Real Estate Investing in Jacksonville, North Carolina (28546)

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

Onslow County • Population: 48,122 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 28546 (Jacksonville, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (67/100)

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
  • Elevated vacancy: 10.4% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Jacksonville, NC (28546)?

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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 $269,989
Avg Monthly Rent $1,408
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $56,434
% Renters 46.0%

Market Analysis: 28546 Jacksonville

On balance, ZIP 28546 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $270K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 28546 records the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Regionally, 28546 sits on the difficult end of the NC spectrum. The a credible choice for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

The 28546 ZIP's population of 48,122 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that registers the need for careful underwriting.

looks 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 Jacksonville:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 73/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,408/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Jacksonville, NC Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
47 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.0%
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 Jacksonville, NC metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 28546

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+13.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$80,470/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $164,778 $1,140 5.0% +13.1% $82,389
3BR $244,447 $1,590 4.7% +9.0% $81,482
4BR $321,879 $1,910 4.3% +8.4% $80,470
5BR $415,483 +7.7% $83,097

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$281K$249K$217K$185K$153K$121KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,459$1,310$1,160$1,011$862$712Jul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 28546 Compare?

Metric 28546 Jacksonville Jacksonville, NC North Carolina
Home Value $269,989 $132,653 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 7.7% 7.8% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,408 $1,416 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.1% 4.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 28546? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 46% 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 28546 (Jacksonville, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.1%
Fair
5yr Growth
+7.7%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Jacksonville, NC metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
40%
Days Pending
1/2
47 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $269,989
Monthly Rent $1,408
Price-to-Rent 16.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.3%
Cap Rate 4.1%
5-Year IRR 11.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +1.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.1%). 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
10.4%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.7%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 28546

Population: 48,122

💰 Median Household Income
$56,434
This area
$56,434
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
46.0%
This area
46.0%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.5%
This area
4.5%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
24.2%
This area
24.2%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
28.2 years
This area
28.2 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.4%
This area
10.4%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 61.5%
Black/African American 21.6%
Other/Mixed 14.5%
Hispanic/Latino 7.8%
Asian 2.5%
👶 Under 18
24.2%
This area
24.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
10.1%
This area
10.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.1%
This area
9.1%
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 28546

B Avg School Grade
10 Schools
17.7:1 Avg Class Size
$11,413 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Carolina Forest Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
631 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$11,413 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Hunters Creek Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
627 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$11,413 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Jacksonville Commons Elem

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
503 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,413 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Stateside Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
564 Students
👨‍🏫
14.5:1 Class Size
💰
$11,413 Per Student
B Good

Morton Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
741 Students
👨‍🏫
16.2:1 Class Size
💰
$11,413 Per Student
B Good

Hunters Creek Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
888 Students
👨‍🏫
17.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,413 Per Student
B Good

Jacksonville Commons Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
970 Students
👨‍🏫
17.3:1 Class Size
💰
$11,413 Per Student
C+ Average

Northside High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,074 Students
👨‍🏫
18.3:1 Class Size
💰
$11,413 Per Student
C+ Average

White Oak High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,226 Students
👨‍🏫
19.2:1 Class Size
💰
$11,413 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

Onslow Early College

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
187 Students
👨‍🏫
31.2:1 Class Size
💰
$11,413 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

2 Nearby 1,348 Off-Campus Students
C
Miller-Motte College-Jacksonville
187 students · 3.6 mi
C
Coastal Carolina Community College
3,457 students · 4.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,348 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best play in Jacksonville, NC?

The best-fit strategy in Jacksonville, NC is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

Is it easy to find good tenants in Jacksonville, NC?

Tenant quality in Jacksonville, NC ranks as solid. Landlords generally report steady occupancy at market rents of $1,408/mo.

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

Jacksonville, NC is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $270K price point reasonable to enter.

Is NC a landlord-friendly state?

NC law landlord-friendly for landlords, and Jacksonville inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

How much do tenants pay in Jacksonville, NC?

The typical rental in Jacksonville, NC commands about $1,408/mo monthly. That rent profile consistent cash flow against the $270K purchase basis.

You know 28546 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 28546 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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How 28546 ranks in Jacksonville, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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