Real Estate Investing in Tarboro, North Carolina (27886)

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

Edgecombe County • Population: 18,560 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 27886 (Tarboro, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (67/100)

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

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

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: 12.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Elevated poverty: 21.0% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.

What’s happening in Tarboro, NC (27886)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $151,807
Avg Monthly Rent $1,033
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $47,766
% Renters 32.5%

Market Analysis: 27886 Tarboro

ZIP 27886 inside Edgecombe County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $152K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

For an experienced owner, 27886 can be a a credible choice for hunting ground — but the discount at $152K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Regionally, 27886 sits on the difficult end of the NC spectrum. The an appealing option for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Employment concentration in 27886 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 27886 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 Tarboro:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 74/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.2× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,033/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 27886

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
8.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+9.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$42,893/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $85,786 $1,000 8.4% +9.4% $42,893
3BR $155,575 $1,360 6.3% +7.9% $51,858
4BR $226,751 $1,660 5.3% +7.6% $56,688

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$166K$146K$127K$107K$88K$69KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,123$1,084$1,045$1,006$967$929May 2025Dec 2025Jun 2026

📊 How Does 27886 Compare?

Metric 27886 Tarboro Rocky Mount, NC North Carolina
Home Value $151,807 $151,807 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 5.9% 5.9% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,033 $1,033 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.3% 5.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 27886? Click to expand

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

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A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 27886 (Tarboro, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.3%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.9%
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 $151,807
Monthly Rent $1,033
Price-to-Rent 12.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.2%
Cap Rate 5.3%
5-Year IRR 11.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.9% ▼
3-Year CAGR +1.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -5.0% ▼
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.3%). 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
12.4%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 27886

Population: 18,560

💰 Median Household Income
$47,766
This area
$47,766
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
32.5%
This area
32.5%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
19.6%
This area
19.6%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
45.5 years
This area
45.5 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
12.4%
This area
12.4%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 47.0%
White 45.7%
Other/Mixed 7.3%
Hispanic/Latino 5.7%
Asian 0.1%
👶 Under 18
21.9%
This area
21.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
24.3%
This area
24.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
21.0%
This area
21.0%
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 27886

B Avg School Grade
8 Schools
14.6:1 Avg Class Size
$13,758 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Martin Millennium Academy

📚 K – 08 School
👥
558 Students
👨‍🏫
12.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,967 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Stocks Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
395 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$13,967 Per Student
B+ Above Average

North Edgecombe High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
200 Students
👨‍🏫
12.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,967 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Princeville Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
207 Students
👨‍🏫
12.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,967 Per Student
B Good

Tarboro High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
506 Students
👨‍🏫
16.9:1 Class Size
💰
$13,967 Per Student
B Good

W A Pattillo Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
304 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,967 Per Student
B Good

North East Carolina Prep

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
1,020 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$12,296 Per Student
C+ Average

Edgecombe Early College High

📚 09 – 13 High School
👥
184 Students
👨‍🏫
18.4:1 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

1 Nearby 391 Off-Campus Students
C+
Edgecombe Community College
1,036 students · 3.2 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Tarboro, NC make sense for an investment property?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Tarboro, NC ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $152K and rents of $1,033/mo drive the underlying numbers.

What is the average monthly rent in Tarboro, NC?

Expect rents around $1,033/mo per month in Tarboro, NC. With home values at $152K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

How expensive is real estate in Tarboro, NC?

Median home price in Tarboro, NC is near $152K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been predictable and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

Is Tarboro, NC a friendly market for rental owners?

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

Do rentals sit vacant long in Tarboro, NC?

Expect elevated vacancy in Tarboro, NC. Rents at $1,033/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

You know 27886 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 27886 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 27886 ranks in Rocky Mount, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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