Real Estate Investing in Hillsboro, Alabama (35643)

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

Lawrence • Population: 3,088 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 35643 (Hillsboro, AL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (59/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 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
  • Elevated vacancy: 10.9% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Hillsboro, AL (35643)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
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 $208,300
Avg Monthly Rent $792
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $50,966
% Renters 11.2%

Market Analysis: 35643 Hillsboro

On the rental side, ZIP 35643 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $208K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

For an experienced owner, 35643 can be a a credible choice for hunting ground — but the discount at $208K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

ZIP 35643's metrics run below Lawrence's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Resident income in 35643 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 35643 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Hillsboro:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 63/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $792/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.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$225K$196K$167K$137K$108K$79KJan 2012May 2019Jul 2026

📊 How Does 35643 Compare?

Metric 35643 Hillsboro Alabama
Home Value $208,300 $208,300 $231,003
5-Year CAGR 3.0% 3.0% 5.6%
Avg Rent $792 $792 -
Cap Rate 3.0% 3.0% -
💡 Why Invest in 35643? 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 →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 35643 (Hillsboro, AL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 35643 (Hillsboro, AL)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.0%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $208,300
Monthly Rent $792
Price-to-Rent 21.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.6%
Cap Rate 3.0%
5-Year IRR 6.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.0%). 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
10.9%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 35643

Population: 3,088

💰 Median Household Income
$50,966
This area
$50,966
State
$56,875
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
11.2%
This area
11.2%
State
24.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.6%
This area
0.6%
State
-24.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
11.9%
This area
11.9%
State
-11.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.8 years
This area
40.8 years
State
-0.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.9%
This area
10.9%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 71.4%
Black/African American 20.0%
Other/Mixed 8.5%
Hispanic/Latino 3.2%
👶 Under 18
20.8%
This area
20.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.1%
This area
15.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
12.6%
This area
12.6%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby 1,109 Off-Campus Students
C
John C Calhoun State Community College
8,736 students · 14.7 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,109 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Hillsboro, AL a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

Our data puts Hillsboro, AL at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $208K and rents around $792/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

What approach is best for Hillsboro, AL real estate?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Hillsboro, AL. The numbers - $208K homes against $792/mo rents - support that play.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Hillsboro, AL?

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

What is the average home sale price in Hillsboro, AL?

Expect median prices around $208K in Hillsboro, AL. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been measured.

What are rental rates like in Hillsboro, AL?

Average rent in Hillsboro, AL is approximately $792/mo per month. Against $208K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

You know 35643 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 35643 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.

Compare Plans
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 35643 (Hillsboro)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 35643 (Hillsboro, AL).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.