Real Estate Investing in Elkhorn City, Kentucky (41522)

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

Pike • Population: 4,847 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 41522 (Elkhorn City, KY)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (62/100)

Mixed — values have been flat. OK for long-horizon buyers, less attractive if you may need to sell soon.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (57/100)

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
5 flags
  • High vacancy: 20.0% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Flat appreciation: Values have barely moved over 5 years (1.0% CAGR).
  • 1-year downturn: Values declined 3.1% in the last year.
  • Elevated poverty: 20.6% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.

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

What’s happening in Elkhorn City, KY (41522)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $85,863
Avg Monthly Rent $810
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $37,667
% Renters 21.9%

Market Analysis: 41522 Elkhorn City

Turning to rents, ZIP 41522 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $86K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 41522 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

ZIP 41522's metrics run below Pike's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

The demographic picture in 41522 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Elkhorn City averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 41522 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 Elkhorn City:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 69/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.3× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-3.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $810/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
🏠

Property Strategy for 41522

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
8.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+7.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$38,188/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $76,377 $900 8.5% +7.5% $38,188
3BR $115,006 $1,080 6.8% +7.6% $38,335

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$97K$88K$79K$71K$62K$54KJan 2016May 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 41522 Compare?

Metric 41522 Elkhorn City Kentucky
Home Value $85,863 $85,863 $225,788
5-Year CAGR 1.0% 1.0% 6.9%
Avg Rent $810 $810 -
Cap Rate 7.4% 7.4% -
💡 Why Invest in 41522? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 41522 (Elkhorn City, KY). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
7.4%
Good
5yr Growth
+1.0%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $85,863
Monthly Rent $810
Price-to-Rent 8.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 11.3%
Cap Rate 7.4%
5-Year IRR 8.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -3.1% ▼
3-Year CAGR +0.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +1.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Neutral Leverage Cap Rate: 7.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage is roughly neutral here.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) is close to the estimated cap rate (7.4%). Financing this market at current rates produces a cash-on-cash return near the cap rate. Appreciation and tax benefits may still support the investment.

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
20.0%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.0%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 41522

Population: 4,847

💰 Median Household Income
$37,667
This area
$37,667
State
$55,541
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
21.9%
This area
21.9%
State
23.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.0%
This area
3.0%
State
-16.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
12.6%
This area
12.6%
State
-4.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
45.4 years
This area
45.4 years
State
4.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
20.0%
This area
20.0%
State
16.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.0%
Black/African American 2.0%
Other/Mixed 1.1%
Hispanic/Latino 0.8%
👶 Under 18
16.6%
This area
16.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
28.2%
This area
28.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
20.6%
This area
20.6%
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 41522

A Avg School Grade
1 Schools
14.6:1 Avg Class Size
$14,759 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Elkhorn City Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
424 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$14,759 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

3 Nearby
D
American National University-Pikeville
329 students · 12.8 mi
D
Galen Health Institutes-Pikeville
122 students · 12.9 mi
C
University of Pikeville
2,610 students · 13.0 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What real estate strategy is ideal for Elkhorn City, KY?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Elkhorn City, KY. With home values at $86K and rents near $810/mo, other strategies can work but produce measured rather than outsized returns.

How tight is the rental market in Elkhorn City, KY?

Elkhorn City, KY vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

How much should I expect to pay for a home in Elkhorn City, KY?

The median home value in Elkhorn City, KY is roughly $86K. That puts it reasonable relative to the KY statewide average.

Does house hacking make sense in Elkhorn City, KY?

The house hack math a challenging in Elkhorn City, KY. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $810/mo rents and $86K home values.

Is rental property easy to operate in Elkhorn City, KY?

For rental operators, Elkhorn City, KY rates as landlord-friendly. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

You know 41522 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 41522 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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