Real Estate Investing in Darien, Georgia (31305)

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

McIntosh County • Population: 5,119 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 31305 (Darien, GA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (45/100)

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: 16.1% 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 Darien, GA (31305)?

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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 $275,829
Avg Monthly Rent $1,026
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $42,799
% Renters 24.4%

Market Analysis: 31305 Darien

ZIP 31305 in Darien, GA carries a substantial set of headwinds. Home values near $276K and rents of $1,026/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

The 31305 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, 31305 sits on the difficult end of the GA spectrum. The a credible choice for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Resident income in 31305 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. robust returns are possible in 31305, 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 Darien:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 61/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.4× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,026/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
Brunswick, GA Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
81 days
Average time to sell
Slow
5.9%
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 Brunswick, GA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 31305

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+11.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$92,381/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $245,631 $1,140 3.3% +11.3% $122,816
3BR $296,741 $1,420 3.4% +9.8% $98,914
4BR $369,524 $1,750 3.4% +8.8% $92,381

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$297K$256K$215K$174K$134K$93KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 31305 Compare?

Metric 31305 Darien Brunswick, GA Georgia
Home Value $275,829 $275,829 N/A $329,538
5-Year CAGR 6.1% 6.1% N/A 7.8%
Avg Rent $1,026 $1,026 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.9% 2.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 31305? 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 →
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 31305 (Darien, GA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.1%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Brunswick, GA metro

4/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
74%
Days Pending
2/2
81 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $275,829
Monthly Rent $1,026
Price-to-Rent 22.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.5%
Cap Rate 2.9%
5-Year IRR 9.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

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

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.9%). 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
16.1%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.1%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 31305

Population: 5,119

💰 Median Household Income
$42,799
This area
$42,799
State
$64,001
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
24.4%
This area
24.4%
State
29.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.0%
This area
2.0%
State
-18.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
14.9%
This area
14.9%
State
-3.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
53.1 years
This area
53.1 years
State
10.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
16.1%
This area
16.1%
State
15.5%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 58.2%
Black/African American 35.3%
Other/Mixed 6.6%
Hispanic/Latino 4.2%
👶 Under 18
14.8%
This area
14.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
30.8%
This area
30.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.5%
This area
11.5%
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 31305

A Avg School Grade
3 Schools
13.1:1 Avg Class Size
$16,796 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

McIntosh County Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
271 Students
👨‍🏫
10.0:1 Class Size
💰
$16,796 Per Student
A Very Good

McIntosh Academy

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
380 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$16,796 Per Student
A Very Good

Todd Grant Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
674 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$16,796 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of investing works in Darien, GA?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Darien, GA best. The market produces consistent results for that approach at the $276K price point.

Is Darien, GA landlord-friendly?

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

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Darien, GA?

Expect elevated vacancy in Darien, GA. Rents at $1,026/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

Does house hacking make sense in Darien, GA?

House hacking in Darien, GA is reasonable to execute. Prices around $276K and rents of $1,026/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

What kind of market is Darien, GA for investors?

Our data puts Darien, GA at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $276K and rents around $1,026/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

You know 31305 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 31305 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 31305 ranks in Brunswick, GA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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