Real Estate Investing in Irondale, Alabama (35210)

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

Jefferson County • Population: 13,878 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 35210 (Irondale, AL)? 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: 13.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Irondale, AL (35210)?

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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 $277,594
Avg Monthly Rent $1,831
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $70,902
% Renters 28.0%

Market Analysis: 35210 Irondale

Investors eyeing 35210 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $278K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

The investment case in 35210 is sturdy only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $278K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

In the broader AL picture, 35210 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Demographically, 35210 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.

New investors are better served looking at Irondale's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 35210. 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 Irondale:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 67/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,831/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
🏠

Property Strategy for 35210

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$77,822/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $211,621 $1,230 4.2% +8.2% $105,810
3BR $261,063 $1,540 4.2% +5.9% $87,021
4BR $311,289 $1,750 4.0% +5.3% $77,822
5BR $454,987 +5.6% $90,997

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$292K$257K$222K$187K$152K$117KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,017$1,933$1,850$1,767$1,684$1,601Oct 2023Mar 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 35210 Compare?

Metric 35210 Irondale Birmingham-Hoover, AL Alabama
Home Value $277,594 $277,594 N/A $231,003
5-Year CAGR 3.4% 3.4% N/A 5.6%
Avg Rent $1,831 $1,831 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.2% 5.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 35210? 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 35210 (Irondale, AL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Jefferson County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Signal Property Management serves Adamsville, Birmingham, Calera, East Lake, and Ensley, offering services for tenants and owners including rent payment and repair requests. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.2%
Fair
5yr Growth
+3.4%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $277,594
Monthly Rent $1,831
Price-to-Rent 12.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.9%
Cap Rate 5.2%
5-Year IRR 8.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -4.1% ▼
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.2%). 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
13.7%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 35210

Population: 13,878

💰 Median Household Income
$70,902
This area
$70,902
State
$56,875
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
28.0%
This area
28.0%
State
24.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.2%
This area
4.2%
State
-24.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
41.6%
This area
41.6%
State
-11.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
45.5 years
This area
45.5 years
State
-0.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
13.7%
This area
13.7%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 65.4%
Black/African American 28.6%
Other/Mixed 5.6%
Hispanic/Latino 4.5%
Asian 0.4%
👶 Under 18
14.0%
This area
14.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.7%
This area
21.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.8%
This area
6.8%
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 35210

B Avg School Grade
5 Schools
16.6:1 Avg Class Size
$13,692 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

WE Putnam Middle SchoolMagnet

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
201 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,867 Per Student
B Good

Grantswood Community School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
396 Students
👨‍🏫
16.3:1 Class Size
💰
$13,148 Per Student
B Good

Irondale Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
471 Students
👨‍🏫
17.4:1 Class Size
💰
$13,148 Per Student
B Good

Irondale Community School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
458 Students
👨‍🏫
19.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,148 Per Student
B Good

Shades Valley High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,122 Students
👨‍🏫
16.9:1 Class Size
💰
$13,148 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

8 Nearby 2,604 Off-Campus Students
C
Jefferson State Community College
8,839 students · 7.9 mi
C+
University of Alabama at Birmingham
21,160 students · 8.1 mi
D
Strayer University-Alabama
1,596 students · 8.3 mi
C+
Samford University
5,791 students · 9.1 mi
C+
Birmingham-Southern College
731 students · 10.8 mi
D
Herzing University-Birmingham
448 students · 10.9 mi
D
Fortis Institute-Birmingham
339 students · 13.3 mi
C
Paul Mitchell the School-Birmingham
128 students · 13.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,604 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are rents high in Irondale, AL?

Investors in Irondale, AL typically see rents near $1,831/mo per month against $278K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

What are home prices like in Irondale, AL?

Expect median prices around $278K in Irondale, AL. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been steady.

What kind of market is Irondale, AL for investors?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Irondale, AL ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $278K and rents of $1,831/mo drive the underlying numbers.

What approach is best for Irondale, AL real estate?

In Irondale, AL the solid play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $278K prices and $1,831/mo rents suits that approach.

What are vacancy rates like in Irondale, AL?

Expect elevated vacancy in Irondale, AL. Rents at $1,831/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

You know 35210 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 35210 ranks in Birmingham-Hoover, AL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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