Real Estate Investing in Monticello, Mississippi (39654)

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

Lawrence County • Population: 4,589 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 39654 (Monticello, MS)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (46/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 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
4 flags
  • High vacancy: 26.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Declining values: -1.6% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • Higher unemployment: 9.1% unemployment — tenant risk signal.
  • Lower household income: $38,093 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Monticello, MS (39654)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $117,800
Avg Monthly Rent $756
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $38,093
% Renters 26.3%

Market Analysis: 39654 Monticello

In practical terms, ZIP 39654 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $118K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

The 39654 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Regionally, 39654 sits on the difficult end of the MS spectrum. The a solid fit for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

The demographic picture in 39654 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Monticello averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 39654 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 Monticello:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 55/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
5/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.1× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $756/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
🏠

Property Strategy for 39654

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
8.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+0.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$35,802/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $71,605 $840 8.4% $35,802
3BR $111,452 $1,070 6.9% +0.6% $37,151

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$143K$133K$123K$114K$104K$95KJan 2012May 2019Jul 2026

📊 How Does 39654 Compare?

Metric 39654 Monticello Mississippi
Home Value $117,800 $117,800 $186,446
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A 4.0%
Avg Rent $756 $756 -
Cap Rate 5.0% 5.0% -
💡 Why Invest in 39654? 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 39654 (Monticello, MS). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.0%
Fair
5yr Growth
-1.6%
Declining

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $117,800
Monthly Rent $756
Price-to-Rent 13.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.7%
Cap Rate 5.0%
5-Year IRR 3.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR -3.7% ▼
5-Year CAGR -1.6% ▼
10-Year CAGR +0.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.0%). 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
26.5%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
-1.6%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 39654

Population: 4,589

💰 Median Household Income
$38,093
This area
$38,093
State
$48,827
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
26.3%
This area
26.3%
State
27.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
9.1%
This area
9.1%
State
-17.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
13.8%
This area
13.8%
State
-11.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.4 years
This area
38.4 years
State
10.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
26.5%
This area
26.5%
State
18.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 57.5%
Black/African American 34.9%
Other/Mixed 7.0%
Hispanic/Latino 4.2%
Asian 0.5%
👶 Under 18
24.8%
This area
24.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.2%
This area
19.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
13.5%
This area
13.5%
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 39654

B Avg School Grade
5 Schools
11.7:1 Avg Class Size
$12,195 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

MONTICELLO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
398 Students
👨‍🏫
11.1:1 Class Size
💰
$12,195 Per Student
B+ Above Average

TOPEKA TILTON ATTENDANCE CENTER

📚 K – 08 School
👥
284 Students
👨‍🏫
10.5:1 Class Size
💰
$12,195 Per Student
B+ Above Average

LAWRENCE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
564 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$12,195 Per Student
B+ Above Average

ROD PAIGE MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
188 Students
👨‍🏫
10.3:1 Class Size
💰
$12,195 Per Student
C+ Average

LAWRENCE CO TECH & CAREER CENTER

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$12,195 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

How do experienced investors play Monticello, MS?

In Monticello, MS the healthy play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $118K prices and $756/mo rents suits that approach.

What is the typical rental rate in Monticello, MS?

Monticello, MS rentals go for roughly $756/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $118K acquisition costs.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Monticello, MS?

Vacancy risk in Monticello, MS is elevated. That supports reliable cash flow for typical rental holds.

How strict are landlord regulations in Monticello, MS?

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

What kind of tenants rent in Monticello, MS?

The tenant pool in Monticello, MS is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $756/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

You know 39654 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 39654 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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