Real Estate Investing in Wellington, Alabama (36279)

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

Calhoun • Population: 3,290 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 36279 (Wellington, AL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (63/100)

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
  • Elevated vacancy: 10.7% 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 Wellington, AL (36279)?

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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 $209,392
Avg Monthly Rent $1,152
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $67,344
% Renters 12.8%

Market Analysis: 36279 Wellington

From a cash-flow lens, ZIP 36279 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $209K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

The 36279 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Regionally, 36279 sits on the difficult end of the AL spectrum. The a strong candidate for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

The 36279 ZIP's population of 3,290 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that shows the need for careful underwriting.

appears 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 Wellington:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 64/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+14.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,152/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)

$220K$198K$177K$156K$135K$114KNov 2010Sep 2018Jul 2026

📊 How Does 36279 Compare?

Metric 36279 Wellington Alabama
Home Value $209,392 $209,392 $231,003
5-Year CAGR 2.4% 2.4% 5.6%
Avg Rent $1,152 $1,152 -
Cap Rate 4.3% 4.3% -
💡 Why Invest in 36279? 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 36279 (Wellington, AL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.3%
Fair
5yr Growth
+2.4%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $209,392
Monthly Rent $1,152
Price-to-Rent 15.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.6%
Cap Rate 4.3%
5-Year IRR 6.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +14.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲

🏠 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.

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⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
10.7%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 36279

Population: 3,290

💰 Median Household Income
$67,344
This area
$67,344
State
$56,875
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
12.8%
This area
12.8%
State
24.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.5%
This area
2.5%
State
-24.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
15.1%
This area
15.1%
State
-11.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.7 years
This area
40.7 years
State
-0.9 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.7%
This area
10.7%
State
20.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.2%
Black/African American 1.3%
Other/Mixed 1.2%
Hispanic/Latino 0.9%
Asian 0.3%
👶 Under 18
29.9%
This area
29.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.6%
This area
17.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.1%
This area
6.1%
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

2 Nearby 3,029 Off-Campus Students
C+
Jacksonville State University
9,672 students · 7.7 mi
C+
Gadsden State Community College
4,728 students · 10.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,029 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are rental rates like in Wellington, AL?

Rental rates in Wellington, AL average $1,152/mo. Tenant demand and $209K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

How do experienced investors play Wellington, AL?

The best-fit strategy in Wellington, AL is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

How tight is the rental market in Wellington, AL?

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

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

Tenant demand in Wellington, AL is solid. The local workforce $1,152/mo rents across most rental classes.

Is real estate in Wellington, AL a good investment right now?

Wellington, AL rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $209K and rents near $1,152/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

You know 36279 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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