Real Estate Investing in Piedmont, Alabama (36272)

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

Calhoun County • Population: 12,996 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 36272 (Piedmont, 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: 19.3% 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 Piedmont, AL (36272)?

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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 $156,867
Avg Monthly Rent $810
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $49,474
% Renters 22.2%

Market Analysis: 36272 Piedmont

Investors eyeing 36272 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $157K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 36272 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Within AL, ZIP 36272 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Calhoun County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and substantial enough to shape underwriting.

Demographically, 36272 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 right play in 36272 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Piedmont:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $810/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
Anniston-Oxford, AL Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.7%
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 Anniston-Oxford, AL metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 36272

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+10.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$58,718/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $117,436 $900 5.5% +10.7% $58,718
3BR $190,474 $1,170 4.4% +8.2% $63,491
4BR $264,967 $1,290 3.5% +8.4% $66,242

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$166K$151K$136K$122K$107K$92KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 36272 Compare?

Metric 36272 Piedmont Anniston-Oxford, AL Alabama
Home Value $156,867 $156,867 N/A $231,003
5-Year CAGR 2.9% 2.9% N/A 5.6%
Avg Rent $810 $810 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.0% 4.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 36272? 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 36272 (Piedmont, AL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.0%
Fair
5yr Growth
+2.9%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $156,867
Monthly Rent $810
Price-to-Rent 16.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.2%
Cap Rate 4.0%
5-Year IRR 7.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.9% ▲
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: 4.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.0%). 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
19.3%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.9%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 36272

Population: 12,996

💰 Median Household Income
$49,474
This area
$49,474
State
$56,875
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
22.2%
This area
22.2%
State
24.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.2%
This area
3.2%
State
-24.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
13.8%
This area
13.8%
State
-11.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
44.0 years
This area
44.0 years
State
-0.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
19.3%
This area
19.3%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 91.0%
Black/African American 5.2%
Other/Mixed 3.8%
Hispanic/Latino 1.9%
👶 Under 18
19.8%
This area
19.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.9%
This area
16.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
14.5%
This area
14.5%
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 36272

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

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Piedmont High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
320 Students
👨‍🏫
16.4:1 Class Size
💰
$13,692 Per Student
B Good

Piedmont Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
236 Students
👨‍🏫
15.3:1 Class Size
💰
$13,692 Per Student
B Good

Piedmont Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
523 Students
👨‍🏫
18.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,692 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

1 Nearby 1,015 Off-Campus Students
C+
Jacksonville State University
9,672 students · 12.5 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,015 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What price range are homes in Piedmont, AL?

The median home value in Piedmont, AL is roughly $157K. That puts it reasonable relative to the AL statewide average.

How quickly do rentals get leased in Piedmont, AL?

Vacancy risk in Piedmont, AL is elevated. That supports reliable cash flow for typical rental holds.

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

Piedmont, AL registers an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $157K and average rents around $810/mo. That combination puts it in the notable tier for investor interest.

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

AL ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Piedmont generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Piedmont, AL?

For house hackers, Piedmont, AL is a challenging. The $810/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $157K property.

You know 36272 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 36272 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 36272 ranks in Anniston-Oxford, AL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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