Real Estate Investing in Roanoke, Alabama (36274)

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

Randolph County • Population: 9,827 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 36274 (Roanoke, 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: 20.6% 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 Roanoke, AL (36274)?

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

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $147,845
Avg Monthly Rent $810
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $44,100
% Renters 23.7%

Market Analysis: 36274 Roanoke

ZIP 36274 inside Randolph County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $148K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

For an experienced owner, 36274 can be a a viable market for hunting ground — but the discount at $148K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Statewide comparisons place 36274 among AL's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

The demographic picture in 36274 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Roanoke averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

seems to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Roanoke:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 64/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.9%)
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
LaGrange, GA-AL Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
10.4%
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 LaGrange, GA-AL metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$159K$141K$123K$105K$87K$69KJun 2009Jan 2018Jul 2026

📊 How Does 36274 Compare?

Metric 36274 Roanoke LaGrange, GA-AL Alabama
Home Value $147,845 $147,845 N/A $231,003
5-Year CAGR 2.1% 2.1% N/A 5.6%
Avg Rent $810 $810 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.3% 4.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 36274? 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 36274 (Roanoke, AL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 36274 (Roanoke, AL)?

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

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.3%
Fair
5yr Growth
+2.1%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $147,845
Monthly Rent $810
Price-to-Rent 15.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.6%
Cap Rate 4.3%
5-Year IRR 6.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.3%). 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
20.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 36274

Population: 9,827

💰 Median Household Income
$44,100
This area
$44,100
State
$56,875
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
23.7%
This area
23.7%
State
24.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.3%
This area
1.3%
State
-24.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
15.5%
This area
15.5%
State
-11.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
44.4 years
This area
44.4 years
State
-0.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
20.6%
This area
20.6%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 67.7%
Black/African American 29.5%
Other/Mixed 2.9%
Hispanic/Latino 0.9%
👶 Under 18
19.9%
This area
19.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
24.1%
This area
24.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.4%
This area
11.4%
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 36274

B Avg School Grade
4 Schools
16.0:1 Avg Class Size
$12,284 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Handley High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
424 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,801 Per Student
B Good

Knight Enloe Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 03 Elementary
👥
506 Students
👨‍🏫
17.5:1 Class Size
💰
$11,801 Per Student
B Good

Rock Mills Junior High School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
164 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,731 Per Student
B Good

Handley Middle School

📚 04 – 08 School
👥
497 Students
👨‍🏫
18.1:1 Class Size
💰
$11,801 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 668 Off-Campus Students
C
Southern Union State Community College
4,673 students · 12.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 668 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tight is the rental market in Roanoke, AL?

Roanoke, AL vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

Where do rents currently stand in Roanoke, AL?

Rents in Roanoke, AL run near $810/mo. Compared with median home prices of $148K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

Where do home prices stand in Roanoke, AL?

In Roanoke, AL the median home value sits at $148K. Against the broader AL market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

How strict are landlord regulations in Roanoke, AL?

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

How does Roanoke, AL stack up for property investment?

Roanoke, AL rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $148K and rents near $810/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

You know 36274 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 36274 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

How 36274 ranks in LaGrange, GA-AL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 36274 (Roanoke)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 36274 (Roanoke, AL).

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