5-Year CAGR 5.2% 5.2% N/A 6.1%
Avg Rent $825 $825 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.2% 4.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 25177? 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 25177 (Saint Albans, WV). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.2%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.2%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Charleston, WV metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
58%
Days Pending
1/2
41 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $153,662
Monthly Rent $825
Price-to-Rent 15.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.4%
Cap Rate 4.2%
5-Year IRR 9.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.2%). 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
14.5%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 25177

Population: 23,211

💰 Median Household Income
$57,279
This area
$57,279
State
$53,950
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
29.1%
This area
29.1%
State
19.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.9%
This area
2.9%
State
-19.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
25.0%
This area
25.0%
State
-9.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.1 years
This area
41.1 years
State
-3.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.5%
This area
14.5%
State
23.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 91.0%
Other/Mixed 4.6%
Black/African American 4.1%
Hispanic/Latino 0.7%
Asian 0.3%
👶 Under 18
22.8%
This area
22.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.4%
This area
19.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
19.0%
This area
19.0%
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 25177

A Avg School Grade
8 Schools
13.9:1 Avg Class Size
$17,075 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Central Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
322 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$17,075 Per Student
A Very Good

Anne Bailey Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
199 Students
👨‍🏫
9.1:1 Class Size
💰
$17,075 Per Student
A Very Good

George C. Weimer Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
134 Students
👨‍🏫
9.6:1 Class Size
💰
$17,075 Per Student
A Very Good

Alban Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
261 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$17,075 Per Student
A Very Good

Hayes Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
442 Students
👨‍🏫
17.0:1 Class Size
💰
$17,075 Per Student
A Very Good

Lakewood Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
308 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$17,075 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Mckinley Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
289 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$17,075 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Saint Albans High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
900 Students
👨‍🏫
17.3:1 Class Size
💰
$17,075 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

7 Nearby 1,525 Off-Campus Students
C+
West Virginia State University
3,458 students · 4.7 mi
C
West Virginia Junior College-Charleston
317 students · 4.9 mi
C+
Ben Franklin Career Center
99 students · 5.2 mi
C
Strayer University-West Virginia
395 students · 7.2 mi
C
BridgeValley Community & Technical College
1,793 students · 8.3 mi
C+
Putnam Career and Technical Center
32 students · 12.1 mi
C
University of Charleston
2,758 students · 12.9 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,525 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do experienced investors play Saint Albans, WV?

In Saint Albans, WV the significant play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $154K prices and $825/mo rents suits that approach.

Can I live-in-and-rent in Saint Albans, WV?

House hacking works a challenging in Saint Albans, WV. Rents of $825/mo against $154K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

How strong is the working-renter base in Saint Albans, WV?

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

What is the investability score for Saint Albans, WV?

Saint Albans, WV scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $154K and rents near $825/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

Is WV a landlord-friendly state?

For rental operators, Saint Albans, WV rates as landlord-friendly. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

You know 25177 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 25177 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 25177 ranks in Charleston, WV

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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