Real Estate Investing in Pleasant Valley, West Virginia (26554)

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

Marion County • Population: 42,116 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 26554 (Pleasant Valley, WV)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (70/100)

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: 11.2% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Pleasant Valley, WV (26554)?

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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 $192,569
Avg Monthly Rent $1,194
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $59,875
% Renters 29.0%

Market Analysis: 26554 Pleasant Valley

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Pleasant Valley's 26554 ZIP stands at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $193K pricing implies.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $193K asset, 26554 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Regionally, 26554 sits on the difficult end of the WV spectrum. The an appealing option for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Resident income in 26554 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

The 26554 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Pleasant Valley:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 72/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,194/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
Fairmont, WV Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
8.2%
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 Fairmont, WV metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 26554

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
8.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+6.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$62,919/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $78,090 $910 8.4% +5.3% $78,090
2BR $125,838 $1,090 6.2% +6.2% $62,919
3BR $209,386 $1,340 4.6% +5.4% $69,795
4BR $284,484 $1,750 4.4% +5.9% $71,121
5BR $323,708 +5.7% $64,742

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$200K$179K$159K$138K$118K$97KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,222$1,141$1,061$980$899$818Oct 2023Mar 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 26554 Compare?

Metric 26554 Pleasant Valley Fairmont, WV West Virginia
Home Value $192,569 $192,569 N/A $169,372
5-Year CAGR 4.4% 4.4% N/A 6.1%
Avg Rent $1,194 $1,194 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.8% 4.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 26554? 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 26554 (Pleasant Valley, WV). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.8%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.4%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Fairmont, WV metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
50%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $192,569
Monthly Rent $1,194
Price-to-Rent 13.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.4%
Cap Rate 4.8%
5-Year IRR 9.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +16.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.8%). 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
11.2%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 26554

Population: 42,116

💰 Median Household Income
$59,875
This area
$59,875
State
$53,950
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
29.0%
This area
29.0%
State
19.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.8%
This area
3.8%
State
-19.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
29.4%
This area
29.4%
State
-9.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.8 years
This area
38.8 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 91.1%
Other/Mixed 4.6%
Black/African American 3.8%
Hispanic/Latino 2.1%
Asian 0.5%
👶 Under 18
19.6%
This area
19.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.0%
This area
20.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
10.8%
This area
10.8%
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 26554

B+ Avg School Grade
13 Schools
14.0:1 Avg Class Size
$14,780 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Monongah Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
247 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,780 Per Student
A Very Good

Monongah Middle School

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
212 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,780 Per Student
A Very Good

East Dale Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
362 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,780 Per Student
A Very Good

East Fairmont Middle School

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
712 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,780 Per Student
A Very Good

East Park Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
318 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,780 Per Student
A Very Good

Jayenne Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
312 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,780 Per Student
A Very Good

Watson Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
376 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,780 Per Student
A Very Good

West Fairmont Middle School

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
626 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,780 Per Student
B+ Above Average

East Fairmont High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
700 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,780 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Fairmont Senior High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
779 Students
👨‍🏫
16.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,780 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Pleasant Valley Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
185 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,780 Per Student
B+ Above Average

White Hall Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
191 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$14,780 Per Student
C Below Average

Barnes Learning Center (Alc)

📚 K – 12 K-12 Limited Data
💰
$14,780 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

6 Nearby 4,609 Off-Campus Students
C+
Fairmont State University
3,307 students · 2.8 mi
C
Pierpont Community and Technical College
1,939 students · 4.7 mi
B
Monongalia County Technical Education Center
48 students · 13.1 mi
C+
Morgantown Beauty College Inc
74 students · 14.2 mi
C
West Virginia Junior College-Morgantown
584 students · 14.4 mi
C+
West Virginia University
24,200 students · 14.5 mi

Investor Insight: With 4,609 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do home prices stand in Pleasant Valley, WV?

In Pleasant Valley, WV the median home value sits at $193K. Against the broader WV market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

Does Pleasant Valley, WV favor landlords or tenants?

WV ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Pleasant Valley generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

Are renters plentiful in Pleasant Valley, WV?

The renter base in Pleasant Valley, WV is reasonable for the $1,194/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields predictable tenants.

Is Pleasant Valley, WV suited for a house hack?

Pleasant Valley, WV is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $193K price point reasonable to enter.

What is the typical vacancy rate in Pleasant Valley, WV?

Pleasant Valley, WV carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect measured absorption at market rents of $1,194/mo.

You know 26554 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 26554 ranks in Fairmont, WV

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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