Real Estate Investing in Hamilton, Indiana (46742)

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

Steuben County • Population: 3,126 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 46742 (Hamilton, IN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (48/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 34.6% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 33.6 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

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

What’s happening in Hamilton, IN (46742)?

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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 $370,193
Avg Monthly Rent $918
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $71,371
% Renters 21.7%

Market Analysis: 46742 Hamilton

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Hamilton's 46742 ZIP reports signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $370K pricing implies.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 46742 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Statewide comparisons place 46742 among IN's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

From a cash-flow lens, 3,126 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

leans 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 Hamilton:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 60/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+10.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $918/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
Angola, IN Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
8.9%
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 Angola, IN metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 46742

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
2.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+9.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$115,895/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $270,644 $1,020 2.7% +9.2% $135,322
3BR $347,684 $1,310 2.7% +8.9% $115,895
4BR $578,425 $1,350 1.7% +9.2% $144,606

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$391K$338K$284K$231K$178K$125KAug 2008Aug 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 46742 Compare?

Metric 46742 Hamilton Angola, IN Indiana
Home Value $370,193 $370,193 N/A $248,442
5-Year CAGR 6.9% 6.9% N/A 7.7%
Avg Rent $918 $918 N/A -
Cap Rate 1.9% 1.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 46742? 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 46742 (Hamilton, IN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
1.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.9%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Angola, IN metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
61%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $370,193
Monthly Rent $918
Price-to-Rent 33.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.0%
Cap Rate 1.9%
5-Year IRR 8.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +10.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 1.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (1.9%). 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
34.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.9%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 46742

Population: 3,126

💰 Median Household Income
$71,371
This area
$71,371
State
$69,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
21.7%
This area
21.7%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.8%
This area
1.8%
State
-23.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
24.4%
This area
24.4%
State
-6.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
45.8 years
This area
45.8 years
State
-0.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
34.6%
This area
34.6%
State
10.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.1%
Other/Mixed 2.5%
Hispanic/Latino 0.9%
Asian 0.4%
👶 Under 18
22.6%
This area
22.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
23.6%
This area
23.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.1%
This area
5.1%
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 46742

A Avg School Grade
2 Schools
9.8:1 Avg Class Size
$18,588 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Hamilton Community Elementary Sch

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
180 Students
👨‍🏫
10.9:1 Class Size
💰
$18,588 Per Student
A Very Good

Hamilton Community High School

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
168 Students
👨‍🏫
8.6:1 Class Size
💰
$18,588 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

2 Nearby
B+
Trine University-Regional/Non-Traditional Campuses
8,230 students · 8.8 mi
C
Trine University
4,471 students · 8.8 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Should investors consider Hamilton, IN?

Yes - Hamilton, IN a 3.0/5 investability score. With $370K home prices against $918/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

How high is vacancy risk in Hamilton, IN?

Hamilton, IN sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader IN rental market.

Are eviction rules reasonable in Hamilton, IN?

Rental owners in Hamilton, IN deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

Does house hacking work in Hamilton, IN?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Hamilton, IN reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

Where do rents currently stand in Hamilton, IN?

Expect rents around $918/mo per month in Hamilton, IN. With home values at $370K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

You know 46742 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 46742 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 46742 ranks in Angola, IN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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