Real Estate Investing in Ruleville, Mississippi (38771)

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

Sunflower County • Population: 2,946 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 38771 (Ruleville, MS)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (57/100)

Mixed — values have been flat. OK for long-horizon buyers, less attractive if you may need to sell soon.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (57/100)

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
4 flags
  • High vacancy: 15.9% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • 1-year downturn: Values declined 10.4% in the last year.
  • Elevated poverty: 23.6% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • Higher unemployment: 10.2% unemployment — tenant risk signal.

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

What’s happening in Ruleville, MS (38771)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

0.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $90,947
Avg Monthly Rent $756
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $48,406
% Renters 51.9%

Market Analysis: 38771 Ruleville

Investors eyeing 38771 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $91K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

The 38771 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, 38771 sits on the difficult end of the MS spectrum. The a viable market for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

The demographic picture in 38771 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Ruleville averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

The right play in 38771 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 Ruleville:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 53/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
0/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 1.9× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-10.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $756/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Indianola, MS Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
2.6%
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 Indianola, MS metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 38771

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
8.1% cap rate
Best Overall Value
4BR
$31,059/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
3BR $101,728 $1,140 8.1% $33,909
4BR $124,234 $1,260 7.3% $31,059

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$125K$116K$108K$99K$91K$82KJan 2024May 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 38771 Compare?

Metric 38771 Ruleville Indianola, MS Mississippi
Home Value $90,947 $104,690 N/A $186,446
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A N/A 4.0%
Avg Rent $756 $765 N/A -
Cap Rate 6.5% 5.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 38771? Click to expand

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

52% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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 38771 (Ruleville, MS). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
6.5%
Good

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Indianola, MS 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 $90,947
Monthly Rent $756
Price-to-Rent 10.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 10.0%
Cap Rate 6.5%
5-Year IRR N/A

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -10.4% ▼
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Neutral Leverage Cap Rate: 6.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage is roughly neutral here.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) is close to the estimated cap rate (6.5%). Financing this market at current rates produces a cash-on-cash return near the cap rate. Appreciation and tax benefits may still support the investment.

⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
15.9%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
N/A
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 38771

Population: 2,946

💰 Median Household Income
$48,406
This area
$48,406
State
$48,827
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
51.9%
This area
51.9%
State
27.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
10.2%
This area
10.2%
State
-17.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
15.2%
This area
15.2%
State
-11.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
31.3 years
This area
31.3 years
State
10.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.9%
This area
15.9%
State
18.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 86.1%
White 13.7%
Other/Mixed 0.1%
👶 Under 18
19.5%
This area
19.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
14.0%
This area
14.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
23.6%
This area
23.6%
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 38771

A Avg School Grade
3 Schools
12.5:1 Avg Class Size
$14,264 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

THOMAS E. EDWARDS SR. HIGH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
337 Students
👨‍🏫
11.1:1 Class Size
💰
$14,264 Per Student
B+ Above Average

RULEVILLE CENTRAL ELEM SCHOOL

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
270 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$14,264 Per Student
B+ Above Average

RULEVILLE MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
143 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,264 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

2 Nearby 111 Off-Campus Students
F
Goshen School of Cosmetology
27 students · 10.9 mi
C+
Delta State University
2,716 students · 12.1 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Are tenants stable in Ruleville, MS?

The tenant pool in Ruleville, MS is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $756/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

Is Ruleville, MS a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

Ruleville, MS scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $91K and rents near $756/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

How viable is house hacking in Ruleville, MS?

Ruleville, MS is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $91K price point reasonable to enter.

Are landlord laws favorable in Ruleville, MS?

Ruleville, MS falls under MS landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

How high is vacancy risk in Ruleville, MS?

Vacancy in Ruleville, MS is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $756/mo.

You know 38771 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 38771 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 38771 ranks in Indianola, MS

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Affordable →
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