Real Estate Investing in Middlesboro, Kentucky (40965)

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

Bell County • Population: 11,698 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 40965 (Middlesboro, KY)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (67/100)

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
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 17.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Elevated poverty: 23.7% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • Lower household income: $30,000 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Middlesboro, KY (40965)?

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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 $113,413
Avg Monthly Rent $837
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $30,000
% Renters 42.3%

Market Analysis: 40965 Middlesboro

ZIP 40965 in Middlesboro, KY carries a significant set of headwinds. Home values near $113K and rents of $837/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $113K asset, 40965 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

The gap between 40965 and stronger Middlesboro ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

The 40965 ZIP's population of 11,698 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that reflects the need for careful underwriting.

looks 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 Middlesboro:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $837/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
Middlesborough, KY Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
9.8%
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 Middlesborough, KY metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 40965

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
7.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$43,463/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $86,926 $930 7.7% +8.7% $43,463
3BR $147,482 $1,210 5.9% +8.3% $49,161
4BR $215,893 $1,380 4.6% +8.3% $53,973

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$118K$108K$98K$87K$77K$67KJul 2009Jan 2018Jul 2026

📊 How Does 40965 Compare?

Metric 40965 Middlesboro Middlesborough, KY Kentucky
Home Value $113,413 $113,413 N/A $225,788
5-Year CAGR 4.6% 4.6% N/A 6.9%
Avg Rent $837 $837 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.8% 5.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 40965? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 42% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 40965 (Middlesboro, KY). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.8%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.6%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Middlesborough, KY metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
0%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $113,413
Monthly Rent $837
Price-to-Rent 11.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.9%
Cap Rate 5.8%
5-Year IRR 10.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +3.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.8%). 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
17.7%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 40965

Population: 11,698

💰 Median Household Income
$30,000
This area
$30,000
State
$55,541
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
42.3%
This area
42.3%
State
23.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.4%
This area
4.4%
State
-16.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
12.4%
This area
12.4%
State
-4.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.5 years
This area
41.5 years
State
4.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
17.7%
This area
17.7%
State
16.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.2%
Other/Mixed 3.7%
Black/African American 2.8%
Hispanic/Latino 0.7%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
22.1%
This area
22.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.0%
This area
20.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
23.7%
This area
23.7%
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 40965

B+ Avg School Grade
8 Schools
14.8:1 Avg Class Size
$17,889 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Middlesboro Middle School

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
274 Students
👨‍🏫
9.7:1 Class Size
💰
$18,224 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Middlesboro Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
476 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$18,224 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Middlesboro High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
347 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$18,224 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Yellow Creek School Center

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
562 Students
👨‍🏫
16.3:1 Class Size
💰
$15,541 Per Student
B Good

Middlesboro Group Home School

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
6 Students
👨‍🏫
6.0:1 Class Size
💰
$18,224 Per Student
B Good

Cumberland Tech - Southeast Campus

📚 Grade UG Elementary Limited Data
💰
$18,224 Per Student
B Good

Southeast TECH

📚 Grade UG Elementary Limited Data
💰
$18,224 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

Middlesboro Alternative School

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
31 Students
👨‍🏫
31.0:1 Class Size
💰
$18,224 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

3 Nearby
C+
Lincoln Memorial University
5,805 students · 5.2 mi
C
Clear Creek Baptist Bible College
159 students · 7.0 mi
D
Sandra Academy of Salon Services
73 students · 14.9 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What are home prices like in Middlesboro, KY?

The median home value in Middlesboro, KY is roughly $113K. That puts it reasonable relative to the KY statewide average.

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Middlesboro, KY?

Expect elevated vacancy in Middlesboro, KY. Rents at $837/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

Are landlord laws favorable in Middlesboro, KY?

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

Is Middlesboro, KY good for house hacking?

The house hack math a challenging in Middlesboro, KY. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $837/mo rents and $113K home values.

What kind of tenants rent in Middlesboro, KY?

Tenant quality in Middlesboro, KY ranks as solid. Landlords generally report steady occupancy at market rents of $837/mo.

You know 40965 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 40965 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 40965 ranks in Middlesborough, KY

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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