Real Estate Investing in Rocky Mount, North Carolina (27801)

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

Edgecombe County • Population: 19,489 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 27801 (Rocky Mount, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (75/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (57/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 21.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Elevated poverty: 22.0% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.

What’s happening in Rocky Mount, NC (27801)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $123,462
Avg Monthly Rent $1,079
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $42,488
% Renters 50.9%

Market Analysis: 27801 Rocky Mount

The 27801 ZIP in Rocky Mount, NC is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $123K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 27801 reports the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Regionally, 27801 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 27801 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 27801 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 Rocky Mount:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 74/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.9× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-2.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,079/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Rocky Mount, NC Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
9.5%
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 Rocky Mount, NC metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 27801

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
10.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+11.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$37,182/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $74,364 $1,110 10.7% +11.5% $37,182
3BR $134,006 $1,500 8.1% +9.8% $44,669
4BR $175,718 $1,760 7.2% +9.9% $43,930

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$148K$125K$102K$80K$57K$34KMay 2006Jun 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,273$1,227$1,181$1,135$1,089$1,044Aug 2025Feb 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 27801 Compare?

Metric 27801 Rocky Mount Rocky Mount, NC North Carolina
Home Value $123,462 $93,641 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 5.6% 6.1% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,079 $1,262 N/A -
Cap Rate 6.8% 5.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 27801? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

51% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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 27801 (Rocky Mount, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
6.8%
Good
5yr Growth
+5.6%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Rocky Mount, NC metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
60%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $123,462
Monthly Rent $1,079
Price-to-Rent 9.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 10.5%
Cap Rate 6.8%
5-Year IRR 12.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -2.4% ▼
3-Year CAGR -0.8% ▼
5-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +9.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Neutral Leverage Cap Rate: 6.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage is roughly neutral here.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) is close to the estimated cap rate (6.8%). Financing this market at current rates produces a cash-on-cash return near the cap rate. Appreciation and tax benefits may still support the investment.

⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
21.7%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 27801

Population: 19,489

💰 Median Household Income
$42,488
This area
$42,488
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
50.9%
This area
50.9%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
6.3%
This area
6.3%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
17.9%
This area
17.9%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.1 years
This area
38.1 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
21.7%
This area
21.7%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 71.4%
White 24.6%
Other/Mixed 3.7%
Hispanic/Latino 0.7%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
25.5%
This area
25.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.0%
This area
16.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
22.0%
This area
22.0%
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 27801

B Avg School Grade
7 Schools
15.3:1 Avg Class Size
$13,090 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

G W Bulluck Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
606 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,967 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Fairview Elementary

📚 K – 02 Elementary
👥
259 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$12,433 Per Student
B+ Above Average

J W Parker Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
244 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$12,433 Per Student
B Good

Baskerville Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
321 Students
👨‍🏫
17.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,433 Per Student
B Good

D S Johnson Elementary

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
332 Students
👨‍🏫
17.7:1 Class Size
💰
$12,433 Per Student
B Good

West Edgecombe Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
277 Students
👨‍🏫
16.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,967 Per Student
B Good

EDGE Academy of Health Sciences

📚 09 – 11 High School
👥
67 Students
👨‍🏫
12.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,967 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 1,234 Off-Campus Students
C
North Carolina Wesleyan University
1,345 students · 7.7 mi
C+
Edgecombe Community College
1,036 students · 9.5 mi
C
Nash Community College
2,425 students · 10.1 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,234 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How should investors approach Rocky Mount, NC?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Rocky Mount, NC. With home values at $123K and rents near $1,079/mo, other strategies can work but produce reliable rather than outsized returns.

Are tenants stable in Rocky Mount, NC?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Rocky Mount, NC. The rental market absorbs $1,079/mo rents without meaningful friction.

Can I house hack in Rocky Mount, NC?

House hacking in Rocky Mount, NC is a challenging. With home values around $123K and rents at $1,079/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

Is NC a landlord-friendly state?

NC ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Rocky Mount generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

What is the typical rental rate in Rocky Mount, NC?

Rent in Rocky Mount, NC is around $1,079/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $123K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

You know 27801 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 27801 ranks in Rocky Mount, NC

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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