Real Estate Investing in Meridian, Mississippi (39305)

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

Lauderdale County • Population: 21,878 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 39305 (Meridian, MS)? 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: 10.1% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Meridian, MS (39305)?

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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 $190,460
Avg Monthly Rent $1,060
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $62,363
% Renters 32.5%

Market Analysis: 39305 Meridian

Investors eyeing 39305 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $190K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 39305 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Regionally, 39305 sits on the difficult end of the MS spectrum. The a viable market for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

A notable renter share of 33% in 39305 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

New investors are better served looking at Meridian's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 39305. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Meridian:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 72/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.1× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,060/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
Meridian, MS Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.8%
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 Meridian, MS metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 39305

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
7.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+4.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$45,737/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $91,475 $1,000 7.9% +2.5% $45,737
3BR $154,464 $1,330 6.2% +4.4% $51,488
4BR $261,584 $1,400 3.9% +4.5% $65,396
5BR $366,937 +4.1% $73,387

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$198K$186K$175K$164K$152K$141KJan 2012May 2019Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,221$1,183$1,146$1,108$1,070$1,033Jul 2025Jan 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 39305 Compare?

Metric 39305 Meridian Meridian, MS Mississippi
Home Value $190,460 $86,923 N/A $186,446
5-Year CAGR 3.2% 2.2% N/A 4.0%
Avg Rent $1,060 $1,215 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.3% 9.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 39305? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 39305 (Meridian, MS). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.3%
Fair
5yr Growth
+3.2%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Meridian, MS metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
63%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $190,460
Monthly Rent $1,060
Price-to-Rent 15.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.7%
Cap Rate 4.3%
5-Year IRR 7.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +2.3% ▲

🏠 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
10.1%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 39305

Population: 21,878

💰 Median Household Income
$62,363
This area
$62,363
State
$48,827
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
32.5%
This area
32.5%
State
27.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.7%
This area
3.7%
State
-17.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
35.0%
This area
35.0%
State
-11.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.1 years
This area
37.1 years
State
10.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.1%
This area
10.1%
State
18.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 57.1%
Black/African American 37.9%
Other/Mixed 3.4%
Hispanic/Latino 1.8%
Asian 1.5%
👶 Under 18
23.3%
This area
23.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.5%
This area
18.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
15.3%
This area
15.3%
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 39305

B+ Avg School Grade
9 Schools
13.1:1 Avg Class Size
$12,340 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

NORTHEAST LAUDERDALE ELEMENTARY

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
746 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$11,502 Per Student
B+ Above Average

MAGNOLIA MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
443 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,011 Per Student
B+ Above Average

NORTHEAST LAUDERDALE HIGH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
610 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,502 Per Student
B+ Above Average

NORTHEAST LAUDERDALE MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
539 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$11,502 Per Student
B+ Above Average

PARKVIEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
379 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,011 Per Student
B+ Above Average

POPLAR SPRINGS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
382 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,011 Per Student
B+ Above Average

WEST LAUDERDALE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
725 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$11,502 Per Student
B Good

MERIDIAN HIGH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,314 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,011 Per Student
C+ Average

ROSS COLLINS VOC CENTER

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$13,011 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 751 Off-Campus Students
C+
Meridian Community College
2,556 students · 6.7 mi

Investor Insight: With 751 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do rents currently stand in Meridian, MS?

Rents in Meridian, MS run near $1,060/mo. Compared with median home prices of $190K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

Are landlord laws favorable in Meridian, MS?

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

How do experienced investors play Meridian, MS?

In Meridian, MS the substantial play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $190K prices and $1,060/mo rents suits that approach.

Does house hacking make sense in Meridian, MS?

The house hack math a challenging in Meridian, MS. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $1,060/mo rents and $190K home values.

Are there empty rentals in Meridian, MS?

Expect elevated vacancy in Meridian, MS. Rents at $1,060/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

You know 39305 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 39305 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 39305 ranks in Meridian, MS

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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