Real Estate Investing in Whiteville, North Carolina (28472)

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

Columbus County • Population: 17,833 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 28472 (Whiteville, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (52/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 15.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Elevated poverty: 22.4% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.

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

What’s happening in Whiteville, NC (28472)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $189,005
Avg Monthly Rent $846
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $41,755
% Renters 34.6%

Market Analysis: 28472 Whiteville

The 28472 ZIP in Whiteville, NC is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $189K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $189K asset, 28472 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

From a cash-flow lens, 28472 offers a low basis, the region around Whiteville has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Employment concentration in 28472 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

The 28472 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 Whiteville:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 67/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $846/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 28472

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+9.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$73,126/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
3BR $219,377 $1,130 3.7% +9.9% $73,126
4BR $316,937 $1,240 2.8% +9.2% $79,234

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$203K$179K$155K$132K$108K$84KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 28472 Compare?

Metric 28472 Whiteville North Carolina
Home Value $189,005 $189,005 $330,565
5-Year CAGR 4.9% 4.9% 7.8%
Avg Rent $846 $846 -
Cap Rate 3.5% 3.5% -
💡 Why Invest in 28472? 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 28472 (Whiteville, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.9%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $189,005
Monthly Rent $846
Price-to-Rent 18.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.4%
Cap Rate 3.5%
5-Year IRR 8.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR -0.3% ▼
5-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲
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: 3.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.5%). 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
15.7%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 28472

Population: 17,833

💰 Median Household Income
$41,755
This area
$41,755
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
34.6%
This area
34.6%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.1%
This area
3.1%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
17.2%
This area
17.2%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.4 years
This area
39.4 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.7%
This area
15.7%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 60.2%
Black/African American 29.1%
Other/Mixed 10.0%
Hispanic/Latino 4.7%
Asian 0.7%
👶 Under 18
23.2%
This area
23.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.0%
This area
16.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
22.4%
This area
22.4%
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 28472

B Avg School Grade
9 Schools
16.4:1 Avg Class Size
$14,257 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Central Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
461 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,004 Per Student
A Very Good

Edgewood Elementary

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
440 Students
👨‍🏫
13.3:1 Class Size
💰
$15,004 Per Student
A Very Good

Whiteville High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
635 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$15,004 Per Student
A Very Good

Whiteville Primary

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
492 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,004 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Old Dock Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
278 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,748 Per Student
B Good

Williams Township

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
634 Students
👨‍🏫
15.3:1 Class Size
💰
$13,748 Per Student
B Good

North Whiteville Academy

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
23 Students
👨‍🏫
3.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,004 Per Student
C+ Average

Columbus Career and College Academy

📚 09 – 13 High School
👥
242 Students
👨‍🏫
18.3:1 Class Size
💰
$13,748 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

Classical Charter Schools of Whiteville

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
892 Students
👨‍🏫
39.9:1 Class Size
💰
$12,045 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 741 Off-Campus Students
C+
Southeastern Community College
1,397 students · 6.1 mi

Investor Insight: With 741 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong are rents in Whiteville, NC?

Investors in Whiteville, NC typically see rents near $846/mo per month against $189K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

How much does a house cost in Whiteville, NC?

Homes in Whiteville, NC typically sell near $189K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which stable long-term demand.

Should investors worry about vacancy in Whiteville, NC?

Vacancy in Whiteville, NC is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $846/mo.

How do experienced investors play Whiteville, NC?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Whiteville, NC. The numbers - $189K homes against $846/mo rents - support that play.

Is Whiteville, NC a smart market for rental property?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Whiteville, NC ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $189K and rents of $846/mo drive the underlying numbers.

You know 28472 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 28472 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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