Real Estate Investing in Cullman, Alabama (35055)

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

Cullman County • Population: 23,231 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 35055 (Cullman, AL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (70/100)

Solid choice — stable market with a reasonable entry point and good rental backup if you ever need to move.

📈 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
  • Elevated vacancy: 10.7% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Cullman, AL (35055)?

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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 $251,575
Avg Monthly Rent $1,450
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $56,769
% Renters 34.6%

Market Analysis: 35055 Cullman

The 35055 ZIP in Cullman, AL is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $252K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 35055 records the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

In the broader AL picture, 35055 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Demographically, 35055 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.

Strategy in 35055 is an operator game, not a passive one. Stepping back, entry prices of $252K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 Cullman:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 67/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,450/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
Cullman, AL 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 Cullman, AL metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 35055

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$78,930/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $157,861 $910 4.2% +8.8% $78,930
3BR $244,312 $1,180 3.5% +7.9% $81,437
4BR $320,097 $1,430 3.2% +6.8% $80,024

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$266K$235K$203K$171K$140K$108KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,541$1,517$1,494$1,471$1,448$1,425Jul 2025Jan 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 35055 Compare?

Metric 35055 Cullman Cullman, AL Alabama
Home Value $251,575 $267,899 N/A $231,003
5-Year CAGR 4.9% 4.9% N/A 5.6%
Avg Rent $1,450 $1,273 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.5% 3.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 35055? 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 35055 (Cullman, AL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.5%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.9%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Cullman, AL metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
67%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $251,575
Monthly Rent $1,450
Price-to-Rent 14.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.9%
Cap Rate 4.5%
5-Year IRR 9.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -2.4% ▼
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.5%). 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
10.7%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 35055

Population: 23,231

💰 Median Household Income
$56,769
This area
$56,769
State
$56,875
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
34.6%
This area
34.6%
State
24.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.2%
This area
1.2%
State
-24.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
27.6%
This area
27.6%
State
-11.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
42.3 years
This area
42.3 years
State
-0.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.7%
This area
10.7%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 91.8%
Other/Mixed 6.5%
Hispanic/Latino 3.8%
Black/African American 1.3%
Asian 0.5%
👶 Under 18
21.3%
This area
21.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.1%
This area
19.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.1%
This area
9.1%
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 35055

B Avg School Grade
8 Schools
16.6:1 Avg Class Size
$15,876 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Cullman City Primary School

📚 Pre-K – 01 Elementary
👥
530 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$16,175 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Cullman Middle School

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
488 Students
👨‍🏫
15.3:1 Class Size
💰
$16,175 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Cullman High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
986 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$16,175 Per Student
B Good

East Elementary School

📚 02 – 06 School
👥
603 Students
👨‍🏫
21.8:1 Class Size
💰
$16,175 Per Student
B Good

West Elementary School

📚 02 – 06 School
👥
592 Students
👨‍🏫
19.0:1 Class Size
💰
$16,175 Per Student
B Good

Welti Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
194 Students
👨‍🏫
16.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,781 Per Student
C+ Average

Cullman City Career Tech

📚 07 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$16,175 Per Student
C Below Average

Cullman Community Comprehensive Learning Center

📚 01 – 12 K-12 Limited Data
💰
$16,175 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 1,108 Off-Campus Students
C+
George C Wallace State Community College-Hanceville
6,023 students · 5.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,108 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What real estate strategy is ideal for Cullman, AL?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Cullman, AL. With home values at $252K and rents near $1,450/mo, other strategies can work but produce consistent rather than outsized returns.

Is Cullman, AL good for house hacking?

House hacking in Cullman, AL is reasonable to execute. Prices around $252K and rents of $1,450/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

What are rental rates like in Cullman, AL?

Rent in Cullman, AL is around $1,450/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $252K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

What are home prices like in Cullman, AL?

Expect median prices around $252K in Cullman, AL. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been measured.

How quickly do rentals get leased in Cullman, AL?

Cullman, AL vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

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How 35055 ranks in Cullman, AL

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