Real Estate Investing in Kevil, Kentucky (42053)

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

McCracken County • Population: 4,882 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 42053 (Kevil, KY)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

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

Solid choice — stable market with a reasonable entry point and good rental backup if you ever need to move.

📈 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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 14.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • 1-year downturn: Values declined 6.0% in the last year.

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

What’s happening in Kevil, KY (42053)?

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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 $170,137
Avg Monthly Rent $999
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $58,934
% Renters 20.1%

Market Analysis: 42053 Kevil

ZIP 42053 in Kevil, KY carries a resilient set of headwinds. Home values near $170K and rents of $999/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 42053 reflects the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

From an investor standpoint, 42053 offers a low basis, the region around Kevil has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Looking more closely, 4,882 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.

Strategically, 42053 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Kevil:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.9× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-6.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $999/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 42053

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+8.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$71,470/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $142,941 $1,110 5.6% +7.0% $71,470
3BR $225,050 $1,330 4.3% +8.3% $75,017
4BR $322,916 $1,770 3.9% +7.4% $80,729

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$189K$167K$145K$123K$101K$79KMay 2006Jun 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 42053 Compare?

Metric 42053 Kevil Paducah, KY-IL Kentucky
Home Value $170,137 $192,842 N/A $225,788
5-Year CAGR 4.1% 4.3% N/A 6.9%
Avg Rent $999 $1,022 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.6% 4.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 42053? 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 42053 (Kevil, KY). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.6%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.1%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $170,137
Monthly Rent $999
Price-to-Rent 14.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.1%
Cap Rate 4.6%
5-Year IRR 8.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -6.0% ▼
3-Year CAGR +0.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.3% ▲

🏠 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
14.2%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 42053

Population: 4,882

💰 Median Household Income
$58,934
This area
$58,934
State
$55,541
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
20.1%
This area
20.1%
State
23.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.6%
This area
2.6%
State
-16.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
18.6%
This area
18.6%
State
-4.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
46.3 years
This area
46.3 years
State
4.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.2%
This area
14.2%
State
16.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 96.7%
Other/Mixed 2.4%
Hispanic/Latino 0.7%
Asian 0.6%
Black/African American 0.4%
👶 Under 18
18.2%
This area
18.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
24.8%
This area
24.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.3%
This area
7.3%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

2 Nearby 3,508 Off-Campus Students
C+
West Kentucky Community and Technical College
5,132 students · 12.5 mi
C
Shawnee Community College
1,142 students · 14.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,508 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do rentals go for in Kevil, KY?

Average rent in Kevil, KY is approximately $999/mo per month. Against $170K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

Are there empty rentals in Kevil, KY?

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

What is the smart move for investors in Kevil, KY?

Most investors in Kevil, KY run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 3.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

Is KY a landlord-friendly state?

The landlord environment in Kevil, KY is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

Are tenants stable in Kevil, KY?

Working renters make up the core of the Kevil, KY tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

You know 42053 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 42053 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 42053 ranks in Paducah, KY-IL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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