Real Estate Investing in Coalton, West Virginia (26257)

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

Randolph County • Population: 796 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 26257 (Coalton, 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: 12.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• 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 Coalton, WV (26257)?

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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 $140,633
Avg Monthly Rent $837
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $52,198
% Renters 8.5%

Market Analysis: 26257 Coalton

Investors eyeing 26257 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $141K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

The investment case in 26257 is robust only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $141K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Nearby ZIPs in Coalton have seen price recovery that 26257 has not matched. Randolph County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Demographically, 26257 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.

New investors are better served looking at Coalton's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 26257. 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 Coalton:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $837/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Elkins, WV Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.4%
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 Elkins, WV metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$145K$132K$119K$106K$93K$79KApr 2016Jun 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 26257 Compare?

Metric 26257 Coalton Elkins, WV West Virginia
Home Value $140,633 $140,633 N/A $169,372
5-Year CAGR 5.1% 5.1% N/A 6.1%
Avg Rent $837 $837 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.6% 4.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 26257? 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 26257 (Coalton, WV). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.6%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.1%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Elkins, WV metro

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

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $140,633
Monthly Rent $837
Price-to-Rent 14.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.1%
Cap Rate 4.6%
5-Year IRR 9.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.6%). 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
12.4%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 26257

Population: 796

💰 Median Household Income
$52,198
This area
$52,198
State
$53,950
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
8.5%
This area
8.5%
State
19.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.6%
This area
0.6%
State
-19.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
10.8%
This area
10.8%
State
-9.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
49.6 years
This area
49.6 years
State
-3.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
12.4%
This area
12.4%
State
23.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.6%
Black/African American 2.2%
Asian 0.1%
👶 Under 18
19.2%
This area
19.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
23.8%
This area
23.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
10.1%
This area
10.1%
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 26257

B+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
14.6:1 Avg Class Size
$14,067 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Coalton Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
161 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$14,067 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

4 Nearby 60 Off-Campus Students
C+
Randolph Technical Center
11 students · 8.9 mi
C
Davis & Elkins College
683 students · 9.0 mi
C
West Virginia Wesleyan College
991 students · 12.1 mi
B
Fred W Eberle Technical Center
119 students · 12.7 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What are home prices like in Coalton, WV?

Expect median prices around $141K in Coalton, WV. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been reliable.

Is Coalton, WV good for house hacking?

House hacking in Coalton, WV is reasonable to execute. Prices around $141K and rents of $837/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

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

Coalton, WV draws a consistent base of working renters. Demand at the $837/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

Are eviction rules reasonable in Coalton, WV?

The landlord environment in Coalton, WV is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

How do experienced investors play Coalton, WV?

In Coalton, WV the impressive play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $141K prices and $837/mo rents suits that approach.

You know 26257 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 26257 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 26257 ranks in Elkins, WV

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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