Real Estate Investing in Bedford, Indiana (47421)

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

Lawrence County • Population: 27,610 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 47421 (Bedford, IN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (71/100)

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
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 Bedford, IN (47421)?

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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 $211,682
Avg Monthly Rent $891
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $65,630
% Renters 22.7%

Market Analysis: 47421 Bedford

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Bedford's 47421 ZIP shows signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $212K pricing implies.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 47421 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Within IN, ZIP 47421 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Lawrence County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and sturdy enough to shape underwriting.

Resident income in 47421 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

The 47421 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 Bedford:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 76/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $891/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
Bedford, IN Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
9.7%
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 Bedford, IN metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 47421

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
5.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$69,804/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $99,758 $810 5.8% +7.2% $99,758
2BR $148,039 $990 4.8% +8.8% $74,019
3BR $216,767 $1,260 4.2% +7.7% $72,256
4BR $291,244 $1,500 3.7% +7.4% $72,811
5BR $349,018 +6.7% $69,804

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$226K$196K$166K$136K$106K$76KMay 2010Jun 2018Jul 2026

📊 How Does 47421 Compare?

Metric 47421 Bedford Bedford, IN Indiana
Home Value $211,682 $214,028 N/A $248,442
5-Year CAGR 5.2% 4.9% N/A 7.7%
Avg Rent $891 $896 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.3% 3.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 47421? 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 47421 (Bedford, IN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.2%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Bedford, IN metro

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

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $211,682
Monthly Rent $891
Price-to-Rent 19.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.1%
Cap Rate 3.3%
5-Year IRR 8.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.3%). 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
6.5%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 47421

Population: 27,610

💰 Median Household Income
$65,630
This area
$65,630
State
$69,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
22.7%
This area
22.7%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.2%
This area
1.2%
State
-23.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
19.0%
This area
19.0%
State
-6.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
45.1 years
This area
45.1 years
State
-0.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.5%
This area
6.5%
State
10.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.3%
Other/Mixed 3.9%
Hispanic/Latino 1.9%
Asian 0.4%
Black/African American 0.3%
👶 Under 18
19.8%
This area
19.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.5%
This area
21.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.2%
This area
7.2%
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

🎓 Schools in 47421

B Avg School Grade
9 Schools
14.3:1 Avg Class Size
$13,359 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Parkview Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
494 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$13,548 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Needmore Elementary School

📚 K – 06 School
👥
226 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$13,548 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Lawrence County Independent Schools

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
212 Students
👨‍🏫
10.6:1 Class Size
💰
$11,847 Per Student
B Good

Bedford Middle School

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
527 Students
👨‍🏫
16.3:1 Class Size
💰
$13,548 Per Student
B Good

Lincoln Elementary School

📚 K – 06 School
👥
305 Students
👨‍🏫
17.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,548 Per Student
B Good

Shawswick Elementary School

📚 K – 06 School
👥
480 Students
👨‍🏫
16.6:1 Class Size
💰
$13,548 Per Student
B Good

Bedford-North Lawrence High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,249 Students
👨‍🏫
16.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,548 Per Student
C+ Average

North Lawrence Career Center

📚 06 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$13,548 Per Student
C+ Average

Playful Pathways

📚 Grade PK Elementary Limited Data
💰
$13,548 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong are rents in Bedford, IN?

Bedford, IN rentals go for roughly $891/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $212K acquisition costs.

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

Working renters make up the core of the Bedford, IN tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

What strategy should investors use in Bedford, IN?

Bedford, IN investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($212K prices, $891/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

Does house hacking work in Bedford, IN?

House hacking in Bedford, IN is a challenging. With home values around $212K and rents at $891/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Bedford, IN?

Vacancy in Bedford, IN is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $891/mo.

You know 47421 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 47421 ranks in Bedford, IN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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