Real Estate Investing in Lexington, Kentucky (40514)

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

Fayette County • Population: 16,919 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 40514 (Lexington, KY)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (80/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

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

⚠️ Risks to Know
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Lexington, KY (40514)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $375,853
Avg Monthly Rent $2,055
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $97,669
% Renters 27.5%

Market Analysis: 40514 Lexington

The 40514 ZIP in Lexington, KY is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $376K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $376K asset, 40514 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Statewide comparisons place 40514 among KY's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

A resilient renter share of 28% in 40514 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

The 40514 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Lexington:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 73/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,055/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
Lexington-Fayette, KY Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
46 days
Average time to sell
Average
11.8%
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 Lexington-Fayette, KY metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 40514

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+11.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$110,012/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $237,618 $1,770 5.4% +11.0% $118,809
3BR $334,976 $2,430 5.2% +8.3% $111,659
4BR $440,049 $2,700 4.4% +8.2% $110,012
5BR $552,873 +8.4% $110,575

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$392K$345K$298K$251K$204K$157KMar 2006May 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,071$2,023$1,975$1,927$1,879$1,831Jan 2025Oct 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 40514 Compare?

Metric 40514 Lexington Lexington-Fayette, KY Kentucky
Home Value $375,853 $342,797 N/A $225,788
5-Year CAGR 6.6% 6.9% N/A 6.9%
Avg Rent $2,055 $1,627 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.3% 3.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 40514? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 40514 (Lexington, KY). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.3%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.6%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $375,853
Monthly Rent $2,055
Price-to-Rent 15.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.6%
Cap Rate 4.3%
5-Year IRR 10.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +5.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.3%). 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
1.9%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.6%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 40514

Population: 16,919

💰 Median Household Income
$97,669
This area
$97,669
State
$55,541
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
27.5%
This area
27.5%
State
23.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.5%
This area
1.5%
State
-16.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
54.1%
This area
54.1%
State
-4.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.0 years
This area
38.0 years
State
4.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
1.9%
This area
1.9%
State
16.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 83.5%
Asian 6.1%
Other/Mixed 6.0%
Black/African American 4.4%
Hispanic/Latino 2.8%
👶 Under 18
25.8%
This area
25.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
11.5%
This area
11.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.0%
This area
3.0%
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 40514

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Scapa At Bluegrass

📚 04 – 08 School
📍 400 Lafayette Pkwy, Lexington
👥
300 Students
👨‍🏫
10.2:1 Class Size
💰
$17,525 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Clays Mill Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
📍 2319 Clays Mill Rd, Lexington
👥
520 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$17,525 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Stonewall Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 3215 Cornwall Dr, Lexington
👥
673 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$17,525 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Wellington Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 3280 Keithshire Way, Lexington
👥
604 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$17,525 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Fayette County Preschool Center

📚 Grade PK Elementary
📍 165 Springhill Dr, Lexington
👥
34 Students
👨‍🏫
2.2:1 Class Size
💰
$17,525 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

8 Nearby 8,337 Off-Campus Students
C
Paul Mitchell the School-Lexington
204 students · 0.8 mi
D
Lexington Theological Seminary
93 students · 2.2 mi
D
Lexington Healing Arts Academy
89 students · 3.1 mi
C
Bluegrass Community and Technical College
11,619 students · 4.4 mi
C
Employment Solutions-College for Technical Education
200 students · 4.4 mi
B
University of Kentucky
32,703 students · 5.0 mi
C+
Transylvania University
1,022 students · 6.2 mi
D
Summit Salon Academy-Lexington
123 students · 6.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 8,337 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Lexington, KY make sense for an investment property?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Lexington, KY reflects its $376K prices and $2,055/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within KY.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Lexington, KY?

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

How tight is the rental market in Lexington, KY?

Vacancy risk in Lexington, KY is elevated. That supports consistent cash flow for typical rental holds.

How viable is house hacking in Lexington, KY?

The house hack math a challenging in Lexington, KY. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $2,055/mo rents and $376K home values.

How should investors approach Lexington, KY?

In Lexington, KY the solid play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $376K prices and $2,055/mo rents suits that approach.

You know 40514 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 40514 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 40514 ranks in Lexington-Fayette, KY

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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