Real Estate Investing in Fayetteville, North Carolina (28304)

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

Cumberland County • Population: 36,634 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 28304 (Fayetteville, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (78/100)

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
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 11.1% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Fayetteville, NC (28304)?

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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 $198,694
Avg Monthly Rent $1,358
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $54,444
% Renters 45.0%

Market Analysis: 28304 Fayetteville

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Fayetteville's 28304 ZIP posts signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $199K pricing implies.

For an experienced owner, 28304 can be a a viable market for hunting ground — but the discount at $199K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

The gap between 28304 and stronger Fayetteville ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

A substantial renter share of 45% in 28304 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

New investors are better served looking at Fayetteville's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 28304. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Fayetteville:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 78/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.6× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,358/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: This area shows favorable conditions for homebuyers. Solid fundamentals with reasonable affordability.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Fayetteville, NC Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
53 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.8%
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 Fayetteville, NC metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 28304

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
7.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+12.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$63,268/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $149,259 $1,440 6.9% +12.3% $74,630
3BR $189,803 $1,920 7.3% +11.0% $63,268
4BR $294,266 $2,380 5.8% +7.4% $73,566
5BR $395,506 +7.6% $79,101

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$211K$187K$162K$138K$113K$89KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,461$1,383$1,304$1,226$1,147$1,069Jul 2021Jan 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 28304 Compare?

Metric 28304 Fayetteville Fayetteville, NC North Carolina
Home Value $198,694 $196,250 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 7.4% 6.9% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,358 $1,327 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.3% 4.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 28304? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 45% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 28304 (Fayetteville, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.3%
Fair
5yr Growth
+7.4%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Fayetteville, NC metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
42%
Days Pending
1/2
53 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $198,694
Monthly Rent $1,358
Price-to-Rent 12.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.2%
Cap Rate 5.3%
5-Year IRR 12.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -2.1% ▼
3-Year CAGR +0.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.0% ▲
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
11.1%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 28304

Population: 36,634

💰 Median Household Income
$54,444
This area
$54,444
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
45.0%
This area
45.0%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.7%
This area
5.7%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
24.6%
This area
24.6%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
35.9 years
This area
35.9 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
11.1%
This area
11.1%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 42.4%
Black/African American 39.3%
Other/Mixed 15.9%
Hispanic/Latino 8.1%
Asian 2.3%
👶 Under 18
23.6%
This area
23.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.3%
This area
15.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
15.4%
This area
15.4%
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 28304

B Avg School Grade
14 Schools
14.1:1 Avg Class Size
$12,876 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Sherwood Park Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
327 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student
A Very Good

William H Owen Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
408 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student
B+ Above Average

J W Coon Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
207 Students
👨‍🏫
10.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Brentwood Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
502 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Loyd E Auman Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
488 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Mary McArthur Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
424 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Seventy-First Classical Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
427 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Ashley Elementary

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
172 Students
👨‍🏫
10.5:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Glendale Acres Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
231 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student
B Good

Douglas Byrd Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
902 Students
👨‍🏫
15.6:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student
B Good

Douglas Byrd High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,002 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student
B Good

John R Griffin Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
1,057 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student
B Good

Seventy-First High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,360 Students
👨‍🏫
17.6:1 Class Size
💰
$12,982 Per Student
C Below Average

Alpha Academy

📚 K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
1,043 Students
👨‍🏫
23.3:1 Class Size
💰
$11,496 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

8 Nearby 3,650 Off-Campus Students
D
One Stop Academy
19 students · 2.4 mi
C
Manna University
230 students · 2.9 mi
D
Carolina College of Biblical Studies
173 students · 3.4 mi
C
Paul Mitchell the School-Fayetteville
179 students · 3.6 mi
C
Fayetteville Technical Community College
10,877 students · 4.7 mi
C+
Fayetteville State University
6,847 students · 6.5 mi
C
Miller-Motte College-Fayetteville
169 students · 8.6 mi
C
Methodist University
1,768 students · 10.1 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,650 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 Fayetteville, NC?

Average rent in Fayetteville, NC is approximately $1,358/mo per month. Against $199K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

What is the smart move for investors in Fayetteville, NC?

Most investors in Fayetteville, 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 Fayetteville, NC a smart market for rental property?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Fayetteville, NC ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $199K and rents of $1,358/mo drive the underlying numbers.

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in Fayetteville, NC?

Occupancy in Fayetteville, NC runs even-keeled with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $1,358/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

Does house hacking work in Fayetteville, NC?

House hacking works a challenging in Fayetteville, NC. Rents of $1,358/mo against $199K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

You know 28304 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 28304 ranks in Fayetteville, NC

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