Real Estate Investing in Marion, Mississippi (39342)

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

Lauderdale County • Population: 1,888 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 39342 (Marion, MS)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (65/100)

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
  • High vacancy: 16.0% 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 Marion, MS (39342)?

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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 $178,923
Avg Monthly Rent $927
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $60,469
% Renters 51.9%

Market Analysis: 39342 Marion

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Marion's 39342 ZIP shows signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $179K pricing implies.

The 39342 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Within MS, ZIP 39342 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Lauderdale County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and healthy enough to shape underwriting.

A healthy renter share of 52% in 39342 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

The right play in 39342 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 Marion:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 3× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $927/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

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$186K$175K$165K$154K$144K$133KJan 2012May 2019Jul 2026

📊 How Does 39342 Compare?

Metric 39342 Marion Meridian, MS Mississippi
Home Value $178,923 $178,923 N/A $186,446
5-Year CAGR 2.5% 2.5% N/A 4.0%
Avg Rent $927 $927 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.0% 4.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 39342? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 39342 (Marion, MS). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.0%
Fair
5yr Growth
+2.5%
Slow

📉 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 $178,923
Monthly Rent $927
Price-to-Rent 16.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.2%
Cap Rate 4.0%
5-Year IRR 6.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +1.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.0%). 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
16.0%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 39342

Population: 1,888

💰 Median Household Income
$60,469
This area
$60,469
State
$48,827
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
51.9%
This area
51.9%
State
27.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.5%
This area
3.5%
State
-17.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
23.7%
This area
23.7%
State
-11.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
27.2 years
This area
27.2 years
State
10.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
16.0%
This area
16.0%
State
18.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 60.7%
White 36.1%
Other/Mixed 3.3%
Hispanic/Latino 1.7%
👶 Under 18
37.9%
This area
37.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
11.6%
This area
11.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
16.4%
This area
16.4%
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

1 Nearby 751 Off-Campus Students
C+
Meridian Community College
2,556 students · 6.3 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Are rents high in Marion, MS?

Marion, MS rentals go for roughly $927/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $179K acquisition costs.

Are renters plentiful in Marion, MS?

Marion, MS draws a steady base of working renters. Demand at the $927/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

Which real estate strategy fits Marion, MS?

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

Does house hacking make sense in Marion, MS?

House hacking works a challenging in Marion, MS. Rents of $927/mo against $179K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

What is the investability score for Marion, MS?

Marion, MS comes in at an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $179K and average rents around $927/mo. That combination puts it in the solid tier for investor interest.

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How 39342 ranks in Meridian, MS

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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