Real Estate Investing in Barbourville, Kentucky (40906)

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

Knox County • Population: 10,560 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 40906 (Barbourville, KY)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (42/100)

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: 17.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • 1-year downturn: Values declined 11.3% in the last year.
  • Elevated poverty: 33.1% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • Lower household income: $22,221 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 Barbourville, KY (40906)?

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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 $139,280
Avg Monthly Rent $828
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $22,221
% Renters 42.2%

Market Analysis: 40906 Barbourville

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Barbourville's 40906 ZIP posts signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $139K pricing implies.

Rent of $828/mo on a $139K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 40906 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Looking more closely, 40906 offers a low basis, the region around Barbourville has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Employment concentration in 40906 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

The right play in 40906 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Barbourville:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 59/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.3× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-11.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $828/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
❄️
COOL MARKET
London, KY Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
82 days
Average time to sell
Slow
10.8%
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 London, KY metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 40906

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
6.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+10.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$49,779/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $104,459 $920 6.3% +8.5% $52,229
3BR $159,433 $1,100 5.0% +8.5% $53,144
4BR $199,116 $1,530 5.5% +10.0% $49,779

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$167K$148K$130K$111K$93K$74KOct 2014Sep 2020Jul 2026

📊 How Does 40906 Compare?

Metric 40906 Barbourville London, KY Kentucky
Home Value $139,280 $139,280 N/A $225,788
5-Year CAGR 3.3% 3.3% N/A 6.9%
Avg Rent $828 $828 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.6% 4.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 40906? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 42% 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 40906 (Barbourville, KY). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.6%
Fair
5yr Growth
+3.3%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on London, KY metro

4/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
73%
Days Pending
2/2
82 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $139,280
Monthly Rent $828
Price-to-Rent 14.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.1%
Cap Rate 4.6%
5-Year IRR 7.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -11.3% ▼
3-Year CAGR +0.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.6%). 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
17.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 40906

Population: 10,560

💰 Median Household Income
$22,221
This area
$22,221
State
$55,541
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
42.2%
This area
42.2%
State
23.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.3%
This area
5.3%
State
-16.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
20.7%
This area
20.7%
State
-4.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.8 years
This area
38.8 years
State
4.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
17.4%
This area
17.4%
State
16.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.0%
Black/African American 1.8%
Other/Mixed 1.1%
Hispanic/Latino 0.4%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
21.5%
This area
21.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.1%
This area
19.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
33.1%
This area
33.1%
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 40906

B Avg School Grade
13 Schools
14.1:1 Avg Class Size
$15,415 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Knox County Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
530 Students
👨‍🏫
11.1:1 Class Size
💰
$15,928 Per Student
A Very Good

G R Hampton Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
230 Students
👨‍🏫
11.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,928 Per Student
A Very Good

Central Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
311 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,928 Per Student
A Very Good

Jesse D Lay Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
306 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$15,928 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Knox Central High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
751 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,928 Per Student
B Good

Knox Appalachian School

📚 05 – 12 High School
👥
26 Students
👨‍🏫
5.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,928 Per Student
B Good

Knox County Day Treatment

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
21 Students
👨‍🏫
10.5:1 Class Size
💰
$15,928 Per Student
B Good

Knox County Learning Academy

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
48 Students
👨‍🏫
7.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,928 Per Student
B Good

Barbourville City School

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12
👥
731 Students
👨‍🏫
18.1:1 Class Size
💰
$12,852 Per Student
C+ Average

Knox County Career and Technical Center

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$15,928 Per Student
C Below Average

Knox County Area Technology Center

📚 08 – 12 High School Limited Data
D Needs Improvement

Barbourville Learning Center

📚 07 – 12 High School Limited Data
👥
1 Students
💰
$12,852 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

Knox Inspire Academy

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
36 Students
👨‍🏫
36.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,928 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

2 Nearby
C
Union College
1,129 students · 1.4 mi
C
Clear Creek Baptist Bible College
159 students · 13.9 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical rental rate in Barbourville, KY?

The typical rental in Barbourville, KY commands about $828/mo monthly. That rent profile steady cash flow against the $139K purchase basis.

Are there empty rentals in Barbourville, KY?

Barbourville, KY sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader KY rental market.

What is the investability score for Barbourville, KY?

Yes - Barbourville, KY a 3.0/5 investability score. With $139K home prices against $828/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

Is Barbourville, KY good for landlords?

Barbourville, KY falls under KY landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

How qualified is the tenant pool in Barbourville, KY?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Barbourville, KY. The rental market absorbs $828/mo rents without meaningful friction.

You know 40906 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 40906 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 40906 ranks in London, KY

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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