Real Estate Investing in Newton, West Virginia (25285)

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

Clay County • Population: 629 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 25285 (Newton, WV)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (71/100)

Solid choice — stable market with a reasonable entry point and good rental backup if you ever need to move.

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

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
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 11.8% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

• 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 Newton, WV (25285)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $133,243
Avg Monthly Rent $855
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $52,264
% Renters 23.8%

Market Analysis: 25285 Newton

ZIP 25285 inside Clay County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $133K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

The investment case in 25285 is healthy only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $133K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

In the broader WV picture, 25285 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Who lives in 25285 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

trends toward the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Newton:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 69/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.5× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-1.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $855/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
⚖️
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)

$147K$134K$120K$107K$93K$80KFeb 2019Nov 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 25285 Compare?

Metric 25285 Newton Charleston, WV West Virginia
Home Value $133,243 $135,218 N/A $169,372
5-Year CAGR 2.9% 2.9% N/A 6.1%
Avg Rent $855 $837 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.0% 4.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 25285? 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 25285 (Newton, WV). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.0%
Fair
5yr Growth
+2.9%
Slow

📉 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 $133,243
Monthly Rent $855
Price-to-Rent 13.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.7%
Cap Rate 5.0%
5-Year IRR 7.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -1.4% ▼
3-Year CAGR +2.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.0%). 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
11.8%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 25285

Population: 629

💰 Median Household Income
$52,264
This area
$52,264
State
$53,950
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
23.8%
This area
23.8%
State
19.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
-19.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
22.8%
This area
22.8%
State
-9.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.4 years
This area
38.4 years
State
-3.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
11.8%
This area
11.8%
State
23.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.3%
Other/Mixed 4.7%
Hispanic/Latino 0.4%
👶 Under 18
22.0%
This area
22.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
12.3%
This area
12.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Newton, WV good for house hacking?

House hacking works a challenging in Newton, WV. Rents of $855/mo against $133K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

What is the typical renter like in Newton, WV?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Newton, WV. The rental market absorbs $855/mo rents without meaningful friction.

How landlord-friendly is Newton, WV?

Newton, WV falls under WV landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

How does Newton, WV stack up for property investment?

Newton, WV scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $133K and rents near $855/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

What price range are homes in Newton, WV?

Typical homes in Newton, WV go for around $133K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% measured price movement.

You know 25285 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 25285 ranks in Charleston, WV

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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