Real Estate Investing in Lafayette, Indiana (47909)

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

Tippecanoe County • Population: 42,971 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 47909 (Lafayette, IN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

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

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

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 (47909)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $281,724
Avg Monthly Rent $1,640
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $64,328
% Renters 36.5%

Market Analysis: 47909 Lafayette

ZIP 47909 inside Tippecanoe County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $282K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Rent of $1,640/mo on a $282K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 47909 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Regionally, 47909 sits on the difficult end of the IN spectrum. The a viable market for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Resident income in 47909 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 47909 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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: 75/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,640/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 47909

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+9.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$87,314/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $214,554 $1,270 4.3% +9.7% $107,277
3BR $261,943 $1,520 4.2% +8.5% $87,314
4BR $354,753 $2,040 4.1% +7.3% $88,688
5BR $489,602 +6.9% $97,920

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$297K$258K$220K$182K$143K$105KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,769$1,642$1,515$1,388$1,261$1,135Dec 2021Apr 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 47909 Compare?

Metric 47909 Lafayette Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN Indiana
Home Value $281,724 $255,056 N/A $248,442
5-Year CAGR 6.0% 6.1% N/A 7.7%
Avg Rent $1,640 $1,303 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.5% 4.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 47909? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 37% 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 47909 (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
4.5%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.0%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $281,724
Monthly Rent $1,640
Price-to-Rent 14.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.0%
Cap Rate 4.5%
5-Year IRR 10.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +7.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.5%). 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)
+6.0%
Growing
Eviction process: Moderate Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 47909

Population: 42,971

💰 Median Household Income
$64,328
This area
$64,328
State
$69,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
36.5%
This area
36.5%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.3%
This area
2.3%
State
-23.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
29.9%
This area
29.9%
State
-6.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
34.0 years
This area
34.0 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 81.7%
Other/Mixed 9.3%
Black/African American 7.2%
Hispanic/Latino 6.7%
Asian 1.9%
👶 Under 18
27.0%
This area
27.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
11.4%
This area
11.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.9%
This area
7.9%
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 47909

B Avg School Grade
11 Schools
15.3:1 Avg Class Size
$14,567 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Amelia Earhart Elementary School

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
440 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$16,116 Per Student
A Very Good

Edgelea Elementary School

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
443 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$16,116 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Miami Elementary School

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
468 Students
👨‍🏫
15.6:1 Class Size
💰
$16,116 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Mayflower Mill Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
568 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,986 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Woodland Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
597 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$13,986 Per Student
B Good

James Cole Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
315 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,986 Per Student
B Good

Mintonye Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
477 Students
👨‍🏫
16.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,986 Per Student
B Good

Wea Ridge Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
613 Students
👨‍🏫
16.8:1 Class Size
💰
$13,986 Per Student
B Good

Wea Ridge Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
699 Students
👨‍🏫
16.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,986 Per Student
C+ Average

McCutcheon High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,786 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,986 Per Student
C+ Average

Greater Lafayette Career Academy

📚 05 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$13,986 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
D
Ross Medical Education Center-Lafayette
77 students · 5.3 mi
C
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Lafayette
87 students · 6.7 mi
D
Saint Elizabeth School of Nursing
131 students · 7.2 mi
B+
Purdue University-Main Campus
52,905 students · 7.3 mi
C
Christina and Company Education Center
32 students · 7.7 mi
C
Purdue University Global
44,421 students · 9.3 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 much should I expect to pay for a home in Lafayette, IN?

Lafayette, IN home values average about $282K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $1,640/mo in monthly income.

Are eviction rules reasonable in Lafayette, IN?

Lafayette, IN operates under IN law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect measured treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

Are there empty rentals in Lafayette, IN?

Lafayette, IN carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect reliable absorption at market rents of $1,640/mo.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Lafayette, IN?

House hacking works a challenging in Lafayette, IN. Rents of $1,640/mo against $282K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

How qualified is the tenant pool in Lafayette, IN?

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

You know 47909 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 47909 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 47909 ranks in Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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