Real Estate Investing in Rockingham, North Carolina (28379)

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

Richmond County • Population: 24,068 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 28379 (Rockingham, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (64/100)

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
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 14.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.

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

What’s happening in Rockingham, NC (28379)?

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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 $139,385
Avg Monthly Rent $855
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $45,298
% Renters 35.6%

Market Analysis: 28379 Rockingham

ZIP 28379 inside Richmond County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $139K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 28379 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

In the broader NC picture, 28379 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

On the rental side, 24,068 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.

The 28379 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Rockingham:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 76/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $855/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
Rockingham, NC Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
8.5%
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 Rockingham, NC metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 28379

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+12.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$60,033/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $120,065 $950 5.7% +12.1% $60,033
3BR $201,460 $1,320 4.7% +10.8% $67,153
4BR $280,442 $1,440 3.7% +9.7% $70,111

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$146K$130K$114K$98K$82K$66KJun 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 28379 Compare?

Metric 28379 Rockingham Rockingham, NC North Carolina
Home Value $139,385 $46,462 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 6.0% 6.0% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $855 $855 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.8% 4.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 28379? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 36% 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 28379 (Rockingham, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.8%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.0%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Rockingham, NC metro

3/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
3/3
80%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $139,385
Monthly Rent $855
Price-to-Rent 13.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.4%
Cap Rate 4.8%
5-Year IRR 10.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.8%). 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
14.2%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 28379

Population: 24,068

💰 Median Household Income
$45,298
This area
$45,298
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
35.6%
This area
35.6%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.4%
This area
5.4%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
21.2%
This area
21.2%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.3 years
This area
40.3 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.2%
This area
14.2%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 62.4%
Black/African American 29.1%
Other/Mixed 7.6%
Hispanic/Latino 4.0%
Asian 0.9%
👶 Under 18
24.0%
This area
24.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.2%
This area
19.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
19.2%
This area
19.2%
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 28379

B Avg School Grade
7 Schools
15.3:1 Avg Class Size
$13,139 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

L J Bell Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
480 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,139 Per Student
B+ Above Average

West Rockingham Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
317 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,139 Per Student
B Good

East Rockingham Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
462 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,139 Per Student
B Good

Rockingham Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
590 Students
👨‍🏫
15.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,139 Per Student
B Good

Washington Street Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
409 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,139 Per Student
B Good

Richmond Senior High

📚 10 – 12 High School
👥
1,358 Students
👨‍🏫
17.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,139 Per Student
C+ Average

Ashley Chapel Educational Center

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
93 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,139 Per Student

Nearby Schools (1 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

B+ Above Average

Cordova Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 194 Church St, Cordova
👥
254 Students
👨‍🏫
12.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,139 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 981 Off-Campus Students
C+
Richmond Community College
2,411 students · 4.5 mi

Investor Insight: With 981 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical vacancy rate in Rockingham, NC?

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

What is the renter demographic in Rockingham, NC?

Tenant demand in Rockingham, NC is solid. The local workforce $855/mo rents across most rental classes.

Does Rockingham, NC favor landlords or tenants?

For rental operators, Rockingham, NC rates as landlord-friendly. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

How viable is house hacking in Rockingham, NC?

Rockingham, NC is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $139K price point reasonable to enter.

How much should I expect to pay for a home in Rockingham, NC?

Rockingham, NC home values average about $139K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $855/mo in monthly income.

You know 28379 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 28379 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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