Real Estate Investing in Clayton, North Carolina (27527)

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

Johnston County • Population: 35,968 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 27527 (Clayton, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (69/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Clayton, NC (27527)?

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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 $397,673
Avg Monthly Rent $1,812
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $107,666
% Renters 14.4%

Market Analysis: 27527 Clayton

From a cash-flow lens, ZIP 27527 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $398K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

The investment case in 27527 is solid only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $398K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Regionally, 27527 sits on the difficult end of the NC spectrum. The an appealing option for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

A notable renter share of 14% in 27527 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

looks to 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 Clayton:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 71/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.7× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,812/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 27527

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
5.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+7.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$96,435/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $272,206 $1,910 5.1% +6.2% $136,103
3BR $354,978 $2,400 4.9% +7.1% $118,326
4BR $443,563 $3,200 5.2% +6.7% $110,891
5BR $482,174 +6.7% $96,435

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$446K$392K$339K$285K$232K$178KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,939$1,777$1,615$1,453$1,291$1,128Jun 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 27527 Compare?

Metric 27527 Clayton Raleigh-Cary, NC North Carolina
Home Value $397,673 $367,768 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 3.7% 4.1% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,812 $1,819 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.6% 3.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 27527? 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 27527 (Clayton, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.7%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $397,673
Monthly Rent $1,812
Price-to-Rent 18.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.5%
Cap Rate 3.6%
5-Year IRR 7.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.2% ▼
3-Year CAGR -0.5% ▼
5-Year CAGR +3.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -0.6% ▼
3-Year CAGR +0.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.6% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.6%). 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
4.3%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 27527

Population: 35,968

💰 Median Household Income
$107,666
This area
$107,666
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
14.4%
This area
14.4%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.6%
This area
1.6%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
44.5%
This area
44.5%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.3 years
This area
38.3 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.3%
This area
4.3%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 73.8%
Black/African American 13.1%
Other/Mixed 12.3%
Hispanic/Latino 8.2%
Asian 0.7%
👶 Under 18
28.0%
This area
28.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
10.6%
This area
10.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.5%
This area
4.5%
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

🎓 Schools in 27527

B Avg School Grade
5 Schools
15.7:1 Avg Class Size
$11,360 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

East Clayton Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
513 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$11,360 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Riverwood Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
739 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$11,360 Per Student
B+ Above Average

River Dell Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
942 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$11,360 Per Student
B Good

Powhatan Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
614 Students
👨‍🏫
15.3:1 Class Size
💰
$11,360 Per Student
C+ Average

Riverwood Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
914 Students
👨‍🏫
19.5:1 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

2 Nearby 842 Off-Campus Students
C+
Southeastern Free Will Baptist Bible College
74 students · 10.0 mi
C
Johnston Community College
4,680 students · 11.2 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do tenants pay in Clayton, NC?

Rent in Clayton, NC is around $1,812/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $398K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

How should investors approach Clayton, NC?

Most investors in Clayton, 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.

Is house hacking profitable in Clayton, NC?

House hacking works a challenging in Clayton, NC. Rents of $1,812/mo against $398K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

Is rental property easy to operate in Clayton, NC?

The landlord environment in Clayton, NC is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

What is the typical home price in Clayton, NC?

Homes in Clayton, NC typically sell near $398K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which predictable long-term demand.

You know 27527 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 27527 ranks in Raleigh-Cary, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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