Real Estate Investing in Petal, Mississippi (39465)

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

Forrest County • Population: 23,122 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 39465 (Petal, 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: 9.7% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Petal, MS (39465)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
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 $225,460
Avg Monthly Rent $1,268
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $67,971
% Renters 22.3%

Market Analysis: 39465 Petal

ZIP 39465 inside Forrest County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $225K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Rent of $1,268/mo on a $225K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 39465 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

The gap between 39465 and stronger Petal ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

From a cash-flow lens, 23,122 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.

trends toward 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 Petal:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 76/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,268/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Hattiesburg, MS Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
75 days
Average time to sell
Slow
8.5%
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 Hattiesburg, MS metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 39465

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
6.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+6.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$58,749/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $117,497 $1,030 6.3% +6.3% $58,749
3BR $220,682 $1,320 4.3% +6.8% $73,561
4BR $313,121 $1,370 3.2% +5.8% $78,280

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$236K$214K$192K$170K$149K$127KJan 2012May 2019Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,324$1,271$1,218$1,165$1,112$1,060Aug 2025Feb 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 39465 Compare?

Metric 39465 Petal Hattiesburg, MS Mississippi
Home Value $225,460 $225,460 N/A $186,446
5-Year CAGR 4.0% 4.0% N/A 4.0%
Avg Rent $1,268 $1,268 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.4% 4.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 39465? 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 →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 39465 (Petal, MS). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 39465 (Petal, MS)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.4%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.0%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Hattiesburg, MS metro

4/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
64%
Days Pending
2/2
75 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $225,460
Monthly Rent $1,268
Price-to-Rent 14.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.8%
Cap Rate 4.4%
5-Year IRR 8.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.4%). 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
9.7%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 39465

Population: 23,122

💰 Median Household Income
$67,971
This area
$67,971
State
$48,827
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
22.3%
This area
22.3%
State
27.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.8%
This area
3.8%
State
-17.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
24.8%
This area
24.8%
State
-11.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.4 years
This area
37.4 years
State
10.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.7%
This area
9.7%
State
18.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 84.7%
Black/African American 11.2%
Other/Mixed 3.4%
Hispanic/Latino 1.3%
Asian 0.6%
👶 Under 18
24.4%
This area
24.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.1%
This area
15.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.6%
This area
9.6%
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 39465

B Avg School Grade
6 Schools
12.6:1 Avg Class Size
$11,169 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

RUNNELSTOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
200 Students
👨‍🏫
9.1:1 Class Size
💰
$15,012 Per Student
B Good

PETAL ELEMENTARY

📚 03 – 04 Elementary
👥
631 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$10,400 Per Student
B Good

PETAL MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
680 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$10,400 Per Student
B Good

PETAL UPPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 05 – 06 School
👥
665 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$10,400 Per Student
C+ Average

PETAL HIGH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,335 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$10,400 Per Student
C+ Average

PETAL PRIMARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
1,089 Students
👨‍🏫
12.1:1 Class Size
💰
$10,400 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

4 Nearby 681 Off-Campus Students
C+
William Carey University
5,448 students · 6.7 mi
C
Unlimited Cosmetology School
26 students · 7.0 mi
C
The Academy of Hair Design Six
48 students · 8.0 mi
C+
University of Southern Mississippi
13,110 students · 8.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 681 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do landlords charge for rent in Petal, MS?

Rental rates in Petal, MS average $1,268/mo. Tenant demand and $225K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

What type of investing works in Petal, MS?

Petal, MS investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($225K prices, $1,268/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

Is Petal, MS a smart market for rental property?

Our data puts Petal, MS at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $225K and rents around $1,268/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

Is Petal, MS good for house hacking?

House hacking in Petal, MS is reasonable to execute. Prices around $225K and rents of $1,268/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

Is Petal, MS landlord-friendly?

Rental owners in Petal, MS deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

You know 39465 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 39465 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.

Compare Plans

How 39465 ranks in Hattiesburg, MS

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 39465 (Petal)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 39465 (Petal, MS).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.