Real Estate Investing in Trafalgar, Indiana (46181)

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

Johnson County • Population: 5,094 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 46181 (Trafalgar, IN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (76/100)

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 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

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

What’s happening in Trafalgar, IN (46181)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $376,441
Avg Monthly Rent $1,314
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $86,836
% Renters 9.8%

Market Analysis: 46181 Trafalgar

ZIP 46181 inside Johnson County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $376K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $376K asset, 46181 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

The gap between 46181 and stronger Trafalgar ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Employment concentration in 46181 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

tilts toward the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Trafalgar:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 67/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,314/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 46181

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+9.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$119,500/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $285,329 $1,460 3.7% +9.0% $142,665
3BR $358,501 $1,890 3.8% +7.6% $119,500
4BR $492,031 $2,320 3.4% +8.1% $123,008

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$397K$344K$291K$238K$185K$132KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 46181 Compare?

Metric 46181 Trafalgar Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN Indiana
Home Value $376,441 $376,441 N/A $248,442
5-Year CAGR 4.7% 4.7% N/A 7.7%
Avg Rent $1,314 $1,314 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.7% 2.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 46181? 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 46181 (Trafalgar, IN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.7%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $376,441
Monthly Rent $1,314
Price-to-Rent 23.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.2%
Cap Rate 2.7%
5-Year IRR 7.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.7% ▲
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: 2.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.7%). 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
3.5%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 46181

Population: 5,094

💰 Median Household Income
$86,836
This area
$86,836
State
$69,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
9.8%
This area
9.8%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.6%
This area
1.6%
State
-23.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
31.6%
This area
31.6%
State
-6.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.7 years
This area
43.7 years
State
-0.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.5%
This area
3.5%
State
10.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.3%
Other/Mixed 2.1%
Hispanic/Latino 0.7%
Asian 0.6%
👶 Under 18
26.5%
This area
26.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.7%
This area
18.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.9%
This area
5.9%
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 46181

B Avg School Grade
4 Schools
15.8:1 Avg Class Size
$12,822 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Indian Creek Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
479 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$12,822 Per Student
B Good

Indian Creek Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
486 Students
👨‍🏫
16.5:1 Class Size
💰
$12,822 Per Student
B Good

Indian Creek Intermediate School

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
456 Students
👨‍🏫
16.6:1 Class Size
💰
$12,822 Per Student
B Good

Indian Creek Sr High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
637 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$12,822 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
C
Franklin College
966 students · 9.1 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong is Trafalgar, IN for real estate investors?

Trafalgar, IN scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $376K and rents near $1,314/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

How strong is the working-renter base in Trafalgar, IN?

The renter base in Trafalgar, IN is reasonable for the $1,314/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields steady tenants.

What strategy should investors use in Trafalgar, IN?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Trafalgar, IN. With home values at $376K and rents near $1,314/mo, other strategies can work but produce stable rather than outsized returns.

How much should I expect to pay for a home in Trafalgar, IN?

Typical homes in Trafalgar, IN go for around $376K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% reliable price movement.

Are rents high in Trafalgar, IN?

Trafalgar, IN rentals go for roughly $1,314/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $376K acquisition costs.

You know 46181 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 46181 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 46181 ranks in Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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