Real Estate Investing in Cope, South Carolina (29038)

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

Orangeburg County • Population: 2,452 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 29038 (Cope, SC)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (50/100)

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

📈 For Investors
WEAK
2.0 / 5 (33/100)

Structural challenges here. The numbers may look cheap but operational risk is high. Only for experienced, hands-on investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 12.4% 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 Cope, SC (29038)?

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2.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $170,110
Avg Monthly Rent $810
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $43,236
% Renters 30.5%

Market Analysis: 29038 Cope

ZIP 29038 in Cope, SC carries a healthy set of headwinds. Home values near $170K and rents of $810/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

The investment case in 29038 is significant only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $170K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

ZIP 29038's metrics run below Orangeburg County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

In practical terms, 2,452 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. durable returns are possible in 29038, 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 Cope:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 57/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+12.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $810/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Orangeburg, SC Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.8%
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 Orangeburg, SC metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$179K$161K$143K$125K$108K$90KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 29038 Compare?

Metric 29038 Cope Orangeburg, SC South Carolina
Home Value $170,110 $170,110 N/A $299,690
5-Year CAGR 1.7% 1.7% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $810 $810 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.7% 3.7% - -
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 29038 (Cope, SC). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
3.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+1.7%
Slow

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Orangeburg, SC metro

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

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $170,110
Monthly Rent $810
Price-to-Rent 17.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.7%
Cap Rate 3.7%
5-Year IRR 5.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +12.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +1.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.7%). 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
12.4%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.7%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 29038

Population: 2,452

💰 Median Household Income
$43,236
This area
$43,236
State
$58,636
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
30.5%
This area
30.5%
State
26.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.7%
This area
2.7%
State
-1.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
8.4%
This area
8.4%
State
14.2%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.3 years
This area
37.3 years
State
22.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
12.4%
This area
12.4%
State
17.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 78.3%
Black/African American 14.3%
Other/Mixed 7.3%
Hispanic/Latino 0.4%
👶 Under 18
24.5%
This area
24.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.1%
This area
18.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
15.5%
This area
15.5%
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 29038

B Avg School Grade
2 Schools
12.4:1 Avg Class Size
$16,538 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Carver Edisto Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
442 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$16,538 Per Student
C Below Average

Cope Area Career Center

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
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

6 Nearby 972 Off-Campus Students
C
Denmark Technical College
646 students · 9.3 mi
C+
Voorhees University
515 students · 9.7 mi
D
Barber Tech Academy
67 students · 10.8 mi
C+
Claflin University
1,835 students · 11.2 mi
C
South Carolina State University
3,041 students · 11.4 mi
C
Orangeburg Calhoun Technical College
2,146 students · 14.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 972 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of tenants rent in Cope, SC?

Cope, SC offers a even-keeled renter base at the $810/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

Does Cope, SC make sense for an investment property?

The 2.0/5 investability rating in Cope, SC reflects its $170K prices and $810/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within SC.

Is Cope, SC good for house hacking?

The house hack math a challenging in Cope, SC. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $810/mo rents and $170K home values.

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Cope, SC?

Expect elevated vacancy in Cope, SC. Rents at $810/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

Is Cope, SC landlord-friendly?

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

You know 29038 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 29038 ranks in Orangeburg, SC

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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