Real Estate Investing in Nortonville, Kentucky (42442)

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

Hopkins County • Population: 3,006 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 42442 (Nortonville, KY)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (84/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
GOOD
4.0 / 5 (71/100)

A balanced market — moderate cash flow and moderate appreciation. A "steady" investor profile fits best.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 14.7% 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 Nortonville, KY (42442)?

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4.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $117,417
Avg Monthly Rent $999
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $56,808
% Renters 22.7%

Market Analysis: 42442 Nortonville

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Nortonville's 42442 ZIP reports signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $117K pricing implies.

Rent of $999/mo on a $117K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 42442 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

The gap between 42442 and stronger Nortonville ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Demographically, 42442 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.

The 42442 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 Nortonville:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 78/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $999/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This area shows favorable conditions for homebuyers. Solid fundamentals with reasonable affordability.
☀️
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)

$134K$116K$98K$80K$61K$43KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 42442 Compare?

Metric 42442 Nortonville Madisonville, KY Kentucky
Home Value $117,417 $117,417 N/A $225,788
5-Year CAGR 7.2% 7.2% N/A 6.9%
Avg Rent $999 $999 N/A -
Cap Rate 6.6% 6.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 42442? Click to expand

Our analysis gives this area a 4/5 investability rating, placing it in the top tier for rental property potential.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 42442 (Nortonville, KY). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Excellent
Cap Rate
6.6%
Good
5yr Growth
+7.2%
Strong

📉 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 $117,417
Monthly Rent $999
Price-to-Rent 9.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 10.2%
Cap Rate 6.6%
5-Year IRR 13.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Neutral Leverage Cap Rate: 6.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage is roughly neutral here.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) is close to the estimated cap rate (6.6%). Financing this market at current rates produces a cash-on-cash return near the cap rate. Appreciation and tax benefits may still support the investment.

⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
14.7%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.2%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 42442

Population: 3,006

💰 Median Household Income
$56,808
This area
$56,808
State
$55,541
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
22.7%
This area
22.7%
State
23.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.2%
This area
4.2%
State
-16.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
11.1%
This area
11.1%
State
-4.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
42.8 years
This area
42.8 years
State
4.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.7%
This area
14.7%
State
16.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.0%
Other/Mixed 2.9%
Black/African American 2.1%
Hispanic/Latino 1.2%
👶 Under 18
26.3%
This area
26.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.3%
This area
13.3%
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 42442

B+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
14.7:1 Avg Class Size
$13,966 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

South Hopkins Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
346 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$13,966 Per Student
B Good

Southside Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
556 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,966 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 2,188 Off-Campus Students
C+
Madisonville Community College
3,535 students · 13.1 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of market is Nortonville, KY for investors?

Investors tracking Nortonville, KY will find a 4.0/5 rating supported by $117K median home values and $999/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting reliable returns.

What do landlords charge for rent in Nortonville, KY?

Expect rents around $999/mo per month in Nortonville, KY. With home values at $117K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

Is vacancy a concern in Nortonville, KY?

Expect elevated vacancy in Nortonville, KY. Rents at $999/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

How should investors approach Nortonville, KY?

Most investors in Nortonville, KY run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 4.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

Are eviction rules reasonable in Nortonville, KY?

Nortonville, KY falls under KY landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

You know 42442 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 42442 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 42442 ranks in Madisonville, KY

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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