Real Estate Investing in Centreville, Alabama (35042)

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

Bibb County • Population: 5,681 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 35042 (Centreville, AL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (53/100)

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: 19.1% 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 Centreville, AL (35042)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $223,158
Avg Monthly Rent $918
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $52,209
% Renters 21.3%

Market Analysis: 35042 Centreville

Investors eyeing 35042 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $223K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 35042 stands at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Statewide comparisons place 35042 among AL's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

The 35042 ZIP's population of 5,681 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that records the need for careful underwriting.

New investors are better served looking at Centreville's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 35042. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Centreville:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $918/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Birmingham-Hoover, AL Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
49 days
Average time to sell
Average
8.3%
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 Birmingham-Hoover, AL metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$231K$208K$184K$160K$137K$113KNov 2011Mar 2019Jul 2026

📊 How Does 35042 Compare?

Metric 35042 Centreville Birmingham-Hoover, AL Alabama
Home Value $223,158 $227,741 N/A $231,003
5-Year CAGR 3.2% 3.2% N/A 5.6%
Avg Rent $918 $927 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.2% 3.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 35042? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 35042 (Centreville, AL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.2%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $223,158
Monthly Rent $918
Price-to-Rent 20.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.9%
Cap Rate 3.2%
5-Year IRR 6.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.2% ▲
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: 3.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.2%). 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
19.1%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 35042

Population: 5,681

💰 Median Household Income
$52,209
This area
$52,209
State
$56,875
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
21.3%
This area
21.3%
State
24.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.0%
This area
3.0%
State
-24.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
13.4%
This area
13.4%
State
-11.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
46.8 years
This area
46.8 years
State
-0.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
19.1%
This area
19.1%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 77.8%
Black/African American 20.2%
Other/Mixed 1.3%
Asian 0.7%
Hispanic/Latino 0.4%
👶 Under 18
14.7%
This area
14.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
24.2%
This area
24.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.6%
This area
6.6%
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 35042

B+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
17.7:1 Avg Class Size
$17,197 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Bibb County High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
453 Students
👨‍🏫
16.8:1 Class Size
💰
$17,197 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Centreville Middle School

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
429 Students
👨‍🏫
18.7:1 Class Size
💰
$17,197 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 is the median home value in Centreville, AL?

Expect median prices around $223K in Centreville, AL. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been stable.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Centreville, AL?

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

Are renters plentiful in Centreville, AL?

Working renters make up the core of the Centreville, AL tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

Is Centreville, AL better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

Centreville, AL investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($223K prices, $918/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

What does house hacking look like in Centreville, AL?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Centreville, AL reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

You know 35042 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 35042 ranks in Birmingham-Hoover, AL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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