Real Estate Investing in Wilson, North Carolina (27896)

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

Wilson County • Population: 18,808 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 27896 (Wilson, 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 (52/100)

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 Wilson, NC (27896)?

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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 $279,812
Avg Monthly Rent $1,660
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $64,320
% Renters 23.9%

Market Analysis: 27896 Wilson

The 27896 ZIP in Wilson, NC is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $280K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Rent of $1,660/mo on a $280K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 27896 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

The gap between 27896 and stronger Wilson ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

A notable renter share of 24% in 27896 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

Strategy in 27896 is an operator game, not a passive one. From a cash-flow lens, entry prices of $280K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 Wilson:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 69/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.4× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,660/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
Wilson, NC Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
8.9%
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 Wilson, NC metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 27896

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+11.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$89,444/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $178,889 $1,170 4.7% +11.5% $89,444
3BR $269,804 $1,490 4.0% +9.3% $89,935
4BR $376,908 $1,760 3.4% +8.4% $94,227
5BR $459,485 +7.9% $91,897

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$296K$262K$229K$196K$163K$130KAug 2008Aug 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,827$1,788$1,749$1,710$1,671$1,632Aug 2025Feb 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 27896 Compare?

Metric 27896 Wilson Wilson, NC North Carolina
Home Value $279,812 $205,438 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 5.8% 5.8% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,660 $1,260 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.6% 4.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 27896? 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.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 27896 (Wilson, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.6%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.8%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Wilson, NC metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
58%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $279,812
Monthly Rent $1,660
Price-to-Rent 14.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.1%
Cap Rate 4.6%
5-Year IRR 10.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.6%). 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
5.8%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 27896

Population: 18,808

💰 Median Household Income
$64,320
This area
$64,320
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
23.9%
This area
23.9%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.0%
This area
3.0%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
33.2%
This area
33.2%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.5 years
This area
43.5 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.8%
This area
5.8%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 60.7%
Black/African American 28.0%
Other/Mixed 9.1%
Hispanic/Latino 7.8%
Asian 2.2%
👶 Under 18
20.5%
This area
20.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.8%
This area
19.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.4%
This area
5.4%
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 27896

C+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
17.5:1 Avg Class Size
$11,297 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

New Hope Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
453 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,816 Per Student
C+ Average

Wilson Preparatory Academy

📚 K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
755 Students
👨‍🏫
18.3:1 Class Size
💰
$8,777 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 1,606 Off-Campus Students
C
Barton College
1,259 students · 5.3 mi
C
Wilson Community College
1,751 students · 6.2 mi
C
Nash Community College
2,425 students · 13.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,606 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong is Wilson, NC for real estate investors?

Yes - Wilson, NC a 3.0/5 investability score. With $280K home prices against $1,660/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

What are rental rates like in Wilson, NC?

Rent in Wilson, NC is around $1,660/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $280K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

What is the typical home price in Wilson, NC?

Wilson, NC home values average about $280K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $1,660/mo in monthly income.

What is the best play in Wilson, NC?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Wilson, NC. With home values at $280K and rents near $1,660/mo, other strategies can work but produce predictable rather than outsized returns.

Should investors worry about vacancy in Wilson, NC?

Rental vacancy in Wilson, NC is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

You know 27896 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 27896 ranks in Wilson, NC

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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