Real Estate Investing in Mount Sterling, Kentucky (40353)

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

Montgomery County • Population: 22,534 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 40353 (Mount Sterling, KY)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (66/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 10.2% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Mount Sterling, KY (40353)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $237,675
Avg Monthly Rent $1,151
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $54,757
% Renters 37.0%

Market Analysis: 40353 Mount Sterling

ZIP 40353 inside Montgomery County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $238K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

From an investor standpoint, the numbers look inviting — $238K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 40353 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Regionally, 40353 sits on the difficult end of the KY spectrum. The a credible choice for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

The 40353 ZIP's population of 22,534 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that shows the need for careful underwriting.

Strategically, 40353 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Mount Sterling:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 71/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,151/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
Mount Sterling, KY Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.9%
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 Mount Sterling, KY metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 40353

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+10.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$73,771/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $156,827 $1,050 4.8% +10.1% $78,413
3BR $221,313 $1,430 4.7% +8.9% $73,771
4BR $309,081 $1,610 3.8% +8.1% $77,270
5BR $422,848 +7.6% $84,570

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$249K$217K$184K$152K$120K$88KOct 2009Mar 2018Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,239$1,169$1,098$1,027$956$886May 2025Dec 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 40353 Compare?

Metric 40353 Mount Sterling Mount Sterling, KY Kentucky
Home Value $237,675 $237,675 N/A $225,788
5-Year CAGR 7.0% 7.0% N/A 6.9%
Avg Rent $1,151 $1,151 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.8% 3.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 40353? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 37% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 40353 (Mount Sterling, KY). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.0%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Mount Sterling, KY metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
70%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $237,675
Monthly Rent $1,151
Price-to-Rent 17.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.8%
Cap Rate 3.8%
5-Year IRR 10.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.8%). 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
10.2%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.0%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 40353

Population: 22,534

💰 Median Household Income
$54,757
This area
$54,757
State
$55,541
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
37.0%
This area
37.0%
State
23.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.4%
This area
3.4%
State
-16.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
18.8%
This area
18.8%
State
-4.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.3 years
This area
41.3 years
State
4.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.2%
This area
10.2%
State
16.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 92.2%
Other/Mixed 3.9%
Black/African American 3.4%
Hispanic/Latino 2.5%
Asian 0.5%
👶 Under 18
21.8%
This area
21.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.0%
This area
18.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
13.4%
This area
13.4%
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

🎓 Schools in 40353

B Avg School Grade
9 Schools
15.0:1 Avg Class Size
$12,862 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Camargo Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
592 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$12,862 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Mapleton Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
504 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,862 Per Student
B Good

Mount Sterling Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
495 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,862 Per Student
B Good

Northview Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
546 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,862 Per Student
B Good

McNabb Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
992 Students
👨‍🏫
17.7:1 Class Size
💰
$12,862 Per Student
C+ Average

Gateway Children's Services

📚 05 – 12 High School
👥
16 Students
👨‍🏫
7.1:1 Class Size
💰
$12,862 Per Student
C+ Average

Montgomery County High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,306 Students
👨‍🏫
19.5:1 Class Size
💰
$12,862 Per Student
C+ Average

The Sterling School

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
59 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$12,862 Per Student
C Below Average

Montgomery County Area Technology Center

📚 08 – 12 High School Limited Data
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

Are there empty rentals in Mount Sterling, KY?

Vacancy in Mount Sterling, KY is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $1,151/mo.

How much do tenants pay in Mount Sterling, KY?

Rent in Mount Sterling, KY is around $1,151/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $238K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

Where do home prices stand in Mount Sterling, KY?

Mount Sterling, KY median home values land near $238K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,151/mo-per-month rentals.

Is Mount Sterling, KY good for house hacking?

The house hack math a challenging in Mount Sterling, KY. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $1,151/mo rents and $238K home values.

Which real estate strategy fits Mount Sterling, KY?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Mount Sterling, KY. The numbers - $238K homes against $1,151/mo rents - support that play.

You know 40353 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 40353 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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How 40353 ranks in Mount Sterling, KY

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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