Real Estate Investing in Boone, Iowa (50036)

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

Boone County • Population: 16,318 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 50036 (Boone, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (74/100)

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
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.6% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Boone, IA (50036)?

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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 $214,633
Avg Monthly Rent $770
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $72,440
% Renters 22.5%

Market Analysis: 50036 Boone

ZIP 50036 inside Boone County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $215K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 50036 shows the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

The gap between 50036 and stronger Boone ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Put differently, 16,318 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.

appears to 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 Boone:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 76/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $770/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Ames, IA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
50 days
Average time to sell
Average
9.1%
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 Ames, IA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 50036

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
6.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+7.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$72,176/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $95,220 $790 6.0% +6.3% $95,220
2BR $157,704 $1,030 4.7% +7.0% $78,852
3BR $222,068 $1,430 4.6% +7.2% $74,023
4BR $288,705 $1,510 3.8% +7.4% $72,176
5BR $384,699 +7.9% $76,940

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$226K$198K$170K$142K$113K$85KApr 2009Dec 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$931$892$853$814$775$737Jan 2026May 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 50036 Compare?

Metric 50036 Boone Ames, IA Iowa
Home Value $214,633 $214,633 N/A $227,232
5-Year CAGR 5.2% 5.2% N/A 6.0%
Avg Rent $770 $770 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.8% 2.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 50036? 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 50036 (Boone, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.2%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Ames, IA metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
58%
Days Pending
1/2
50 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $214,633
Monthly Rent $770
Price-to-Rent 23.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.3%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 8.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.8%). 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
8.6%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 50036

Population: 16,318

💰 Median Household Income
$72,440
This area
$72,440
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
22.5%
This area
22.5%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.6%
This area
0.6%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
25.6%
This area
25.6%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.8 years
This area
39.8 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.6%
This area
8.6%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.0%
Other/Mixed 4.7%
Hispanic/Latino 2.4%
Black/African American 1.1%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
21.1%
This area
21.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.3%
This area
17.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.2%
This area
3.2%
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 50036

A+ Avg School Grade
5 Schools
13.1:1 Avg Class Size
$20,518 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Ledges Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 01 Elementary
👥
318 Students
👨‍🏫
10.8:1 Class Size
💰
$19,600 Per Student
A+ Excellent

United Community School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
331 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$24,189 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Boone Middle School

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
585 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$19,600 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Franklin Elementary School

📚 02 – 04 Elementary
👥
338 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$19,600 Per Student
A Very Good

Boone High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
720 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$19,600 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 2,052 Off-Campus Students
B
Iowa State University
30,177 students · 11.4 mi
D
PCI Academy-Ames
170 students · 13.9 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,052 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is rent in Boone, IA?

Investors in Boone, IA typically see rents near $770/mo per month against $215K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

What is the typical vacancy rate in Boone, IA?

Vacancy risk in Boone, IA is elevated. That supports predictable cash flow for typical rental holds.

Should investors consider Boone, IA?

Our data puts Boone, IA at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $215K and rents around $770/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

Does house hacking work in Boone, IA?

House hacking in Boone, IA is a challenging. With home values around $215K and rents at $770/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

Are renters plentiful in Boone, IA?

The renter base in Boone, IA is reasonable for the $770/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields consistent tenants.

You know 50036 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 50036 ranks in Ames, IA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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