Real Estate Investing in Plainfield, Indiana (46168)

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

Hendricks County • Population: 38,889 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 46168 (Plainfield, IN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (80/100)

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 (52/100)

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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Plainfield, IN (46168)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $336,446
Avg Monthly Rent $1,734
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $81,450
% Renters 32.8%

Market Analysis: 46168 Plainfield

The 46168 ZIP covers a section of Plainfield that demands careful diligence. Prices near $336K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

The 46168 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

The gap between 46168 and stronger Plainfield ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

The demographic picture in 46168 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Plainfield averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. healthy returns are possible in 46168, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Plainfield:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 71/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,734/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
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
40 days
Average time to sell
Average
13.3%
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 Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 46168

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
5.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$91,100/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $247,005 $1,610 4.7% +8.0% $123,502
3BR $298,198 $2,080 5.0% +7.1% $99,399
4BR $384,683 $2,560 4.8% +6.6% $96,171
5BR $455,502 +6.2% $91,100

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$352K$309K$266K$223K$180K$137KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,786$1,665$1,545$1,424$1,304$1,184Jan 2021Oct 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 46168 Compare?

Metric 46168 Plainfield Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN Indiana
Home Value $336,446 $336,446 N/A $248,442
5-Year CAGR 4.8% 4.8% N/A 7.7%
Avg Rent $1,734 $1,734 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.0% 4.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 46168? 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 →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 46168 (Plainfield, IN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.0%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.8%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $336,446
Monthly Rent $1,734
Price-to-Rent 16.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.2%
Cap Rate 4.0%
5-Year IRR 8.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +1.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.0%). 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
3.6%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 46168

Population: 38,889

💰 Median Household Income
$81,450
This area
$81,450
State
$69,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
32.8%
This area
32.8%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.0%
This area
2.0%
State
-23.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
35.1%
This area
35.1%
State
-6.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.0 years
This area
37.0 years
State
-0.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.6%
This area
3.6%
State
10.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 78.4%
Black/African American 8.5%
Other/Mixed 8.3%
Hispanic/Latino 6.0%
Asian 4.8%
👶 Under 18
22.4%
This area
22.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
14.9%
This area
14.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.8%
This area
3.8%
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 46168

B Avg School Grade
9 Schools
16.4:1 Avg Class Size
$14,199 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Brentwood Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
421 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,199 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Central Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
581 Students
👨‍🏫
17.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,199 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Clarks Creek Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
517 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$14,199 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Guilford Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
439 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,199 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Van Buren Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
500 Students
👨‍🏫
16.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,199 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Pride Academy

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
12 Students
👨‍🏫
3.1:1 Class Size
💰
$14,199 Per Student
B Good

Plainfield Community Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
1,369 Students
👨‍🏫
17.3:1 Class Size
💰
$14,199 Per Student
C+ Average

Plainfield High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,781 Students
👨‍🏫
19.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,199 Per Student
C+ Average

Little Quakers Academy

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
214 Students
👨‍🏫
26.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,199 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

8 Nearby 7,292 Off-Campus Students
C
Aviation Institute of Maintenance-Indianapolis
160 students · 7.1 mi
D
MyComputerCareer at Indianapolis
1,034 students · 7.8 mi
D
Empire Beauty School-Speedway
209 students · 10.3 mi
D
Kenny's Academy of Barbering
147 students · 12.3 mi
B
Indiana University-Indianapolis
25,497 students · 13.0 mi
C
Marian University
3,586 students · 13.2 mi
C
American College of Education
11,961 students · 13.5 mi
C+
University of Indianapolis
5,447 students · 13.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 7,292 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are rental rates like in Plainfield, IN?

Average rent in Plainfield, IN is approximately $1,734/mo per month. Against $336K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

Which real estate strategy fits Plainfield, IN?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Plainfield, IN. The numbers - $336K homes against $1,734/mo rents - support that play.

Is Plainfield in IN worth investing in?

Our data puts Plainfield, IN at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $336K and rents around $1,734/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

Is rental property easy to operate in Plainfield, IN?

Landlord-friendliness in Plainfield, IN is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

What is the typical renter like in Plainfield, IN?

Tenant quality in Plainfield, IN ranks as solid. Landlords generally report predictable occupancy at market rents of $1,734/mo.

You know 46168 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 46168 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 46168 ranks in Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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