Real Estate Investing in La Grange, North Carolina (28551)

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

Lenoir County • Population: 13,264 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 28551 (La Grange, 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: 14.4% 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 La Grange, NC (28551)?

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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 $185,029
Avg Monthly Rent $963
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $49,125
% Renters 30.8%

Market Analysis: 28551 La Grange

Turning to rents, ZIP 28551 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $185K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

The investment case in 28551 is resilient only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $185K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

The gap between 28551 and stronger La Grange ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Resident income in 28551 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

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 La Grange:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 69/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+10.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $963/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
Kinston, NC Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
8.3%
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 Kinston, NC metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 28551

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
7.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+10.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$51,778/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $103,555 $1,070 7.4% +10.2% $51,778
3BR $207,781 $1,320 4.6% +8.8% $69,260
4BR $319,256 $1,730 3.9% +8.1% $79,814

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$198K$172K$146K$120K$94K$69KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 28551 Compare?

Metric 28551 La Grange Kinston, NC North Carolina
Home Value $185,029 $185,029 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 6.0% 6.0% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $963 $963 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.1% 4.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 28551? 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 28551 (La Grange, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.1%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.0%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Kinston, NC metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
55%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $185,029
Monthly Rent $963
Price-to-Rent 16.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.3%
Cap Rate 4.1%
5-Year IRR 10.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +10.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
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
14.4%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.0%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 28551

Population: 13,264

💰 Median Household Income
$49,125
This area
$49,125
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
30.8%
This area
30.8%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.6%
This area
4.6%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
17.7%
This area
17.7%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.9 years
This area
39.9 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.4%
This area
14.4%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 64.7%
Black/African American 21.5%
Other/Mixed 13.8%
Hispanic/Latino 10.4%
👶 Under 18
22.4%
This area
22.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.0%
This area
19.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.5%
This area
9.5%
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 28551

B Avg School Grade
3 Schools
16.1:1 Avg Class Size
$12,624 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

La Grange Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
503 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,624 Per Student
B Good

E B Frink Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
528 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$12,624 Per Student
B Good

North Lenoir High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
989 Students
👨‍🏫
17.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,624 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 2,305 Off-Campus Students
C+
Wayne Community College
2,883 students · 10.9 mi
C
Lenoir Community College
2,387 students · 13.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,305 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the median home value in La Grange, NC?

Typical homes in La Grange, NC go for around $185K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% even-keeled price movement.

Are tenants stable in La Grange, NC?

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

Does La Grange, NC favor landlords or tenants?

Rental owners in La Grange, NC deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

How tight is the rental market in La Grange, NC?

La Grange, NC carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect even-keeled absorption at market rents of $963/mo.

Can I house hack in La Grange, NC?

La Grange, NC offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $963/mo rent level.

You know 28551 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 28551 ranks in Kinston, NC

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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