Real Estate Investing in Jane Lew, West Virginia (26378)

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

Lewis County • Population: 4,639 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 26378 (Jane Lew, WV)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (67/100)

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
  • Elevated vacancy: 11.2% 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 Jane Lew, WV (26378)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $186,267
Avg Monthly Rent $783
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $70,326
% Renters 9.4%

Market Analysis: 26378 Jane Lew

This part of Lewis County is not an easy win. The 26378 ZIP clocks in at 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 $186K asset, 26378 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

From an investor standpoint, 26378 offers a low basis, the region around Jane Lew has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

A impressive renter share of 9% in 26378 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

New investors are better served looking at Jane Lew's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 26378. 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 Jane Lew:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $783/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
Clarksburg, WV Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
9.6%
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 Clarksburg, WV metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 26378

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+6.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$64,552/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $129,726 $870 4.8% +5.7% $64,863
3BR $193,655 $1,150 4.3% +4.5% $64,552
4BR $274,100 $1,370 3.6% +6.1% $68,525

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$195K$180K$165K$150K$136K$121KJan 2015Oct 2020Jul 2026

📊 How Does 26378 Compare?

Metric 26378 Jane Lew Clarksburg, WV West Virginia
Home Value $186,267 $186,267 N/A $169,372
5-Year CAGR 3.4% 3.4% N/A 6.1%
Avg Rent $783 $783 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.3% 3.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 26378? 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 26378 (Jane Lew, WV). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.4%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Clarksburg, WV metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
55%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $186,267
Monthly Rent $783
Price-to-Rent 19.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.0%
Cap Rate 3.3%
5-Year IRR 6.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +3.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.3%). 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
11.2%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 26378

Population: 4,639

💰 Median Household Income
$70,326
This area
$70,326
State
$53,950
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
9.4%
This area
9.4%
State
19.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.7%
This area
2.7%
State
-19.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
22.2%
This area
22.2%
State
-9.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
47.9 years
This area
47.9 years
State
-3.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
11.2%
This area
11.2%
State
23.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.0%
Other/Mixed 3.4%
Hispanic/Latino 2.4%
Asian 1.6%
👶 Under 18
17.7%
This area
17.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.6%
This area
22.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.3%
This area
4.3%
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 26378

B+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
14.3:1 Avg Class Size
$13,986 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Jane Lew Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
292 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$13,986 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

5 Nearby 59 Off-Campus Students
C+
Clarksburg Beauty Academy and School of Massage Therapy
58 students · 12.3 mi
D
Salem University
894 students · 13.3 mi
C+
United Technical Center
26 students · 13.8 mi
B
Fred W Eberle Technical Center
119 students · 14.6 mi
C
West Virginia Junior College-Bridgeport
175 students · 14.6 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Are rents high in Jane Lew, WV?

Jane Lew, WV rentals go for roughly $783/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $186K acquisition costs.

What is the typical renter like in Jane Lew, WV?

Tenant quality in Jane Lew, WV ranks as solid. Landlords generally report consistent occupancy at market rents of $783/mo.

Is Jane Lew, WV a smart market for rental property?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Jane Lew, WV ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $186K and rents of $783/mo drive the underlying numbers.

How quickly do rentals get leased in Jane Lew, WV?

Vacancy risk in Jane Lew, WV is elevated. That supports measured cash flow for typical rental holds.

How expensive is real estate in Jane Lew, WV?

Median home price in Jane Lew, WV is near $186K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been measured and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

You know 26378 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 26378 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 26378 ranks in Clarksburg, WV

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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