Real Estate Investing in Morganton, North Carolina (28655)

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

Burke County • Population: 56,201 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 28655 (Morganton, NC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (62/100)

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 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: 11.4% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Morganton, NC (28655)?

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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 $261,340
Avg Monthly Rent $1,483
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $51,689
% Renters 25.4%

Market Analysis: 28655 Morganton

Put differently, ZIP 28655 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $261K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

The 28655 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Regionally, 28655 sits on the difficult end of the NC spectrum. The worth a close look for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Resident income in 28655 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. solid returns are possible in 28655, 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 Morganton:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 67/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
14/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,483/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
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
9.2%
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 Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 28655

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+8.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$91,847/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $183,695 $1,370 5.4% +8.1% $91,847
3BR $278,543 $1,760 4.5% +8.0% $92,848
4BR $400,286 $2,320 4.2% +8.2% $100,071

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$280K$239K$197K$156K$115K$74KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,516$1,418$1,320$1,222$1,124$1,026Oct 2025Mar 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 28655 Compare?

Metric 28655 Morganton Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC North Carolina
Home Value $261,340 $261,340 N/A $330,565
5-Year CAGR 5.6% 5.6% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,483 $1,483 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.4% 4.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 28655? 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 28655 (Morganton, NC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.4%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.6%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $261,340
Monthly Rent $1,483
Price-to-Rent 14.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.8%
Cap Rate 4.4%
5-Year IRR 10.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.4%). 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
11.4%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 28655

Population: 56,201

💰 Median Household Income
$51,689
This area
$51,689
State
$63,256
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
25.4%
This area
25.4%
State
27.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.9%
This area
3.9%
State
-19.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
20.5%
This area
20.5%
State
0.5%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
44.3 years
This area
44.3 years
State
6.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
11.4%
This area
11.4%
State
19.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 79.2%
Other/Mixed 9.9%
Black/African American 8.3%
Hispanic/Latino 5.8%
Asian 2.6%
👶 Under 18
18.4%
This area
18.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.4%
This area
20.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
16.2%
This area
16.2%
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 28655

B Avg School Grade
18 Schools
15.5:1 Avg Class Size
$12,383 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

W A Young Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
293 Students
👨‍🏫
10.7:1 Class Size
💰
$12,502 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Glen Alpine Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
305 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$12,502 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Oak Hill Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
334 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,502 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Walter R Johnson Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
439 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$12,502 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Forest Hill Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
291 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$12,502 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Hillcrest Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
258 Students
👨‍🏫
13.3:1 Class Size
💰
$12,502 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Mull Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
280 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$12,502 Per Student
B Good

Drexel Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
478 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$12,502 Per Student
B Good

Liberty Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
459 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$12,502 Per Student
B Good

Mountain View Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
730 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$12,502 Per Student
B Good

Robert L. Patton High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
753 Students
👨‍🏫
17.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,502 Per Student
B Good

Salem Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
436 Students
👨‍🏫
15.3:1 Class Size
💰
$12,502 Per Student
B Good

Table Rock Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
454 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$12,502 Per Student
B Good

North Liberty

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12
👥
71 Students
👨‍🏫
7.7:1 Class Size
💰
$12,502 Per Student
C+ Average

NC School for the Deaf

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12
👥
60 Students
👨‍🏫
2.7:1 Class Size
C+ Average

New Dimensions

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
556 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$10,479 Per Student
C+ Average

Freedom High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,374 Students
👨‍🏫
18.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,502 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

Burke Middle College

📚 11 – 12 High School
👥
131 Students
👨‍🏫
43.7:1 Class Size
💰
$12,502 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 1,102 Off-Campus Students
C
Western Piedmont Community College
1,791 students · 3.8 mi
C+
McDowell Technical Community College
1,203 students · 14.1 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,102 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are homes affordable in Morganton, NC?

In Morganton, NC the median home value sits at $261K. Against the broader NC market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

Does Morganton, NC favor landlords or tenants?

NC ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Morganton generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

Is Morganton in NC worth investing in?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Morganton, NC reflects its $261K prices and $1,483/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within NC.

What is the average monthly rent in Morganton, NC?

Rental rates in Morganton, NC average $1,483/mo. Tenant demand and $261K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

Is Morganton, NC a good market for FHA house hackers?

For house hackers, Morganton, NC is a challenging. The $1,483/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $261K property.

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How 28655 ranks in Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC

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