Real Estate Investing in Lafayette, Indiana (47905)

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

Tippecanoe County • Population: 42,109 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 47905 (Lafayette, IN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (68/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 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.

What’s happening in Lafayette, IN (47905)?

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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 $298,176
Avg Monthly Rent $1,300
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $63,072
% Renters 38.6%

Market Analysis: 47905 Lafayette

ZIP 47905 in Lafayette, IN carries a robust set of headwinds. Home values near $298K and rents of $1,300/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

The investment case in 47905 is healthy only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $298K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Within IN, ZIP 47905 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Tippecanoe County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and impressive enough to shape underwriting.

The demographic picture in 47905 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Lafayette averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Strategically, 47905 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 Lafayette:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,300/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
Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
46 days
Average time to sell
Average
11.4%
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 Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 47905

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+10.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$92,087/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $192,454 $1,270 4.8% +10.2% $96,227
3BR $276,262 $1,520 4.0% +8.6% $92,087
4BR $370,135 $2,040 4.0% +7.4% $92,534
5BR $553,402 +7.5% $110,680

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$314K$273K$233K$192K$152K$111KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,322$1,259$1,196$1,133$1,070$1,007Feb 2024May 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 47905 Compare?

Metric 47905 Lafayette Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN Indiana
Home Value $298,176 $255,056 N/A $248,442
5-Year CAGR 6.4% 6.1% N/A 7.7%
Avg Rent $1,300 $1,303 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.4% 4.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 47905? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 39% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 47905 (Lafayette, IN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Tippecanoe County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

B.W. Parks offers rental properties in Lafayette, Indiana. summary from their website

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June Palms Property Management provides property management services in Lafayette, Indiana. summary from their website

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Sorola Properties is a property management company located in Lafayette, IN. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.4%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $298,176
Monthly Rent $1,300
Price-to-Rent 19.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.2%
Cap Rate 3.4%
5-Year IRR 9.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +12.7% ▲
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
5.0%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 47905

Population: 42,109

💰 Median Household Income
$63,072
This area
$63,072
State
$69,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
38.6%
This area
38.6%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.3%
This area
2.3%
State
-23.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
32.9%
This area
32.9%
State
-6.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
35.7 years
This area
35.7 years
State
-0.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.0%
This area
5.0%
State
10.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 80.8%
Other/Mixed 8.0%
Black/African American 7.6%
Hispanic/Latino 5.5%
Asian 3.7%
👶 Under 18
24.6%
This area
24.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.3%
This area
16.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
10.5%
This area
10.5%
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 47905

B+ Avg School Grade
9 Schools
15.5:1 Avg Class Size
$14,933 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Thomas Miller Elementary School

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
323 Students
👨‍🏫
12.1:1 Class Size
💰
$16,116 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Glen Acres Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
542 Students
👨‍🏫
17.0:1 Class Size
💰
$16,116 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Lafayette Tecumseh Jr High School

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
1,021 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$16,116 Per Student
B Good

East Tipp Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
528 Students
👨‍🏫
17.9:1 Class Size
💰
$13,986 Per Student
B Good

Hershey Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
532 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,986 Per Student
B Good

Southwestern Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
518 Students
👨‍🏫
16.9:1 Class Size
💰
$13,986 Per Student
B Good

Wainwright Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
311 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,986 Per Student
B Good

Wyandotte Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
499 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,986 Per Student
B Good

Jefferson High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,034 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$16,116 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

6 Nearby 47,013 Off-Campus Students
C
Christina and Company Education Center
32 students · 2.7 mi
D
Ross Medical Education Center-Lafayette
77 students · 4.8 mi
D
Saint Elizabeth School of Nursing
131 students · 6.1 mi
C
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Lafayette
87 students · 6.5 mi
B+
Purdue University-Main Campus
52,905 students · 7.9 mi
C
Purdue University Global
44,421 students · 9.0 mi

Investor Insight: With 47,013 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tight is the rental market in Lafayette, IN?

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

Are renters plentiful in Lafayette, IN?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Lafayette, IN. The rental market absorbs $1,300/mo rents without meaningful friction.

What kind of market is Lafayette, IN for investors?

Lafayette, IN scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $298K and rents near $1,300/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

How landlord-friendly is Lafayette, IN?

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

Is Lafayette, IN suited for a house hack?

House hacking works a challenging in Lafayette, IN. Rents of $1,300/mo against $298K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

You know 47905 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 47905 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 47905 ranks in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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