Real Estate Investing in Clayton, Alabama (36016)

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

Barbour County • Population: 4,357 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 36016 (Clayton, AL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (65/100)

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: 26.4% 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 Clayton, AL (36016)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $123,372
Avg Monthly Rent $729
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $57,734
% Renters 29.4%

Market Analysis: 36016 Clayton

Stepping back, ZIP 36016 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $123K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Meanwhile, the numbers look inviting — $123K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 36016 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Regionally, 36016 sits on the difficult end of the AL spectrum. The an appealing option for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Employment concentration in 36016 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 36016 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 Clayton:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 67/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+14.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $729/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
Eufaula, AL-GA Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
5.4%
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 Eufaula, AL-GA metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$130K$119K$108K$98K$87K$76KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 36016 Compare?

Metric 36016 Clayton Eufaula, AL-GA Alabama
Home Value $123,372 $123,372 N/A $231,003
5-Year CAGR 1.9% 1.9% N/A 5.6%
Avg Rent $729 $729 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.6% 4.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 36016? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 36016 (Clayton, AL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.6%
Fair
5yr Growth
+1.9%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $123,372
Monthly Rent $729
Price-to-Rent 14.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.1%
Cap Rate 4.6%
5-Year IRR 6.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +14.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR -0.7% ▼
5-Year CAGR +1.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.6%). 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
26.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.9%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 36016

Population: 4,357

💰 Median Household Income
$57,734
This area
$57,734
State
$56,875
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
29.4%
This area
29.4%
State
24.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.9%
This area
0.9%
State
-24.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
5.8%
This area
5.8%
State
-11.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.3 years
This area
40.3 years
State
-0.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
26.4%
This area
26.4%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 52.4%
White 43.2%
Other/Mixed 3.2%
Hispanic/Latino 1.3%
Asian 1.2%
👶 Under 18
17.9%
This area
17.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.6%
This area
17.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.0%
This area
7.0%
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 36016

B+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
16.8:1 Avg Class Size
$17,172 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Barbour County High School

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
312 Students
👨‍🏫
18.4:1 Class Size
💰
$17,172 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Barbour County Primary School

📚 Pre-K – 01 Elementary
👥
138 Students
👨‍🏫
15.3:1 Class Size
💰
$17,172 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

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

Tenant demand in Clayton, AL is solid. The local workforce $729/mo rents across most rental classes.

How strong is Clayton, AL for real estate investors?

Clayton, AL scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $123K and rents near $729/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Clayton, AL?

Occupancy in Clayton, AL runs consistent with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $729/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

Are landlord laws favorable in Clayton, AL?

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

What are home prices like in Clayton, AL?

Median home price in Clayton, AL is near $123K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been stable and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

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How 36016 ranks in Eufaula, AL-GA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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