Real Estate Investing in Russellville, Alabama (35653)

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

Franklin County • Population: 11,005 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 35653 (Russellville, AL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (60/100)

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
  • High vacancy: 21.1% 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 Russellville, AL (35653)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $174,274
Avg Monthly Rent $792
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $52,648
% Renters 27.6%

Market Analysis: 35653 Russellville

The 35653 ZIP in Russellville, AL is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $174K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

For an experienced owner, 35653 can be a worth a close look for hunting ground — but the discount at $174K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Nearby ZIPs in Russellville have seen price recovery that 35653 has not matched. Franklin County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Demographically, 35653 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.

The 35653 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Russellville:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 76/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.3× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.1%)
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.
🏠

Property Strategy for 35653

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+10.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$59,825/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
3BR $179,474 $1,080 4.3% +10.8% $59,825
4BR $253,225 $1,280 3.6% +8.6% $63,306

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$185K$165K$145K$125K$105K$85KAug 2014Aug 2020Jul 2026

📊 How Does 35653 Compare?

Metric 35653 Russellville Alabama
Home Value $174,274 $182,898 $231,003
5-Year CAGR 5.5% 5.6% 5.6%
Avg Rent $792 $792 -
Cap Rate 3.5% 3.4% -
💡 Why Invest in 35653? 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 35653 (Russellville, AL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.5%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $174,274
Monthly Rent $792
Price-to-Rent 18.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.5%
Cap Rate 3.5%
5-Year IRR 9.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.1% ▼
3-Year CAGR +1.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.5%). 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
21.1%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 35653

Population: 11,005

💰 Median Household Income
$52,648
This area
$52,648
State
$56,875
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
27.6%
This area
27.6%
State
24.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.7%
This area
1.7%
State
-24.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
14.0%
This area
14.0%
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
21.1%
This area
21.1%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 53.4%
Other/Mixed 36.8%
Hispanic/Latino 34.6%
Black/African American 9.7%
👶 Under 18
27.4%
This area
27.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.0%
This area
15.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
13.4%
This area
13.4%
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 35653

B Avg School Grade
7 Schools
16.6:1 Avg Class Size
$15,343 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Belgreen High School

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12
👥
566 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$14,043 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Russellville Elementary School

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
553 Students
👨‍🏫
17.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,863 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Russellville High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
777 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,863 Per Student
B+ Above Average

West Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
687 Students
👨‍🏫
16.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,863 Per Student
B Good

Russellville Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
591 Students
👨‍🏫
18.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,863 Per Student
C+ Average

Franklin County Career Technical Center

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$14,043 Per Student
C+ Average

Russellville City Career Tech Center

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$15,863 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

Are rents high in Russellville, AL?

Russellville, AL rentals go for roughly $792/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $174K acquisition costs.

How tight is the rental market in Russellville, AL?

Russellville, AL carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect even-keeled absorption at market rents of $792/mo.

Is Russellville, AL a good place for real estate investing?

Russellville, AL clocks in at an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $174K and average rents around $792/mo. That combination puts it in the healthy tier for investor interest.

How viable is house hacking in Russellville, AL?

House hacking in Russellville, AL is a challenging. With home values around $174K and rents at $792/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

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

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

You know 35653 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 35653 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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