Real Estate Investing in Ruffin, North Carolina (27326)

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

Rockingham County • Population: 3,387 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 27326 (Ruffin, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (53/100)

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

📈 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
  • High vacancy: 19.9% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Ruffin, NC (27326)?

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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 $215,126
Avg Monthly Rent $846
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $63,182
% Renters 23.2%

Market Analysis: 27326 Ruffin

ZIP 27326 inside Rockingham County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $215K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

The investment case in 27326 is healthy only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $215K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Regionally, 27326 sits on the difficult end of the NC spectrum. The a strong candidate for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Employment concentration in 27326 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 27326 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Ruffin:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $846/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
Greensboro-High Point, NC Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
43 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.6%
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 Greensboro-High Point, NC metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 27326

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$77,419/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $154,838 $940 4.4% +8.8% $77,419
3BR $235,586 $1,190 3.6% +8.1% $78,529

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$226K$200K$173K$147K$120K$93KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 27326 Compare?

Metric 27326 Ruffin Greensboro-High Point, NC North Carolina
Home Value $215,126 $215,126 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 2.8% 2.8% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $846 $846 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.1% 3.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 27326? 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 27326 (Ruffin, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.1%
Low
5yr Growth
+2.8%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $215,126
Monthly Rent $846
Price-to-Rent 21.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.7%
Cap Rate 3.1%
5-Year IRR 5.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.1%). 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
19.9%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 27326

Population: 3,387

💰 Median Household Income
$63,182
This area
$63,182
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
23.2%
This area
23.2%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.8%
This area
1.8%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
8.1%
This area
8.1%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.2 years
This area
41.2 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
19.9%
This area
19.9%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 68.1%
Black/African American 20.8%
Other/Mixed 9.7%
Hispanic/Latino 7.9%
Asian 1.4%
👶 Under 18
21.6%
This area
21.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.6%
This area
18.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.2%
This area
11.2%
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 27326

B+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
13.6:1 Avg Class Size
$13,012 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Lincoln Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
300 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$13,012 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 1,240 Off-Campus Students
C
Danville Community College
2,489 students · 11.3 mi
C
Averett University
1,378 students · 11.7 mi
C
Sovah School of Health Professions
20 students · 12.0 mi
C
Rockingham Community College
1,777 students · 12.0 mi
C
Medical Solutions Academy
106 students · 12.9 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,240 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do home prices stand in Ruffin, NC?

Ruffin, NC median home values land near $215K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $846/mo-per-month rentals.

How qualified is the tenant pool in Ruffin, NC?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Ruffin, NC. The rental market absorbs $846/mo rents without meaningful friction.

Is Ruffin, NC good for landlords?

Ruffin, NC falls under NC landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

Are there empty rentals in Ruffin, NC?

Vacancy in Ruffin, NC is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $846/mo.

What investment strategy works best in Ruffin, NC?

Most investors in Ruffin, NC run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 3.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

You know 27326 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 27326 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 27326 ranks in Greensboro-High Point, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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