Real Estate Investing in Bladenboro, North Carolina (28320)

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

Bladen County • Population: 7,990 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 28320 (Bladenboro, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (62/100)

Mixed — values have been flat. OK for long-horizon buyers, less attractive if you may need to sell soon.

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

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 19.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Flat appreciation: Values have barely moved over 5 years (0.3% CAGR).
  • 1-year downturn: Values declined 7.0% in the last year.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Bladenboro, NC (28320)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $122,558
Avg Monthly Rent $837
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $53,050
% Renters 27.7%

Market Analysis: 28320 Bladenboro

ZIP 28320 inside Bladen County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $123K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

The investment case in 28320 is durable only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $123K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Regionally, 28320 sits on the difficult end of the NC spectrum. The an appealing option for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Who lives in 28320 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

appears to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Bladenboro:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 67/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
10/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.3× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-7.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $837/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.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$142K$130K$119K$107K$96K$85KMar 2009Nov 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 28320 Compare?

Metric 28320 Bladenboro North Carolina
Home Value $122,558 $122,558 $330,565
5-Year CAGR 0.3% 0.3% 7.8%
Avg Rent $837 $837 -
Cap Rate 5.3% 5.3% -
💡 Why Invest in 28320? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 28320 (Bladenboro, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.3%
Fair
5yr Growth
+0.3%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $122,558
Monthly Rent $837
Price-to-Rent 12.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.2%
Cap Rate 5.3%
5-Year IRR 5.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -7.0% ▼
3-Year CAGR -3.3% ▼
5-Year CAGR +0.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +3.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
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
19.5%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+0.3%
Flat
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 28320

Population: 7,990

💰 Median Household Income
$53,050
This area
$53,050
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
27.7%
This area
27.7%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.9%
This area
2.9%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
20.7%
This area
20.7%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
44.3 years
This area
44.3 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
19.5%
This area
19.5%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 75.6%
Black/African American 15.1%
Other/Mixed 9.4%
Hispanic/Latino 6.5%
👶 Under 18
19.6%
This area
19.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
24.1%
This area
24.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
10.1%
This area
10.1%
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 28320

B+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
17.0:1 Avg Class Size
$15,523 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Bladenboro Primary

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
435 Students
👨‍🏫
15.3:1 Class Size
💰
$15,523 Per Student
B+ Above Average

West Bladen High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
700 Students
👨‍🏫
17.5:1 Class Size
💰
$15,523 Per Student
B Good

Bladenboro Middle

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
275 Students
👨‍🏫
18.3:1 Class Size
💰
$15,523 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 280 Off-Campus Students
C
Bladen Community College
990 students · 6.8 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What price range are homes in Bladenboro, NC?

Typical homes in Bladenboro, NC go for around $123K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% reliable price movement.

Is Bladenboro, NC good for landlords?

The landlord environment in Bladenboro, NC is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

How strong are rents in Bladenboro, NC?

Rents in Bladenboro, NC run near $837/mo. Compared with median home prices of $123K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

Is Bladenboro, NC a good place for real estate investing?

Bladenboro, NC scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $123K and rents near $837/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

How strong is the working-renter base in Bladenboro, NC?

Working renters make up the core of the Bladenboro, NC tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

You know 28320 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 28320 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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