Real Estate Investing in Seth, West Virginia (25181)

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

Boone County • Population: 1,281 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 25181 (Seth, WV)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (39/100)

Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.

📈 For Investors
STRONG
4.0 / 5 (86/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • Declining values: -2.8% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.7% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

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

What’s happening in Seth, WV (25181)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
4.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $68,994
Avg Monthly Rent $783
1% Rule ✓ Meets
Median Income N/A
% Renters 8.0%

Market Analysis: 25181 Seth

The 25181 ZIP stands at an healthy value-add profile — below-median pricing at $69K, a renter base of 8%, and room for operational improvement.

In 25181, the deal is made on the buy and on the capex. significant entry prices of $69K leave room in the budget for light-to-medium renovation, with rent lift to match.

Regionally, 25181 sits on the affordable end of the Boone County map. Put differently, the absolute numbers are modest, the spread between acquisition price and post-rehab value is wider than in turnkey ZIPs.

Stepping back, incomes in 25181 sit below the county median, the tenant pool is deep and the demand for upgraded rental stock consistently outruns supply.

Value-add plays pencil in 25181 when three things line up: a sub-median purchase, a realistic rehab budget, and a post-rehab rent comp that stands up. All three are present in this ZIP.

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 Seth:

Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost × the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-1.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $783/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
⚖️
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

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$88K$83K$78K$73K$69K$64KFeb 2019Nov 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 25181 Compare?

Metric 25181 Seth Charleston, WV West Virginia
Home Value $68,994 $86,379 N/A $169,372
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A N/A 6.1%
Avg Rent $783 $783 N/A -
Cap Rate 8.9% 7.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 25181? Click to expand

This ZIP code meets the 1% rule with rent at $783/mo on homes averaging $68,994 — a strong indicator of cash flow potential.

Our analysis gives this area a 4/5 investability rating, placing it in the top tier for rental property potential.

📊 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.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 25181 (Seth, WV). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 25181 (Seth, WV)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Excellent
Cap Rate
8.9%
Excellent
5yr Growth
-2.8%
Declining

📉 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 $68,994
Monthly Rent $783
Price-to-Rent 7.3:1
1% Rule ✓ Passes

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 13.6%
Cap Rate 8.9%
5-Year IRR 6.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -1.6% ▼
3-Year CAGR -4.2% ▼
5-Year CAGR -2.8% ▼
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Positive Leverage Market Cap Rate: 8.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (8.9%) exceeds the current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%). When borrowing costs less than a property yields, leverage can increase your cash-on-cash return above the cap rate.

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
8.7%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
-2.8%
Declining
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 25181

Population: 1,281

💰 Median Household Income
N/A
🏠 Renter Occupied
8.0%
This area
8.0%
State
19.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.3%
This area
0.3%
State
-19.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
10.5%
This area
10.5%
State
-9.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
44.0 years
This area
44.0 years
State
-3.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.7%
This area
8.7%
State
23.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.3%
Other/Mixed 2.7%
👶 Under 18
25.4%
This area
25.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.4%
This area
13.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
12.4%
This area
12.4%
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

🎓 Schools in 25181

A Avg School Grade
3 Schools
12.7:1 Avg Class Size
$15,311 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Sherman High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
325 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,311 Per Student
A Very Good

Van Junior/senior High School

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
152 Students
👨‍🏫
10.9:1 Class Size
💰
$15,311 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Sherman Junior High School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
226 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$15,311 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 12 Off-Campus Students
C+
Boone Career and Technical Center
85 students · 10.2 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Seth, WV rate as a rental market?

Our data puts Seth, WV at 4.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $69K and rents around $783/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Seth, WV?

House hacking in Seth, WV is an attractive. With home values around $69K and rents at $783/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

What do rentals go for in Seth, WV?

Seth, WV rentals go for roughly $783/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $69K acquisition costs.

What real estate strategy is ideal for Seth, WV?

Investors who focus on value-add and BRRRR deals typically do well in Seth, WV. The numbers - $69K homes against $783/mo rents - support that play.

Can you find 1% rule deals in Seth, WV?

The 1% rule is solid territory for Seth, WV. Rent-to-price at the median is 1.13%, putting many properties within striking distance.

You know 25181 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 25181 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.

Compare Plans

How 25181 ranks in Charleston, WV

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 25181 (Seth)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 25181 (Seth, WV).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.