Real Estate Investing in Ranger, West Virginia (25557)

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

Lincoln County • Population: 1,402 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 25557 (Ranger, WV)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (61/100)

Mixed — values have been flat. OK for long-horizon buyers, less attractive if you may need to sell soon.

📈 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
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 20.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Declining values: -1.6% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • 1-year downturn: Values declined 10.4% in the last year.

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

What’s happening in Ranger, WV (25557)?

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 $77,889
Avg Monthly Rent $873
1% Rule ✓ Meets
Median Income $41,250
% Renters 22.8%

Market Analysis: 25557 Ranger

In Ranger's 25557 ZIP, the arithmetic favors hands-on owners. Median home values registers $78K, leaving spread for capex-heavy BRRRR or reposition strategies.

In 25557, the deal is made on the buy and on the capex. sturdy entry prices of $78K leave room in the budget for light-to-medium renovation, with rent lift to match.

Statewide, WV value-add investors migrate toward ZIPs with 25557's profile — older stock, soft but real rent growth, and $78K pricing that keeps rehab math workable.

A renter-heavy, wage-earner demographic anchors 25557. Value-add players rely on that mix — the 23% share is both the tenant source and the buyer pool for future owner-occupied exits.

Value-add plays pencil in 25557 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 Ranger:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 60/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
5/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 1.9× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-10.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $873/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)

$96K$89K$82K$76K$69K$62KFeb 2019Nov 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 25557 Compare?

Metric 25557 Ranger Charleston, WV West Virginia
Home Value $77,889 $77,889 N/A $169,372
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A N/A 6.1%
Avg Rent $873 $873 N/A -
Cap Rate 8.7% 8.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 25557? Click to expand

This ZIP code meets the 1% rule with rent at $873/mo on homes averaging $77,889 — 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 25557 (Ranger, WV). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 25557 (Ranger, WV)?

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

Investability
Excellent
Cap Rate
8.7%
Excellent
5yr Growth
-1.6%
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 $77,889
Monthly Rent $873
Price-to-Rent 7.4:1
1% Rule ✓ Passes

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 13.5%
Cap Rate 8.7%
5-Year IRR 7.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -10.4% ▼
3-Year CAGR -5.5% ▼
5-Year CAGR -1.6% ▼
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: 8.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (8.7%) 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
20.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
-1.6%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 25557

Population: 1,402

💰 Median Household Income
$41,250
This area
$41,250
State
$53,950
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
22.8%
This area
22.8%
State
19.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
-19.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
1.8%
This area
1.8%
State
-9.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
50.6 years
This area
50.6 years
State
-3.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
20.4%
This area
20.4%
State
23.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 100.0%
👶 Under 18
9.5%
This area
9.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.4%
This area
20.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.7%
This area
5.7%
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 25557

B+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
9.1:1 Avg Class Size
$14,994 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Ranger Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
73 Students
👨‍🏫
9.1:1 Class Size
💰
$14,994 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Ranger, WV?

The an attractive house-hack environment in Ranger, WV reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

Does rental property in Ranger, WV pass the 1% rule?

The 1% rule in Ranger, WV is reasonable to achieve. Rent-to-price at the median ($873/mo on $78K) lands around 1.12%.

Where do rents currently stand in Ranger, WV?

Ranger, WV rentals go for roughly $873/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $78K acquisition costs.

What is the best play in Ranger, WV?

A value-add and BRRRR deals strategy Ranger, WV best. The market produces reliable results for that approach at the $78K price point.

Can BRRRR investors find deals in Ranger, WV?

Ranger, WV is a strong for BRRRR. Acquiring below market, rehabbing, and leasing at $873/mo produces solid refinance appraisals against $78K values.

You know 25557 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 25557 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 25557 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 25557 (Ranger)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 25557 (Ranger, WV).

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