Real Estate Investing in Goldfield, Iowa (50542)

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

Wright County • Population: 873 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 50542 (Goldfield, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (51/100)

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

📈 For Investors
WEAK
2.0 / 5 (38/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 14.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Goldfield, IA (50542)?

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2.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

0.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $141,076
Avg Monthly Rent $846
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $64,375
% Renters 12.1%

Market Analysis: 50542 Goldfield

Investors eyeing 50542 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $141K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Looking more closely, the numbers look inviting — $141K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 50542 is substantial and deserves full respect.

The gap between 50542 and stronger Goldfield ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Who lives in 50542 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

New investors are better served looking at Goldfield's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 50542. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Goldfield:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
10/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.2× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $846/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.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$152K$145K$138K$131K$124K$117KFeb 2022May 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 50542 Compare?

Metric 50542 Goldfield Iowa
Home Value $141,076 $141,076 $227,232
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A 6.0%
Avg Rent $846 $846 -
Cap Rate 4.7% 4.7% -
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 50542 (Goldfield, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
4.7%
Fair

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $141,076
Monthly Rent $846
Price-to-Rent 13.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.2%
Cap Rate 4.7%
5-Year IRR 8.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.7%). 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.

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⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
14.2%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
N/A
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 50542

Population: 873

💰 Median Household Income
$64,375
This area
$64,375
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
12.1%
This area
12.1%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.8%
This area
2.8%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
20.5%
This area
20.5%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
46.1 years
This area
46.1 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.2%
This area
14.2%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 96.2%
Other/Mixed 3.8%
Hispanic/Latino 1.5%
👶 Under 18
15.1%
This area
15.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
24.3%
This area
24.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.4%
This area
5.4%
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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it easy to find good tenants in Goldfield, IA?

Tenant demand in Goldfield, IA is solid. The local workforce $846/mo rents across most rental classes.

Is Goldfield, IA a good place for real estate investing?

Goldfield, IA reports an investability rating of 2.0/5, with median home values near $141K and average rents around $846/mo. That combination puts it in the impressive tier for investor interest.

How expensive is real estate in Goldfield, IA?

Median home price in Goldfield, IA is near $141K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been even-keeled and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

Are landlord laws favorable in Goldfield, IA?

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

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Goldfield, IA?

Goldfield, IA is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $141K price point reasonable to enter.

You know 50542 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 50542 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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