Real Estate Investing in Swanton, Maryland (21523)

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

Garrett County • Population: 165 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 21523 (Swanton, MD)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (42/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
WEAK
2.0 / 5 (38/100)

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 poverty: 20.0% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.

• 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 Swanton, MD (21523)?

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2.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

0.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $125,712
Avg Monthly Rent $873
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income N/A
% Renters 12.1%

Market Analysis: 21523 Swanton

ZIP 21523 inside Garrett County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $126K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Rent of $873/mo on a $126K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 21523 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Stepping back, 21523 offers a low basis, the region around Swanton has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Demographically, 21523 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 21523 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 Swanton:

Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost × the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+17.0%)
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: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$127K$122K$117K$112K$107K$102KFeb 2022May 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 21523 Compare?

Metric 21523 Swanton Maryland
Home Value $125,712 $359,837 $424,997
5-Year CAGR N/A 5.3% 4.9%
Avg Rent $873 $882 -
Cap Rate 5.4% 3.3% -
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 21523 (Swanton, MD). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
5.4%
Fair

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $125,712
Monthly Rent $873
Price-to-Rent 12.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.3%
Cap Rate 5.4%
5-Year IRR 8.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +17.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.4%). 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.

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⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
0.0%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
N/A
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 21523

Population: 165

💰 Median Household Income
N/A
🏠 Renter Occupied
12.1%
This area
12.1%
State
23.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
6.7%
This area
6.7%
State
-20.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
33.7%
This area
33.7%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
57.3 years
This area
57.3 years
State
1.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
0.0%
This area
0.0%
State
11.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 81.2%
Asian 12.8%
Hispanic/Latino 6.0%
Other/Mixed 6.0%
👶 Under 18
10.5%
This area
10.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
27.8%
This area
27.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
20.0%
This area
20.0%
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 21523

Nearby Schools (1 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

Westernport Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 172 Church St, Westernport
👥
253 Students
👨‍🏫
14.5:1 Class Size
💰
$18,760 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

3 Nearby 281 Off-Campus Students
C
Potomac State College of West Virginia University
1,143 students · 5.9 mi
B
Mineral County Vocational Technical Center
14 students · 6.1 mi
C+
Frostburg State University
4,075 students · 14.1 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Are homes affordable in Swanton, MD?

Typical homes in Swanton, MD go for around $126K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% stable price movement.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Swanton, MD?

Expect elevated vacancy in Swanton, MD. Rents at $873/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

Is Swanton, MD a good market for FHA house hackers?

The house hack math a challenging in Swanton, MD. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $873/mo rents and $126K home values.

What is the typical rental rate in Swanton, MD?

Rent in Swanton, MD is around $873/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $126K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

How deep is the rental pool in Swanton, MD?

Swanton, MD draws a stable base of working renters. Demand at the $873/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

You know 21523 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 21523 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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