Real Estate Investing in Cedar Grove, North Carolina (27231)

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

Orange County • Population: 2,174 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 27231 (Cedar Grove, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (58/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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: 8.4% 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 Cedar Grove, NC (27231)?

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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 $404,104
Avg Monthly Rent $1,521
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $70,625
% Renters 19.8%

Market Analysis: 27231 Cedar Grove

ZIP 27231 in Cedar Grove, NC carries a healthy set of headwinds. Home values near $404K and rents of $1,521/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

The 27231 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

In the broader NC picture, 27231 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

The 27231 ZIP's population of 2,174 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that clocks in at the need for careful underwriting.

The right play in 27231 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 Cedar Grove:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 64/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,521/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
61 days
Average time to sell
Slow
11.4%
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 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$432K$374K$316K$259K$201K$143KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 27231 Compare?

Metric 27231 Cedar Grove Durham-Chapel Hill, NC North Carolina
Home Value $404,104 $404,104 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 5.8% 5.8% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,521 $1,521 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.9% 2.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 27231? 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 27231 (Cedar Grove, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.8%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $404,104
Monthly Rent $1,521
Price-to-Rent 22.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.5%
Cap Rate 2.9%
5-Year IRR 8.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.9%). 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
8.4%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 27231

Population: 2,174

💰 Median Household Income
$70,625
This area
$70,625
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
19.8%
This area
19.8%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.7%
This area
3.7%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
35.7%
This area
35.7%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
47.0 years
This area
47.0 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.4%
This area
8.4%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 70.6%
Black/African American 19.7%
Other/Mixed 7.9%
Hispanic/Latino 2.3%
Asian 1.9%
👶 Under 18
17.4%
This area
17.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
28.4%
This area
28.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.5%
This area
8.5%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

2 Nearby 1,360 Off-Campus Students
C
Beyond Measure Barbering Institute
49 students · 9.3 mi
C
Alamance Community College
3,739 students · 14.0 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,360 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong is tenant demand in Cedar Grove, NC?

The tenant pool in Cedar Grove, NC is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $1,521/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

Does Cedar Grove, NC make sense for an investment property?

Cedar Grove, NC records an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $404K and average rents around $1,521/mo. That combination puts it in the durable tier for investor interest.

How expensive is real estate in Cedar Grove, NC?

In Cedar Grove, NC the median home value sits at $404K. Against the broader NC market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

What approach is best for Cedar Grove, NC real estate?

For Cedar Grove, NC, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

Does house hacking make sense in Cedar Grove, NC?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Cedar Grove, NC reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

You know 27231 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 27231 ranks in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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