Real Estate Investing in Barlow, Kentucky (42024)

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

Ballard County • Population: 1,160 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 42024 (Barlow, KY)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (72/100)

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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 30.0% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Elevated poverty: 23.0% 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 Barlow, KY (42024)?

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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 $127,889
Avg Monthly Rent $810
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $57,875
% Renters 24.7%

Market Analysis: 42024 Barlow

Investors eyeing 42024 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $128K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $128K asset, 42024 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Nearby ZIPs in Barlow have seen price recovery that 42024 has not matched. Ballard County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

On balance, 1,160 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

New investors are better served looking at Barlow's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 42024. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Barlow:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 75/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.2× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $810/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
Paducah, KY-IL Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
8.2%
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 Paducah, KY-IL metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 42024

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
6.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+9.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$50,243/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $100,486 $900 6.4% +9.2% $50,243
3BR $176,682 $1,080 4.4% +8.9% $58,894

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$134K$120K$107K$93K$79K$65KFeb 2017Nov 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 42024 Compare?

Metric 42024 Barlow Paducah, KY-IL Kentucky
Home Value $127,889 $127,889 N/A $225,788
5-Year CAGR 6.4% 6.4% N/A 6.9%
Avg Rent $810 $810 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.9% 4.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 42024? 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 42024 (Barlow, KY). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.9%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.4%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $127,889
Monthly Rent $810
Price-to-Rent 13.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.6%
Cap Rate 4.9%
5-Year IRR 11.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.9%). 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
30.0%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 42024

Population: 1,160

💰 Median Household Income
$57,875
This area
$57,875
State
$55,541
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
24.7%
This area
24.7%
State
23.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.9%
This area
0.9%
State
-16.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
8.3%
This area
8.3%
State
-4.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
53.3 years
This area
53.3 years
State
4.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
30.0%
This area
30.0%
State
16.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.2%
Black/African American 3.0%
Other/Mixed 1.8%
Hispanic/Latino 0.5%
👶 Under 18
13.7%
This area
13.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
27.7%
This area
27.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
23.0%
This area
23.0%
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 42024

B Avg School Grade
5 Schools
15.5:1 Avg Class Size
$14,230 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Ballard Memorial High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
265 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$14,230 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Ballard County Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
463 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,230 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Ballard County Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
221 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,230 Per Student
B Good

Ballard Co. Preschool/Headstart Center

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
90 Students
👨‍🏫
18.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,230 Per Student
C+ Average

Ballard County Career and Technology Ctr

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$14,230 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

1 Nearby 214 Off-Campus Students
C
Shawnee Community College
1,142 students · 13.6 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Is vacancy a concern in Barlow, KY?

Expect elevated vacancy in Barlow, KY. Rents at $810/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

What is the typical renter like in Barlow, KY?

Barlow, KY offers a even-keeled renter base at the $810/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

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

Typical homes in Barlow, KY go for around $128K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% consistent price movement.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Barlow, KY?

For house hackers, Barlow, KY is a challenging. The $810/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $128K property.

What is the best play in Barlow, KY?

For Barlow, KY, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

You know 42024 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 42024 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 42024 ranks in Paducah, KY-IL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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