Real Estate Investing in Crofton, Kentucky (42217)

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

Christian County • Population: 3,739 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 42217 (Crofton, KY)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (66/100)

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

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • Elevated vacancy: 10.0% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • 1-year downturn: Values declined 4.1% 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 Crofton, KY (42217)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $239,796
Avg Monthly Rent $999
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $53,802
% Renters 18.1%

Market Analysis: 42217 Crofton

Investors eyeing 42217 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $240K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Rent of $999/mo on a $240K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 42217 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Regionally, 42217 sits on the difficult end of the KY spectrum. The an appealing option for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Who lives in 42217 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

New investors are better served looking at Crofton's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 42217. 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 Crofton:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 69/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.5× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-4.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $999/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Clarksville, TN-KY Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
63 days
Average time to sell
Slow
11.4%
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 Clarksville, TN-KY metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 42217

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+11.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$81,155/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $162,310 $1,110 4.9% +11.0% $81,155
3BR $274,935 $1,550 4.1% +9.4% $91,645
4BR $352,485 $1,860 3.8% +8.3% $88,121

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$265K$233K$201K$169K$137K$105KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 42217 Compare?

Metric 42217 Crofton Clarksville, TN-KY Kentucky
Home Value $239,796 $239,796 N/A $225,788
5-Year CAGR 6.8% 6.8% N/A 6.9%
Avg Rent $999 $999 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.3% 3.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 42217? 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 42217 (Crofton, KY). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.8%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $239,796
Monthly Rent $999
Price-to-Rent 20.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.0%
Cap Rate 3.3%
5-Year IRR 10.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -4.1% ▼
3-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.3%). 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
10.0%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.8%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 42217

Population: 3,739

💰 Median Household Income
$53,802
This area
$53,802
State
$55,541
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
18.1%
This area
18.1%
State
23.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.4%
This area
2.4%
State
-16.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
15.8%
This area
15.8%
State
-4.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.9 years
This area
41.9 years
State
4.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.0%
This area
10.0%
State
16.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 89.3%
Other/Mixed 7.0%
Black/African American 3.7%
Hispanic/Latino 2.6%
👶 Under 18
22.6%
This area
22.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.2%
This area
21.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
10.0%
This area
10.0%
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 42217

B Avg School Grade
1 Schools
15.8:1 Avg Class Size
$13,900 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

Crofton Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
396 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,900 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

2 Nearby 1,248 Off-Campus Students
C
Hopkinsville Community College
2,156 students · 11.5 mi
D
Ross College-Hopkinsville
65 students · 14.9 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,248 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the tenant pool like in Crofton, KY?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Crofton, KY. The rental market absorbs $999/mo rents without meaningful friction.

How should investors approach Crofton, KY?

In Crofton, KY the robust play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $240K prices and $999/mo rents suits that approach.

What is the typical home price in Crofton, KY?

In Crofton, KY the median home value sits at $240K. Against the broader KY market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

Is Crofton, KY good for house hacking?

House hacking in Crofton, KY is a challenging. With home values around $240K and rents at $999/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

Should investors worry about vacancy in Crofton, KY?

Vacancy in Crofton, KY is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $999/mo.

You know 42217 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 42217 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 42217 ranks in Clarksville, TN-KY

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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