Real Estate Investing in Mortons Gap, Kentucky (42440)

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

Hopkins County • Population: 746 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 42440 (Mortons Gap, KY)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (81/100)

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 (57/100)

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
  • Elevated vacancy: 10.1% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Mortons Gap, KY (42440)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $78,386
Avg Monthly Rent $783
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $46,319
% Renters 26.2%

Market Analysis: 42440 Mortons Gap

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Mortons Gap's 42440 ZIP stands at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $78K pricing implies.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 42440 registers the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Nearby ZIPs in Mortons Gap have seen price recovery that 42440 has not matched. Hopkins County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

The demographic picture in 42440 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Mortons Gap averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

The 42440 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Mortons Gap:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 71/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 1.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $783/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
Madisonville, KY Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
11.1%
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 Madisonville, KY metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$98K$88K$78K$67K$57K$47KFeb 2019Nov 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 42440 Compare?

Metric 42440 Mortons Gap Madisonville, KY Kentucky
Home Value $78,386 $78,386 N/A $225,788
5-Year CAGR 4.4% 4.4% N/A 6.9%
Avg Rent $783 $783 N/A -
Cap Rate 7.8% 7.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 42440? 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 42440 (Mortons Gap, KY). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
7.8%
Good
5yr Growth
+4.4%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Madisonville, KY metro

3/10
Moderate Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
3/3
80%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $78,386
Monthly Rent $783
Price-to-Rent 8.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 12.0%
Cap Rate 7.8%
5-Year IRR 12.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Positive Leverage Market Cap Rate: 7.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (7.8%) exceeds the current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%). When borrowing costs less than a property yields, leverage can increase your cash-on-cash return above the cap rate.

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
10.1%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 42440

Population: 746

💰 Median Household Income
$46,319
This area
$46,319
State
$55,541
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
26.2%
This area
26.2%
State
23.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.4%
This area
0.4%
State
-16.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
11.6%
This area
11.6%
State
-4.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.8 years
This area
43.8 years
State
4.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.1%
This area
10.1%
State
16.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.9%
Black/African American 3.2%
Other/Mixed 1.9%
Hispanic/Latino 0.2%
👶 Under 18
17.2%
This area
17.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.8%
This area
16.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
17.1%
This area
17.1%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby 2,188 Off-Campus Students
C+
Madisonville Community College
3,535 students · 8.9 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,188 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How viable is house hacking in Mortons Gap, KY?

House hacking in Mortons Gap, KY is reasonable to execute. Prices around $78K and rents of $783/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

How strong is the working-renter base in Mortons Gap, KY?

Mortons Gap, KY draws a stable base of working renters. Demand at the $783/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

What is the investability score for Mortons Gap, KY?

Mortons Gap, KY rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $78K and rents near $783/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Mortons Gap, KY?

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

Does Mortons Gap, KY favor landlords or tenants?

KY ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Mortons Gap generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

You know 42440 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 42440 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 42440 ranks in Madisonville, KY

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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