Real Estate Investing in Florence, Alabama (35630)

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

Lauderdale County • Population: 33,697 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 35630 (Florence, AL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (67/100)

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: 15.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Florence, AL (35630)?

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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 $179,132
Avg Monthly Rent $1,198
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $41,174
% Renters 56.9%

Market Analysis: 35630 Florence

This part of Lauderdale County is not an easy win. The 35630 ZIP records softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

For an experienced owner, 35630 can be a worth a close look for hunting ground — but the discount at $179K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Turning to rents, 35630 offers a low basis, the region around Florence has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Employment concentration in 35630 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Strategy in 35630 is an operator game, not a passive one. Meanwhile, entry prices of $179K 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 Florence:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 71/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,198/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
Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
91 days
Average time to sell
Slow
9.8%
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 Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 35630

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
6.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+9.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$61,918/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $123,836 $1,050 6.1% +9.7% $61,918
3BR $190,962 $1,300 4.9% +9.0% $63,654
4BR $293,045 $1,480 3.6% +8.5% $73,261
5BR $403,427 +8.1% $80,685

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$187K$164K$141K$117K$94K$71KMar 2010May 2018Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,329$1,259$1,189$1,119$1,049$979Jul 2023Jan 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 35630 Compare?

Metric 35630 Florence Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL Alabama
Home Value $179,132 $141,377 N/A $231,003
5-Year CAGR 4.7% 5.8% N/A 5.6%
Avg Rent $1,198 $1,045 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.2% 4.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 35630? Click to expand

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

57% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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 35630 (Florence, AL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.2%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.7%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $179,132
Monthly Rent $1,198
Price-to-Rent 12.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.0%
Cap Rate 5.2%
5-Year IRR 9.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +6.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲
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
15.7%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 35630

Population: 33,697

💰 Median Household Income
$41,174
This area
$41,174
State
$56,875
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
56.9%
This area
56.9%
State
24.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.5%
This area
3.5%
State
-24.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
24.3%
This area
24.3%
State
-11.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
35.1 years
This area
35.1 years
State
-0.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.7%
This area
15.7%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 71.6%
Black/African American 20.3%
Other/Mixed 7.2%
Hispanic/Latino 3.6%
Asian 0.8%
👶 Under 18
18.9%
This area
18.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.0%
This area
18.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
18.8%
This area
18.8%
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 35630

B Avg School Grade
8 Schools
17.2:1 Avg Class Size
$14,280 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Harlan Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
389 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,507 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Florence Middle School

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
649 Students
👨‍🏫
17.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,507 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Hibbett School

📚 05 – 06 School
👥
576 Students
👨‍🏫
17.3:1 Class Size
💰
$14,507 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Weeden Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
422 Students
👨‍🏫
16.6:1 Class Size
💰
$14,507 Per Student
B Good

Florence Freshman Center

📚 Grade 09 High School
👥
381 Students
👨‍🏫
20.3:1 Class Size
💰
$14,507 Per Student
B Good

Florence High School

📚 10 – 12 High School
👥
1,074 Students
👨‍🏫
17.6:1 Class Size
💰
$14,507 Per Student
B Good

Rogers Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
585 Students
👨‍🏫
18.1:1 Class Size
💰
$12,691 Per Student
C Below Average

Florence Learning Center

📚 06 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$14,507 Per Student

Nearby Schools (1 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

B Good

Kilby Laboratory School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 611 N Pine St, Florence
👥
201 Students
💰
$14,507 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

3 Nearby 1,222 Off-Campus Students
C+
University of North Alabama
10,059 students · 1.7 mi
C
Heritage Christian University
158 students · 2.1 mi
C
Northwest Shoals Community College
4,136 students · 6.0 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,222 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does house hacking look like in Florence, AL?

Florence, AL offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $1,198/mo rent level.

How strong is the working-renter base in Florence, AL?

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

What is it like being a landlord in Florence, AL?

Rental owners in Florence, AL deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

What monthly rent should investors expect in Florence, AL?

Expect rents around $1,198/mo per month in Florence, AL. With home values at $179K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

Is vacancy a concern in Florence, AL?

Florence, AL sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader AL rental market.

You know 35630 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 35630 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 35630 ranks in Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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