Real Estate Investing in Lincolnton, North Carolina (28092)

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

Lincoln County • Population: 40,224 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 28092 (Lincolnton, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (63/100)

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 Lincolnton, NC (28092)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $299,745
Avg Monthly Rent $1,288
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $59,979
% Renters 30.5%

Market Analysis: 28092 Lincolnton

ZIP 28092 in Lincolnton, NC carries a notable set of headwinds. Home values near $300K and rents of $1,288/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 28092 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

ZIP 28092's metrics run below Lincoln County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Turning to rents, 40,224 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. durable returns are possible in 28092, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Lincolnton:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,288/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
🏠

Property Strategy for 28092

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
4.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+12.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$92,142/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $141,862 $920 4.7% +12.3% $141,862
2BR $184,284 $1,010 3.9% +10.1% $92,142
3BR $299,629 $1,400 3.4% +9.1% $99,876
4BR $415,589 $1,680 2.9% +9.0% $103,897
5BR $466,123 +9.3% $93,225

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$318K$274K$229K$185K$140K$96KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,477$1,419$1,361$1,303$1,245$1,188Jan 2025Oct 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 28092 Compare?

Metric 28092 Lincolnton North Carolina
Home Value $299,745 $299,745 $330,565
5-Year CAGR 6.4% 6.4% 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,288 $1,288 -
Cap Rate 3.4% 3.4% -
💡 Why Invest in 28092? 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 28092 (Lincolnton, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.4%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $299,745
Monthly Rent $1,288
Price-to-Rent 19.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.2%
Cap Rate 3.4%
5-Year IRR 9.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -9.2% ▼
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.4%). 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
7.1%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 28092

Population: 40,224

💰 Median Household Income
$59,979
This area
$59,979
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
30.5%
This area
30.5%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.1%
This area
3.1%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
18.6%
This area
18.6%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.2 years
This area
41.2 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.1%
This area
7.1%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 80.6%
Other/Mixed 9.9%
Black/African American 8.8%
Hispanic/Latino 7.6%
Asian 0.7%
👶 Under 18
21.3%
This area
21.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.8%
This area
16.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
10.5%
This area
10.5%
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 28092

B Avg School Grade
14 Schools
14.0:1 Avg Class Size
$11,236 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Love Memorial Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
291 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$11,236 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Battleground Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
419 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$11,236 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Childers Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
407 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$11,236 Per Student
B+ Above Average

GE Massey Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
370 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$11,236 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Lincolnton Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
563 Students
👨‍🏫
13.3:1 Class Size
💰
$11,236 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Pumpkin Center Primary

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
300 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$11,236 Per Student
B+ Above Average

West Lincoln Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
546 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$11,236 Per Student
B+ Above Average

S Ray Lowder Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
280 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$11,236 Per Student
B Good

Lincolnton High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
788 Students
👨‍🏫
16.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,236 Per Student
B Good

Pumpkin Center Intermediate

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
309 Students
👨‍🏫
17.6:1 Class Size
💰
$11,236 Per Student
B Good

West Lincoln High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
733 Students
👨‍🏫
16.1:1 Class Size
💰
$11,236 Per Student
C+ Average

Asbury Academy

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
29 Students
👨‍🏫
2.9:1 Class Size
💰
$11,236 Per Student
C+ Average

LCST

📚 Grade UG Elementary Limited Data
💰
$11,236 Per Student
C Below Average

North Lincoln High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,139 Students
👨‍🏫
23.1:1 Class Size
💰
$11,236 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 2,043 Off-Campus Students
C+
Gaston College
5,871 students · 12.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,043 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What monthly rent should investors expect in Lincolnton, NC?

Rent in Lincolnton, NC is around $1,288/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $300K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

What is the tenant pool like in Lincolnton, NC?

Tenant quality in Lincolnton, NC ranks as solid. Landlords generally report even-keeled occupancy at market rents of $1,288/mo.

Does Lincolnton, NC make sense for an investment property?

Our data puts Lincolnton, NC at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $300K and rents around $1,288/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

How do experienced investors play Lincolnton, NC?

Most investors in Lincolnton, 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 vacancy a concern in Lincolnton, NC?

Vacancy in Lincolnton, NC is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $1,288/mo.

You know 28092 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 28092 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 28092 ranks in Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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