Real Estate Investing in Ravenswood, West Virginia (26164)

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

Jackson County • Population: 7,342 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 26164 (Ravenswood, WV)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (60/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 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
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 15.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.

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

What’s happening in Ravenswood, WV (26164)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $187,105
Avg Monthly Rent $918
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $51,776
% Renters 25.0%

Market Analysis: 26164 Ravenswood

This part of Jackson County is not an easy win. The 26164 ZIP reflects softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $187K asset, 26164 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

In practical terms, 26164 offers a low basis, the region around Ravenswood has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Demographically, 26164 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

The right play in 26164 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Ravenswood:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 69/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $918/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
🏠

Property Strategy for 26164

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+8.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$58,116/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $124,200 $1,020 5.9% +7.3% $62,100
3BR $174,349 $1,330 5.5% +8.4% $58,116
4BR $234,489 $1,430 4.4% +8.3% $58,622

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$195K$172K$148K$124K$100K$77KOct 2013Mar 2020Jul 2026

📊 How Does 26164 Compare?

Metric 26164 Ravenswood Charleston, WV West Virginia
Home Value $187,105 $191,514 N/A $169,372
5-Year CAGR 6.4% 5.4% N/A 6.1%
Avg Rent $918 $916 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.8% 3.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 26164? 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 26164 (Ravenswood, WV). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.4%
Strong

📉 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 $187,105
Monthly Rent $918
Price-to-Rent 17.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.9%
Cap Rate 3.8%
5-Year IRR 10.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.8%). 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
15.7%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 26164

Population: 7,342

💰 Median Household Income
$51,776
This area
$51,776
State
$53,950
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
25.0%
This area
25.0%
State
19.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.8%
This area
1.8%
State
-19.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
15.4%
This area
15.4%
State
-9.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.7 years
This area
40.7 years
State
-3.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.7%
This area
15.7%
State
23.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.8%
Other/Mixed 2.0%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
21.0%
This area
21.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.9%
This area
17.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
17.4%
This area
17.4%
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 26164

A Avg School Grade
4 Schools
12.5:1 Avg Class Size
$14,311 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Ravenswood Grade School

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
235 Students
👨‍🏫
11.1:1 Class Size
💰
$14,311 Per Student
A Very Good

Ravenswood High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
410 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,311 Per Student
A Very Good

Ravenswood Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
300 Students
👨‍🏫
12.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,311 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Henry J Kaiser Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
291 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,311 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 7 Off-Campus Students
B
Roane-Jackson Technical Center
11 students · 14.4 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Should investors worry about vacancy in Ravenswood, WV?

Ravenswood, WV sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader WV rental market.

How qualified is the tenant pool in Ravenswood, WV?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Ravenswood, WV. The rental market absorbs $918/mo rents without meaningful friction.

Are rents high in Ravenswood, WV?

Ravenswood, WV rentals go for roughly $918/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $187K acquisition costs.

Which investment style suits Ravenswood, WV?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Ravenswood, WV best. The market produces predictable results for that approach at the $187K price point.

Is Ravenswood, WV a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

Investors tracking Ravenswood, WV will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $187K median home values and $918/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting consistent returns.

You know 26164 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 26164 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 26164 ranks in Charleston, WV

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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