Real Estate Investing in Smithfield, North Carolina (27577)

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

Johnston County • Population: 26,946 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 27577 (Smithfield, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (62/100)

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

📈 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: 9.1% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Smithfield, NC (27577)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
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 $293,166
Avg Monthly Rent $1,787
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $57,281
% Renters 32.7%

Market Analysis: 27577 Smithfield

ZIP 27577 inside Johnston County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $293K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 27577 posts the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Statewide comparisons place 27577 among NC's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Who lives in 27577 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

leans the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Smithfield:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.1× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,787/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
Raleigh-Cary, NC Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
59 days
Average time to sell
Average
12.7%
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 Raleigh-Cary, NC metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 27577

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+10.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$86,072/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $172,595 $1,350 5.6% +10.0% $86,298
3BR $280,578 $1,660 4.3% +8.0% $93,526
4BR $390,955 $2,200 4.1% +7.8% $97,739
5BR $430,360 +7.6% $86,072

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$310K$270K$229K$189K$148K$108KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,812$1,783$1,754$1,724$1,695$1,666Jan 2025Oct 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 27577 Compare?

Metric 27577 Smithfield Raleigh-Cary, NC North Carolina
Home Value $293,166 $293,166 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 4.9% 4.9% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,787 $1,787 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.8% 4.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 27577? 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 →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 27577 (Smithfield, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 27577 (Smithfield, NC)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.8%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.9%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $293,166
Monthly Rent $1,787
Price-to-Rent 13.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.3%
Cap Rate 4.8%
5-Year IRR 9.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +5.5% ▲
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
9.1%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 27577

Population: 26,946

💰 Median Household Income
$57,281
This area
$57,281
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
32.7%
This area
32.7%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.2%
This area
4.2%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
22.0%
This area
22.0%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.3 years
This area
40.3 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.1%
This area
9.1%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 63.6%
Black/African American 20.4%
Other/Mixed 15.0%
Hispanic/Latino 11.1%
Asian 1.1%
👶 Under 18
23.8%
This area
23.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.1%
This area
15.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
12.4%
This area
12.4%
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 27577

B Avg School Grade
10 Schools
14.8:1 Avg Class Size
$11,162 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

South Smithfield Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
463 Students
👨‍🏫
10.9:1 Class Size
💰
$11,360 Per Student
A Very Good

West Smithfield Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
446 Students
👨‍🏫
10.6:1 Class Size
💰
$11,360 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Smithfield Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
530 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$11,360 Per Student
B Good

JCPS Virtual Academy

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
333 Students
👨‍🏫
15.5:1 Class Size
💰
$11,360 Per Student
B Good
👥
262 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,360 Per Student
B Good

Smithfield-Selma High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,551 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$11,360 Per Student
C+ Average

Choice Plus Academy

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
70 Students
👨‍🏫
5.0:1 Class Size
💰
$11,360 Per Student
C+ Average

Johnston County Schools Career Technical

📚 09 – 13 High School
👥
196 Students
👨‍🏫
18.7:1 Class Size
💰
$11,360 Per Student
C+ Average

Neuse Charter School

📚 K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
912 Students
👨‍🏫
17.8:1 Class Size
💰
$9,383 Per Student
C Below Average

Johnston Co Early College Academy

📚 09 – 13 High School
👥
282 Students
👨‍🏫
26.9:1 Class Size
💰
$11,360 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

1 Nearby 842 Off-Campus Students
C
Johnston Community College
4,680 students · 1.0 mi

Investor Insight: With 842 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Smithfield, NC a good place for real estate investing?

Smithfield, NC scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $293K and rents near $1,787/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

Is vacancy a concern in Smithfield, NC?

Vacancy in Smithfield, NC is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $1,787/mo.

Does house hacking make sense in Smithfield, NC?

The house hack math a challenging in Smithfield, NC. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $1,787/mo rents and $293K home values.

Which real estate strategy fits Smithfield, NC?

Most investors in Smithfield, 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.

How much rent can I charge in Smithfield, NC?

Investors in Smithfield, NC typically see rents near $1,787/mo per month against $293K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

You know 27577 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 27577 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.

Compare Plans

How 27577 ranks in Raleigh-Cary, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 27577 (Smithfield)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 27577 (Smithfield, NC).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.