Real Estate Investing in Key West, Florida (33040)

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

Monroe County • Population: 36,091 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 33040 (Key West, FL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (40/100)

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: 21.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Key West, FL (33040)?

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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 $957,004
Avg Monthly Rent $3,385
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $80,069
% Renters 52.3%

Market Analysis: 33040 Key West

Turning to rents, ZIP 33040 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $957K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Looking more closely, the numbers look inviting — $957K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 33040 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Meanwhile, 33040 offers a low basis, the region around Key West has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Demographically, 33040 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

The right play in 33040 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Key West:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 60/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 12× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $3,385/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
Key West, FL Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
142 days
Average time to sell
Slow
5.0%
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 Key West, FL metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 33040

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
3.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+10.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$358,109/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $597,761 $2,470 3.0% +7.3% $597,761
2BR $815,027 $2,800 2.5% +7.4% $407,513
3BR $1,074,327 $3,690 2.5% +8.2% $358,109
4BR $1,644,097 $3,710 1.6% +10.3% $411,024
5BR $2,780,305 +9.9% $556,061

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$1.1M$953K$836K$719K$602K$485KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$3,738$3,636$3,534$3,432$3,331$3,229Dec 2023Apr 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 33040 Compare?

Metric 33040 Key West Key West, FL Florida
Home Value $957,004 $957,004 N/A $374,697
5-Year CAGR 5.1% 5.1% N/A 7.4%
Avg Rent $3,385 $3,385 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.8% 2.8% - -

Similar ZIPs Within 25 Miles

Compare other nearby markets to see if a neighbor offers a better fit.

💡 Why Invest in 33040? Click to expand

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

52% 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 33040 (Key West, FL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.1%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Key West, FL metro

5/10
Elevated Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
3/3
89%
Days Pending
2/2
142 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $957,004
Monthly Rent $3,385
Price-to-Rent 23.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.2%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 7.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.9% ▼
3-Year CAGR -1.5% ▼
5-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -0.7% ▼
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.8%). 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
21.2%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 33040

Population: 36,091

💰 Median Household Income
$80,069
This area
$80,069
State
$70,737
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
52.3%
This area
52.3%
State
29.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.8%
This area
1.8%
State
-18.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
36.6%
This area
36.6%
State
4.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.8 years
This area
41.8 years
State
16.0 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
21.2%
This area
21.2%
State
17.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 66.9%
Other/Mixed 18.1%
Hispanic/Latino 14.6%
Black/African American 13.4%
Asian 1.6%
👶 Under 18
16.8%
This area
16.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.4%
This area
18.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.2%
This area
7.2%
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 33040

B Avg School Grade
14 Schools
16.4:1 Avg Class Size
$19,152 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

GERALD ADAMS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
665 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$19,152 Per Student
A+ Excellent

POINCIANA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
552 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 Class Size
💰
$19,152 Per Student
A Very Good

HORACE O'BRYANT SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
994 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$19,152 Per Student
A Very Good

SIGSBEE CHARTER SCHOOL

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
545 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$19,152 Per Student
B+ Above Average

KEY WEST HIGH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,302 Students
👨‍🏫
17.6:1 Class Size
💰
$19,152 Per Student
B Good

KEYS CENTER

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
9 Students
👨‍🏫
9.0:1 Class Size
💰
$19,152 Per Student
B Good
👥
9 Students
👨‍🏫
4.5:1 Class Size
💰
$19,152 Per Student
B Good

MAY SANDS MONTESSORI SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 08 School Charter
👥
86 Students
👨‍🏫
17.2:1 Class Size
💰
$19,152 Per Student
B Good

MONROE VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAM

📚 K – 12 K-12 Limited Data
💰
$19,152 Per Student
C+ Average

MONROE VIRTUAL FRANCHISE

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
18 Students
💰
$19,152 Per Student
C+ Average

MONROE VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAM (DISTRICT PROVIDED)

📚 K – 05 Elementary Limited Data
👥
1 Students
💰
$19,152 Per Student
C+ Average

MONROE JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER

📚 08 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$19,152 Per Student
C Below Average

MONROE COUNTY DETENTION CENTER

📚 06 – 12 High School Limited Data
👥
2 Students
💰
$19,152 Per Student
C Below Average

SOMERSET ISLAND PREP

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
89 Students
👨‍🏫
44.5:1 Class Size
💰
$19,152 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

1 Nearby 234 Off-Campus Students
C
The College of the Florida Keys
854 students · 0.3 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do rents currently stand in Key West, FL?

Average rent in Key West, FL is approximately $3,385/mo per month. Against $957K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

How deep is the rental pool in Key West, FL?

The renter base in Key West, FL is reasonable for the $3,385/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields stable tenants.

What investment strategy works best in Key West, FL?

Key West, FL investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($957K prices, $3,385/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

Is Key West, FL good for landlords?

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

Is Key West, FL suited for a house hack?

House hacking in Key West, FL is a challenging. With home values around $957K and rents at $3,385/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

You know 33040 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 33040 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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