Real Estate Investing in Upton, Kentucky (42784)

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

Hardin County • Population: 2,948 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 42784 (Upton, KY)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (79/100)

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

📈 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 poverty: 22.2% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Upton, KY (42784)?

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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 $200,466
Avg Monthly Rent $873
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $66,875
% Renters 30.2%

Market Analysis: 42784 Upton

ZIP 42784 in Upton, KY carries a resilient set of headwinds. Home values near $200K and rents of $873/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

In practical terms, the numbers look inviting — $200K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 42784 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Meanwhile, 42784 offers a low basis, the region around Upton has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

The 42784 ZIP's population of 2,948 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that posts the need for careful underwriting.

Strategically, 42784 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Upton:

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 3× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-1.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $873/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
Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
9.4%
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 Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 42784

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+10.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$75,308/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $159,971 $970 4.4% +10.8% $79,985
3BR $225,923 $1,360 4.3% +9.4% $75,308

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$220K$190K$160K$130K$100K$70KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 42784 Compare?

Metric 42784 Upton Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY Kentucky
Home Value $200,466 $200,466 N/A $225,788
5-Year CAGR 5.1% 5.1% N/A 6.9%
Avg Rent $873 $873 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.4% 3.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 42784? 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 42784 (Upton, KY). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.1%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $200,466
Monthly Rent $873
Price-to-Rent 19.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.2%
Cap Rate 3.4%
5-Year IRR 8.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -1.6% ▼
3-Year CAGR +3.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.4%). 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
7.7%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 42784

Population: 2,948

💰 Median Household Income
$66,875
This area
$66,875
State
$55,541
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
30.2%
This area
30.2%
State
23.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.6%
This area
0.6%
State
-16.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
17.1%
This area
17.1%
State
-4.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
35.9 years
This area
35.9 years
State
4.8 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.7%
This area
7.7%
State
16.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.9%
Other/Mixed 3.4%
Hispanic/Latino 0.8%
Black/African American 0.7%
👶 Under 18
26.4%
This area
26.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.1%
This area
17.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
22.2%
This area
22.2%
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

How does Upton, KY rate as a rental market?

Upton, KY rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $200K and rents near $873/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

What do landlords charge for rent in Upton, KY?

Rent in Upton, KY is around $873/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $200K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

What is the best play in Upton, KY?

Upton, KY investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($200K prices, $873/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

Is Upton, KY landlord-friendly?

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

What is the typical home price in Upton, KY?

Homes in Upton, KY typically sell near $200K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which reliable long-term demand.

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How 42784 ranks in Elizabethtown-Fort Knox, KY

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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