Real Estate Investing in Laurel, Mississippi (39440)

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

Jones County • Population: 20,111 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 39440 (Laurel, MS)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (66/100)

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

📈 For Investors
STRONG
4.0 / 5 (86/100)

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: 17.1% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Flat appreciation: Values have barely moved over 5 years (1.0% CAGR).
  • Elevated poverty: 25.8% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • Lower household income: $38,400 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

What’s happening in Laurel, MS (39440)?

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4.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $109,445
Avg Monthly Rent $1,271
1% Rule ✓ Meets
Median Income $38,400
% Renters 39.7%

Market Analysis: 39440 Laurel

Within Jones County, the 39440 ZIP clocks in at a lower entry point around $109K. Put differently, operators who can improve stock here typically see outsized uplift.

BRRRR works in 39440 because the math supports it. Buy at $109K, rehab, and the refinance step typically recovers capital in a way that flat-yield markets cannot match.

Regionally, 39440 sits on the affordable end of the Jones County map. Stepping back, the absolute numbers are modest, the spread between acquisition price and post-rehab value is wider than in turnkey ZIPs.

The 39440 ZIP's demographic trend has been one of stability with upside — population of 20,111, steady renter share, and an incoming cohort that is willing to pay for improved units.

Flippers with local expertise can do well in 39440. Out-of-state investors should partner with boots-on-the-ground operators or skip the ZIP entirely.

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 Laurel:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 64/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
10/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.9× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,271/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
Laurel, MS Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
6.3%
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 Laurel, MS metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$121K$111K$101K$92K$82K$73KJan 2012May 2019Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

No data available

📊 How Does 39440 Compare?

Metric 39440 Laurel Laurel, MS Mississippi
Home Value $109,445 $141,317 N/A $186,446
5-Year CAGR 1.0% 1.4% N/A 4.0%
Avg Rent $1,271 $1,036 N/A -
Cap Rate 9.1% 6.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 39440? Click to expand

This ZIP code meets the 1% rule with rent at $1,271/mo on homes averaging $109,445 — a strong indicator of cash flow potential.

Our analysis gives this area a 4/5 investability rating, placing it in the top tier for rental property potential.

A healthy rental market with 40% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 39440 (Laurel, MS). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Excellent
Cap Rate
9.1%
Excellent
5yr Growth
+1.0%
Slow

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Laurel, 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 $109,445
Monthly Rent $1,271
Price-to-Rent 7.2:1
1% Rule ✓ Passes

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 13.9%
Cap Rate 9.1%
5-Year IRR 10.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.9% ▼
3-Year CAGR -1.6% ▼
5-Year CAGR +1.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +2.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Positive Leverage Market Cap Rate: 9.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (9.1%) exceeds the current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%). When borrowing costs less than a property yields, leverage can increase your cash-on-cash return above the cap rate.

⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
17.1%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.0%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 39440

Population: 20,111

💰 Median Household Income
$38,400
This area
$38,400
State
$48,827
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
39.7%
This area
39.7%
State
27.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.8%
This area
2.8%
State
-17.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
21.9%
This area
21.9%
State
-11.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
35.3 years
This area
35.3 years
State
10.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
17.1%
This area
17.1%
State
18.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 63.2%
White 32.8%
Other/Mixed 3.4%
Hispanic/Latino 2.4%
Asian 0.5%
👶 Under 18
25.0%
This area
25.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.8%
This area
16.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
25.8%
This area
25.8%
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 39440

B Avg School Grade
9 Schools
14.4:1 Avg Class Size
$12,997 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

OAK PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 01 Elementary
👥
427 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
💰
$13,386 Per Student
B+ Above Average

LAUREL UPPER ELEMENTARY

📚 05 – 06 School
👥
286 Students
👨‍🏫
12.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,386 Per Student
B+ Above Average

LAUREL MAGNET SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
334 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$13,386 Per Student
B+ Above Average

NORA DAVIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 02 – 04 Elementary
👥
506 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,386 Per Student
B Good

LAUREL MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
380 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,386 Per Student
B Good

LAUREL HIGH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
715 Students
👨‍🏫
19.3:1 Class Size
💰
$13,386 Per Student
C+ Average

LAUREL HIGH SCHOOL VOC COMPLEX

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$13,386 Per Student
C Below Average

JONES CO CAREER & TECH ED CENTER

📚 07 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$9,887 Per Student
C Below Average

LAUREL EDUCATION CENTER

📚 04 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$13,386 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 1,153 Off-Campus Students
C+
Hatfield's Mississippi College of Beauty Culture
51 students · 0.7 mi
B
Southeastern Baptist College
69 students · 3.8 mi
C
Jones County Junior College
4,305 students · 7.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,153 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Laurel, MS stack up for property investment?

With a 4.0/5 investability score, Laurel, MS ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $109K and rents of $1,271/mo drive the underlying numbers.

How viable is house hacking in Laurel, MS?

Laurel, MS offers an attractive house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $1,271/mo rent level.

What type of investing works in Laurel, MS?

Most investors in Laurel, MS run a value-add and BRRRR deals strategy. It aligns with the 4.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

Is Laurel, MS good for BRRRR investors?

Operators BRRRR-ing in Laurel, MS report a strong results. Focus on sub-market acquisition and tight rehab budgets to capture the spread.

How much is rent in Laurel, MS?

Rental rates in Laurel, MS average $1,271/mo. Tenant demand and $109K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

You know 39440 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 39440 ranks in Laurel, MS

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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