Real Estate Investing in Eddyville, Kentucky (42038)

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

Lyon County • Population: 6,045 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 42038 (Eddyville, KY)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (65/100)

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

📈 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
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 31.6% of homes vacant — above national norms.

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

What’s happening in Eddyville, KY (42038)?

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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 $159,297
Avg Monthly Rent $999
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $60,816
% Renters 23.0%

Market Analysis: 42038 Eddyville

From an investor standpoint, ZIP 42038 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $159K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Turning to rents, the numbers look inviting — $159K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 42038 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Regionally, 42038 sits on the difficult end of the KY spectrum. The a solid fit for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

The 42038 ZIP's population of 6,045 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that registers the need for careful underwriting.

looks to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Eddyville:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.6× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-1.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $999/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 42038

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$83,534/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $167,068 $1,110 4.8% +8.2% $83,534
3BR $253,315 $1,550 4.4% +7.6% $84,438
4BR $438,667 $1,860 3.1% +6.8% $109,667

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$171K$156K$140K$124K$109K$93KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 42038 Compare?

Metric 42038 Eddyville Kentucky
Home Value $159,297 $159,297 $225,788
5-Year CAGR 3.7% 3.7% 6.9%
Avg Rent $999 $999 -
Cap Rate 4.9% 4.9% -
💡 Why Invest in 42038? 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 42038 (Eddyville, KY). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.9%
Fair
5yr Growth
+3.7%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $159,297
Monthly Rent $999
Price-to-Rent 13.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.5%
Cap Rate 4.9%
5-Year IRR 8.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -1.9% ▼
3-Year CAGR +2.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +3.6% ▲

🏠 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
31.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 42038

Population: 6,045

💰 Median Household Income
$60,816
This area
$60,816
State
$55,541
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
23.0%
This area
23.0%
State
23.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.0%
This area
1.0%
State
-16.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
13.6%
This area
13.6%
State
-4.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
45.0 years
This area
45.0 years
State
4.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
31.6%
This area
31.6%
State
16.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 89.8%
Black/African American 7.1%
Other/Mixed 2.7%
Hispanic/Latino 1.1%
Asian 0.4%
👶 Under 18
13.3%
This area
13.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.1%
This area
20.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.0%
This area
9.0%
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 42038

B+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
16.5:1 Avg Class Size
$17,949 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Lyon County Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
465 Students
👨‍🏫
17.8:1 Class Size
💰
$17,949 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Lyon County High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
293 Students
👨‍🏫
16.1:1 Class Size
💰
$17,949 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Lyon County Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
215 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$17,949 Per Student
B Good

Eddyville Education Center

📚 Grade UG Elementary Limited Data
💰
$17,949 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How quickly do rentals get leased in Eddyville, KY?

Eddyville, KY carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect steady absorption at market rents of $999/mo.

Are rents high in Eddyville, KY?

Eddyville, KY rentals go for roughly $999/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $159K acquisition costs.

Is Eddyville, KY better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

Eddyville, KY investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($159K prices, $999/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

Can I house hack in Eddyville, KY?

Eddyville, KY is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $159K price point reasonable to enter.

How does Eddyville, KY rate as a rental market?

Eddyville, KY rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $159K and rents near $999/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

You know 42038 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 42038 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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