Real Estate Investing in Chadbourn, North Carolina (28431)

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

Columbus County • Population: 6,104 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 28431 (Chadbourn, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (56/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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: 17.1% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Elevated poverty: 28.5% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • Lower household income: $31,714 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

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

What’s happening in Chadbourn, NC (28431)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $163,110
Avg Monthly Rent $837
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $31,714
% Renters 31.9%

Market Analysis: 28431 Chadbourn

Stepping back, ZIP 28431 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $163K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

The investment case in 28431 is durable only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $163K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Nearby ZIPs in Chadbourn have seen price recovery that 28431 has not matched. Columbus County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Who lives in 28431 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. robust returns are possible in 28431, 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 Chadbourn:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 60/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.6%)
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)

$178K$158K$138K$119K$99K$79KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 28431 Compare?

Metric 28431 Chadbourn North Carolina
Home Value $163,110 $163,110 $330,565
5-Year CAGR 4.9% 4.9% 7.8%
Avg Rent $837 $837 -
Cap Rate 4.0% 4.0% -
💡 Why Invest in 28431? 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 28431 (Chadbourn, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.0%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.9%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $163,110
Monthly Rent $837
Price-to-Rent 16.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.2%
Cap Rate 4.0%
5-Year IRR 8.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR -0.7% ▼
5-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.0%). 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
17.1%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 28431

Population: 6,104

💰 Median Household Income
$31,714
This area
$31,714
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
31.9%
This area
31.9%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.1%
This area
1.1%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
12.5%
This area
12.5%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
47.6 years
This area
47.6 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
17.1%
This area
17.1%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 60.2%
Black/African American 34.2%
Other/Mixed 4.4%
Asian 1.2%
Hispanic/Latino 0.3%
👶 Under 18
21.3%
This area
21.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.9%
This area
19.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
28.5%
This area
28.5%
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 28431

B+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
12.0:1 Avg Class Size
$13,748 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Chadbourn Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
199 Students
👨‍🏫
12.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,748 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 · 3.6 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do home prices stand in Chadbourn, NC?

Chadbourn, NC median home values land near $163K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $837/mo-per-month rentals.

What are vacancy rates like in Chadbourn, NC?

Chadbourn, NC sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader NC rental market.

Can I live-in-and-rent in Chadbourn, NC?

The house hack math a challenging in Chadbourn, NC. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $837/mo rents and $163K home values.

What do rentals go for in Chadbourn, NC?

Rental rates in Chadbourn, NC average $837/mo. Tenant demand and $163K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

Is Chadbourn, NC a friendly market for rental owners?

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

You know 28431 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 28431 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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