Real Estate Investing in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia (30742)

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

Catoosa County • Population: 7,749 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 30742 (Fort Oglethorpe, GA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (52/100)

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

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

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: 12.8% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Fort Oglethorpe, GA (30742)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $260,894
Avg Monthly Rent $1,166
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $44,294
% Renters 62.3%

Market Analysis: 30742 Fort Oglethorpe

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Fort Oglethorpe's 30742 ZIP records signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $261K pricing implies.

For an experienced owner, 30742 can be a a solid fit for hunting ground — but the discount at $261K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

In the broader GA picture, 30742 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

A substantial renter share of 62% in 30742 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

The 30742 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Fort Oglethorpe:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.9× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,166/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
Chattanooga, TN-GA Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
68 days
Average time to sell
Slow
11.4%
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 Chattanooga, TN-GA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 30742

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+9.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$82,449/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $207,541 $1,250 4.3% $103,771
3BR $266,692 $1,560 4.2% +9.8% $88,897
4BR $329,797 $1,670 3.6% +9.1% $82,449

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$277K$238K$199K$161K$122K$83KMay 2006Jun 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,289$1,255$1,222$1,188$1,154$1,121Feb 2025Nov 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 30742 Compare?

Metric 30742 Fort Oglethorpe Chattanooga, TN-GA Georgia
Home Value $260,894 $260,894 N/A $329,538
5-Year CAGR 5.8% 5.8% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,166 $1,166 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.5% 3.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 30742? Click to expand

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

62% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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 30742 (Fort Oglethorpe, GA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.8%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $260,894
Monthly Rent $1,166
Price-to-Rent 18.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.4%
Cap Rate 3.5%
5-Year IRR 9.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -7.1% ▼
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.5%). 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
12.8%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 30742

Population: 7,749

💰 Median Household Income
$44,294
This area
$44,294
State
$64,001
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
62.3%
This area
62.3%
State
29.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.3%
This area
3.3%
State
-18.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
17.0%
This area
17.0%
State
-3.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.8 years
This area
40.8 years
State
10.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
12.8%
This area
12.8%
State
15.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 83.8%
Other/Mixed 5.6%
Asian 5.5%
Black/African American 5.2%
Hispanic/Latino 1.2%
👶 Under 18
19.7%
This area
19.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
25.3%
This area
25.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.3%
This area
8.3%
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 30742

A Avg School Grade
3 Schools
12.9:1 Avg Class Size
$15,325 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Battlefield Elementary School

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
421 Students
👨‍🏫
12.9:1 Class Size
💰
$15,325 Per Student
A Very Good

Battlefield Primary

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
468 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,325 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
988 Students
👨‍🏫
12.1:1 Class Size
💰
$15,325 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

Lakeview Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 416 Cross St, Rossville
👥
635 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,325 Per Student
A Very Good

Rossville Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1250 Wilson Rd, Rossville
👥
466 Students
👨‍🏫
11.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,671 Per Student
A Very Good

Rossville Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 316 Bull Dog Trl, Rossville
👥
451 Students
👨‍🏫
9.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,671 Per Student
A Very Good

West Side Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 72 Braves Ln, Rossville
👥
492 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,325 Per Student
A Very Good

Cloud Springs Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 163 Fernwood Dr, Rossville
👥
283 Students
👨‍🏫
9.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,325 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

8 Nearby 2,870 Off-Campus Students
D
Academy of Allied Health Careers
196 students · 5.3 mi
D
Richmont Graduate University
351 students · 7.2 mi
C+
Covenant College
928 students · 7.7 mi
D
Miller-Motte College-Chattanooga
3,667 students · 7.7 mi
C+
The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga
11,380 students · 8.3 mi
C
Chattanooga State Community College
6,601 students · 11.4 mi
C+
Southern Adventist University
3,154 students · 13.4 mi
C
Chattanooga College Medical Dental and & Technical Careers
311 students · 13.7 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,870 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are eviction rules reasonable in Fort Oglethorpe, GA?

The landlord environment in Fort Oglethorpe, GA is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

Are tenants stable in Fort Oglethorpe, GA?

The renter base in Fort Oglethorpe, GA is reasonable for the $1,166/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields measured tenants.

How do experienced investors play Fort Oglethorpe, GA?

Most investors in Fort Oglethorpe, GA run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 3.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

Is Fort Oglethorpe, GA suited for a house hack?

Fort Oglethorpe, GA offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $1,166/mo rent level.

Are homes affordable in Fort Oglethorpe, GA?

Homes in Fort Oglethorpe, GA typically sell near $261K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which consistent long-term demand.

You know 30742 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 30742 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 30742 ranks in Chattanooga, TN-GA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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