Real Estate Investing in Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi (39520)

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

Hancock County • Population: 15,471 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 39520 (Bay Saint Louis, MS)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (57/100)

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: 18.3% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Bay Saint Louis, MS (39520)?

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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 $243,004
Avg Monthly Rent $1,506
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $56,147
% Renters 25.0%

Market Analysis: 39520 Bay Saint Louis

Turning to rents, ZIP 39520 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $243K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Rent of $1,506/mo on a $243K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 39520 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

ZIP 39520's metrics run below Hancock County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Demographically, 39520 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 39520 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Bay Saint Louis:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,506/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
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
78 days
Average time to sell
Slow
8.7%
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 Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 39520

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
4.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+6.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$80,304/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $150,350 $910 4.4% +6.1% $150,350
2BR $213,469 $1,120 3.8% +6.5% $106,735
3BR $240,913 $1,450 4.3% +5.2% $80,304
4BR $326,514 $1,580 3.5% +6.2% $81,629
5BR $409,606 +6.4% $81,921

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$261K$227K$192K$157K$122K$88KJan 2012May 2019Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,611$1,532$1,453$1,374$1,295$1,216Aug 2025Feb 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 39520 Compare?

Metric 39520 Bay Saint Louis Gulfport-Biloxi, MS Mississippi
Home Value $243,004 $243,004 N/A $186,446
5-Year CAGR 2.8% 2.8% N/A 4.0%
Avg Rent $1,506 $1,506 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.8% 4.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 39520? 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.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 39520 (Bay Saint Louis, MS). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.8%
Fair
5yr Growth
+2.8%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $243,004
Monthly Rent $1,506
Price-to-Rent 13.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.4%
Cap Rate 4.8%
5-Year IRR 7.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.8%). 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
18.3%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 39520

Population: 15,471

💰 Median Household Income
$56,147
This area
$56,147
State
$48,827
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
25.0%
This area
25.0%
State
27.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.1%
This area
5.1%
State
-17.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
29.0%
This area
29.0%
State
-11.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
47.8 years
This area
47.8 years
State
10.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
18.3%
This area
18.3%
State
18.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 80.4%
Black/African American 11.0%
Other/Mixed 7.6%
Hispanic/Latino 2.8%
Asian 0.9%
👶 Under 18
19.1%
This area
19.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.3%
This area
22.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
14.5%
This area
14.5%
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 39520

A Avg School Grade
4 Schools
12.5:1 Avg Class Size
$14,813 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

BAY HIGH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
499 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,544 Per Student
A Very Good

Bay Waveland Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
374 Students
👨‍🏫
12.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,544 Per Student
A Very Good

NORTH BAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 02 – 05 Elementary
👥
476 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,544 Per Student
B+ Above Average

SOUTH HANCOCK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
494 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,618 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are vacancy rates like in Bay Saint Louis, MS?

Expect elevated vacancy in Bay Saint Louis, MS. Rents at $1,506/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

What monthly rent should investors expect in Bay Saint Louis, MS?

Rent in Bay Saint Louis, MS is around $1,506/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $243K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

Where do home prices stand in Bay Saint Louis, MS?

In Bay Saint Louis, MS the median home value sits at $243K. Against the broader MS market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

Is Bay Saint Louis, MS suited for a house hack?

Bay Saint Louis, MS is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $243K price point reasonable to enter.

What is the best play in Bay Saint Louis, MS?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Bay Saint Louis, MS. With home values at $243K and rents near $1,506/mo, other strategies can work but produce measured rather than outsized returns.

You know 39520 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 39520 ranks in Gulfport-Biloxi, MS

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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