Real Estate Investing in Hawthorne, Florida (32640)

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

Putnam County • Population: 10,780 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 32640 (Hawthorne, FL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (57/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 18.7% 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 Hawthorne, FL (32640)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $232,207
Avg Monthly Rent $1,287
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $54,162
% Renters 15.8%

Market Analysis: 32640 Hawthorne

ZIP 32640 in Hawthorne, FL carries a sturdy set of headwinds. Home values near $232K and rents of $1,287/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

The 32640 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

The gap between 32640 and stronger Hawthorne ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Who lives in 32640 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Strategically, 32640 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Hawthorne:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.3× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,287/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
Palatka, FL Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.0%
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 Palatka, FL metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 32640

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
6.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+8.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$78,516/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $157,032 $1,430 6.6% +8.0% $78,516
3BR $256,521 $1,820 5.1% +8.2% $85,507
4BR $344,325 $1,890 4.0% +8.1% $86,081

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$254K$220K$186K$152K$119K$85KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 32640 Compare?

Metric 32640 Hawthorne Palatka, FL Florida
Home Value $232,207 $232,207 N/A $374,697
5-Year CAGR 3.5% 3.5% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $1,287 $1,287 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.3% 4.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 32640? 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 32640 (Hawthorne, FL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.3%
Fair
5yr Growth
+3.5%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Palatka, FL metro

3/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
3/3
80%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $232,207
Monthly Rent $1,287
Price-to-Rent 15.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.7%
Cap Rate 4.3%
5-Year IRR 7.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.2% ▼
3-Year CAGR +0.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.3%). 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
18.7%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 32640

Population: 10,780

💰 Median Household Income
$54,162
This area
$54,162
State
$70,737
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
15.8%
This area
15.8%
State
29.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.8%
This area
4.8%
State
-18.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
14.5%
This area
14.5%
State
4.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
50.3 years
This area
50.3 years
State
16.0 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
18.7%
This area
18.7%
State
17.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 70.6%
Black/African American 23.3%
Other/Mixed 5.1%
Hispanic/Latino 2.5%
Asian 1.0%
👶 Under 18
19.1%
This area
19.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
23.7%
This area
23.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
15.2%
This area
15.2%
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 32640

B Avg School Grade
3 Schools
20.2:1 Avg Class Size
$12,589 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

CHESTER SHELL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
323 Students
👨‍🏫
12.7:1 Class Size
💰
$12,950 Per Student
B Good

OCHWILLA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
399 Students
👨‍🏫
16.6:1 Class Size
💰
$11,866 Per Student
C Below Average

HAWTHORNE MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
492 Students
👨‍🏫
31.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,950 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 are rental rates like in Hawthorne, FL?

Rental rates in Hawthorne, FL average $1,287/mo. Tenant demand and $232K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

How do experienced investors play Hawthorne, FL?

The best-fit strategy in Hawthorne, FL is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

Is Hawthorne, FL a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

Investors tracking Hawthorne, FL will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $232K median home values and $1,287/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting stable returns.

How quickly do rentals get leased in Hawthorne, FL?

Hawthorne, FL carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect steady absorption at market rents of $1,287/mo.

Can I house hack in Hawthorne, FL?

Hawthorne, FL is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $232K price point reasonable to enter.

You know 32640 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 32640 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 32640 ranks in Palatka, FL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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