Real Estate Investing in Henderson, Kentucky (42420)

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

Henderson County • Population: 38,434 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 42420 (Henderson, 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
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.8% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Henderson, KY (42420)?

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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 $207,538
Avg Monthly Rent $955
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $55,423
% Renters 39.1%

Market Analysis: 42420 Henderson

This part of Henderson County is not an easy win. The 42420 ZIP shows softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 42420 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

In the broader KY picture, 42420 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Demographically, 42420 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

New investors are better served looking at Henderson's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 42420. 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 Henderson:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 73/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $955/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.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Evansville, IN-KY Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
35 days
Average time to sell
Average
12.4%
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 Evansville, IN-KY metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 42420

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
6.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+7.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$55,553/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $98,728 $780 5.7% +6.1% $98,728
2BR $111,106 $950 6.2% +6.7% $55,553
3BR $202,840 $1,240 4.4% +7.4% $67,613
4BR $291,842 $1,440 3.6% +6.8% $72,960
5BR $387,622 +7.2% $77,524

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$216K$191K$166K$140K$115K$90KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

No data available

📊 How Does 42420 Compare?

Metric 42420 Henderson Evansville, IN-KY Kentucky
Home Value $207,538 $207,538 N/A $225,788
5-Year CAGR 6.6% 6.6% N/A 6.9%
Avg Rent $955 $955 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.6% 3.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 42420? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 39% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 42420 (Henderson, KY). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.6%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $207,538
Monthly Rent $955
Price-to-Rent 18.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.5%
Cap Rate 3.6%
5-Year IRR 10.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.6%). 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
8.8%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.6%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 42420

Population: 38,434

💰 Median Household Income
$55,423
This area
$55,423
State
$55,541
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
39.1%
This area
39.1%
State
23.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
-16.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
19.6%
This area
19.6%
State
-4.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.1 years
This area
40.1 years
State
4.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.8%
This area
8.8%
State
16.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 85.5%
Black/African American 7.9%
Other/Mixed 6.2%
Hispanic/Latino 2.8%
Asian 0.3%
👶 Under 18
23.2%
This area
23.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.8%
This area
17.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
15.0%
This area
15.0%
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 42420

B+ Avg School Grade
11 Schools
15.9:1 Avg Class Size
$15,873 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Bend Gate Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
426 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$15,873 Per Student
A Very Good

East Heights Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
350 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,873 Per Student
A Very Good

Henderson County North Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
652 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,873 Per Student
A Very Good

South Heights Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
415 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,873 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Cairo Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
250 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,873 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Henderson County South Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
681 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,873 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Jefferson Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
426 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,873 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Niagara Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
269 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,873 Per Student
B Good

Thelma B. Johnson Early Learning Center

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
392 Students
👨‍🏫
21.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,873 Per Student
B Good

Henderson County High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,928 Students
👨‍🏫
16.5:1 Class Size
💰
$15,873 Per Student
C+ Average

The Central Academy

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
240 Students
👨‍🏫
18.3:1 Class Size
💰
$15,873 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

6 Nearby 1,904 Off-Campus Students
C
Henderson Community College
1,606 students · 7.4 mi
C+
University of Evansville
2,109 students · 12.0 mi
C
Rogers Academy of Hair Design
101 students · 12.3 mi
D
Ross Medical Education Center-Evansville
68 students · 12.5 mi
C
The Salon Professional Academy-Evansville
169 students · 13.1 mi
C+
University of Southern Indiana
9,282 students · 14.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,904 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Henderson, KY?

Henderson, KY vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

How strong is tenant demand in Henderson, KY?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Henderson, KY. The rental market absorbs $955/mo rents without meaningful friction.

What price range are homes in Henderson, KY?

Homes in Henderson, KY typically sell near $208K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which stable long-term demand.

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Henderson, KY?

House hacking in Henderson, KY is a challenging. With home values around $208K and rents at $955/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

What type of investing works in Henderson, KY?

Most investors in Henderson, 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.

You know 42420 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 42420 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 42420 ranks in Evansville, IN-KY

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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