Real Estate Investing in Murray, Kentucky (42071)

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

Calloway County • Population: 30,750 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 42071 (Murray, KY)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (64/100)

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: 16.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Murray, KY (42071)?

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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 $189,093
Avg Monthly Rent $1,079
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $46,304
% Renters 40.4%

Market Analysis: 42071 Murray

ZIP 42071 in Murray, KY carries a healthy set of headwinds. Home values near $189K and rents of $1,079/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Rent of $1,079/mo on a $189K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 42071 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Within KY, ZIP 42071 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Calloway County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and substantial enough to shape underwriting.

Resident income in 42071 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 42071 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 Murray:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 67/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.1× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,079/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
Murray, KY Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
9.4%
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 Murray, KY metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 42071

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$75,633/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $121,920 $850 5.0% +7.3% $121,920
2BR $152,030 $1,110 5.3% +8.5% $76,015
3BR $226,898 $1,330 4.2% +7.9% $75,633
4BR $324,276 $1,470 3.3% +7.6% $81,069
5BR $393,044 +7.0% $78,609

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$206K$177K$149K$120K$92K$63KJun 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,209$1,179$1,150$1,121$1,091$1,062Dec 2024Oct 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 42071 Compare?

Metric 42071 Murray Murray, KY Kentucky
Home Value $189,093 $189,093 N/A $225,788
5-Year CAGR 4.5% 4.5% N/A 6.9%
Avg Rent $1,079 $1,079 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.5% 4.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 42071? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 40% 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 42071 (Murray, KY). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.5%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.5%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Murray, KY metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
0%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $189,093
Monthly Rent $1,079
Price-to-Rent 14.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.9%
Cap Rate 4.5%
5-Year IRR 8.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.4% ▼
3-Year CAGR +1.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -6.2% ▼
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.5%). 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
16.4%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 42071

Population: 30,750

💰 Median Household Income
$46,304
This area
$46,304
State
$55,541
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
40.4%
This area
40.4%
State
23.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.5%
This area
2.5%
State
-16.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
34.5%
This area
34.5%
State
-4.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
33.4 years
This area
33.4 years
State
4.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
16.4%
This area
16.4%
State
16.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 89.3%
Other/Mixed 4.6%
Black/African American 4.1%
Hispanic/Latino 2.0%
Asian 1.9%
👶 Under 18
17.1%
This area
17.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.1%
This area
17.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.1%
This area
11.1%
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 42071

B Avg School Grade
13 Schools
21.7:1 Avg Class Size
$16,142 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

East Calloway Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
309 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$16,173 Per Student
A Very Good

Murray Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 03 Elementary
👥
560 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$16,079 Per Student
A Very Good

North Calloway Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
572 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$16,173 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Calloway County Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
637 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$16,173 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Murray High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
586 Students
👨‍🏫
16.3:1 Class Size
💰
$16,079 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Murray Middle School

📚 04 – 08 School
👥
669 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$16,079 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Southwest Calloway Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
433 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$16,173 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Calloway County High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
843 Students
👨‍🏫
17.5:1 Class Size
💰
$16,173 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Murray Preschool Head Start

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
97 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$16,079 Per Student
B Good

Calloway County Day Treatment

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
9 Students
👨‍🏫
2.3:1 Class Size
💰
$16,173 Per Student
C+ Average

Calloway County Preschool Center

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
188 Students
👨‍🏫
23.5:1 Class Size
💰
$16,173 Per Student
C Below Average

Murray/Calloway County Area Tech Center

📚 08 – 12 High School Limited Data
D Needs Improvement

Calloway County Alternative Program

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
100 Students
👨‍🏫
100.0:1 Class Size
💰
$16,173 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
B
Murray State University
9,841 students · 2.3 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the tenant base reliable in Murray, KY?

Tenant demand in Murray, KY is solid. The local workforce $1,079/mo rents across most rental classes.

What is the investability score for Murray, KY?

Murray, KY records an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $189K and average rents around $1,079/mo. That combination puts it in the notable tier for investor interest.

How much does a house cost in Murray, KY?

In Murray, KY the median home value sits at $189K. Against the broader KY market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

Does house hacking work in Murray, KY?

House hacking in Murray, KY is reasonable to execute. Prices around $189K and rents of $1,079/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Murray, KY?

Occupancy in Murray, KY runs steady with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $1,079/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

You know 42071 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 42071 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 42071 ranks in Murray, KY

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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