Real Estate Investing in Wickliffe, Kentucky (42087)

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

Ballard County • Population: 2,369 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 42087 (Wickliffe, 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
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 16.7% 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 Wickliffe, KY (42087)?

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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 $133,489
Avg Monthly Rent $855
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $52,083
% Renters 13.4%

Market Analysis: 42087 Wickliffe

ZIP 42087 inside Ballard County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $133K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Turning to rents, the numbers look inviting — $133K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 42087 is substantial and deserves full respect.

The gap between 42087 and stronger Wickliffe ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

The 42087 ZIP's population of 2,369 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that clocks in at the need for careful underwriting.

trends toward 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 Wickliffe:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.6× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $855/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 42087

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
6.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+8.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$53,261/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $108,963 $950 6.3% +7.7% $54,481
3BR $159,783 $1,140 5.1% +8.5% $53,261

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$141K$123K$106K$88K$71K$54KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 42087 Compare?

Metric 42087 Wickliffe Paducah, KY-IL Kentucky
Home Value $133,489 $133,489 N/A $225,788
5-Year CAGR 6.4% 6.4% N/A 6.9%
Avg Rent $855 $855 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.0% 5.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 42087? 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 42087 (Wickliffe, KY). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.0%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.4%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $133,489
Monthly Rent $855
Price-to-Rent 13.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.7%
Cap Rate 5.0%
5-Year IRR 11.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.0%). 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
16.7%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 42087

Population: 2,369

💰 Median Household Income
$52,083
This area
$52,083
State
$55,541
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
13.4%
This area
13.4%
State
23.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.4%
This area
2.4%
State
-16.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
11.1%
This area
11.1%
State
-4.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
47.3 years
This area
47.3 years
State
4.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
16.7%
This area
16.7%
State
16.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 91.4%
Black/African American 5.0%
Other/Mixed 3.2%
Hispanic/Latino 0.9%
Asian 0.4%
👶 Under 18
16.1%
This area
16.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.1%
This area
19.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
18.4%
This area
18.4%
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

Frequently Asked Questions

What are rental rates like in Wickliffe, KY?

Rent in Wickliffe, KY is around $855/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $133K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

Are tenants stable in Wickliffe, KY?

Tenant demand in Wickliffe, KY is solid. The local workforce $855/mo rents across most rental classes.

Which investment style suits Wickliffe, KY?

Wickliffe, KY investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($133K prices, $855/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

Is Wickliffe, KY a good market for FHA house hackers?

For house hackers, Wickliffe, KY is a challenging. The $855/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $133K property.

Should investors worry about vacancy in Wickliffe, KY?

Rental vacancy in Wickliffe, KY is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

You know 42087 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 42087 ranks in Paducah, KY-IL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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