Real Estate Investing in Pontotoc, Mississippi (38863)

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

Pontotoc County • Population: 18,849 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 38863 (Pontotoc, MS)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (60/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 15.3% 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 Pontotoc, MS (38863)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $214,086
Avg Monthly Rent $1,053
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $54,641
% Renters 30.3%

Market Analysis: 38863 Pontotoc

Put differently, ZIP 38863 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $214K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 38863 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Within MS, ZIP 38863 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Pontotoc County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and robust enough to shape underwriting.

In practical terms, 18,849 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

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 Pontotoc:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 69/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+15.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,053/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
Tupelo, MS Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.5%
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 Tupelo, MS metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$220K$203K$185K$167K$150K$132KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 38863 Compare?

Metric 38863 Pontotoc Tupelo, MS Mississippi
Home Value $214,086 $214,086 N/A $186,446
5-Year CAGR 5.2% 5.2% N/A 4.0%
Avg Rent $1,053 $1,053 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.8% 3.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 38863? 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 38863 (Pontotoc, MS). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.2%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Tupelo, 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 $214,086
Monthly Rent $1,053
Price-to-Rent 16.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.9%
Cap Rate 3.8%
5-Year IRR 9.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +15.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.2% ▲
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: 3.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.8%). 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
15.3%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 38863

Population: 18,849

💰 Median Household Income
$54,641
This area
$54,641
State
$48,827
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
30.3%
This area
30.3%
State
27.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.0%
This area
2.0%
State
-17.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
19.8%
This area
19.8%
State
-11.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.6 years
This area
36.6 years
State
10.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.3%
This area
15.3%
State
18.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 73.5%
Black/African American 16.7%
Other/Mixed 9.8%
Hispanic/Latino 6.7%
👶 Under 18
26.4%
This area
26.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.3%
This area
15.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
13.1%
This area
13.1%
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

🎓 Schools in 38863

B Avg School Grade
10 Schools
12.9:1 Avg Class Size
$10,683 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

D T COX ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 03 – 04 Elementary
👥
332 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$11,106 Per Student
A Very Good

PONTOTOC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
630 Students
👨‍🏫
10.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,106 Per Student
A Very Good

PONTOTOC JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
355 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$11,106 Per Student
B+ Above Average

PONTOTOC MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 05 – 06 School
👥
326 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$11,106 Per Student
B Good

PONTOTOC HIGH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
713 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$11,106 Per Student
B Good

South Pontotoc Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
797 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$10,260 Per Student
B Good

South Pontotoc High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
447 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$10,260 Per Student
B Good

South Pontotoc Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
388 Students
👨‍🏫
13.3:1 Class Size
💰
$10,260 Per Student
C Below Average

Pontotoc Ridge Career & Tech. Cnt.

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$10,260 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

PONTOTOC CO ALTERNATIVE PROGRAM

📚 05 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$10,260 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
C
KC's School of Hair Design
54 students · 2.8 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Is housing expensive in Pontotoc, MS?

Pontotoc, MS home values average about $214K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $1,053/mo in monthly income.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Pontotoc, MS?

Occupancy in Pontotoc, MS runs steady with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $1,053/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

What is it like being a landlord in Pontotoc, MS?

MS law landlord-friendly for landlords, and Pontotoc inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

How much is rent in Pontotoc, MS?

Rents in Pontotoc, MS run near $1,053/mo. Compared with median home prices of $214K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

Is Pontotoc, MS good for house hacking?

House hacking in Pontotoc, MS is a challenging. With home values around $214K and rents at $1,053/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

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How 38863 ranks in Tupelo, MS

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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