Real Estate Investing in Laurens, Iowa (50554)

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

Pocahontas County • Population: 1,639 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 50554 (Laurens, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (61/100)

Mixed — values have been flat. OK for long-horizon buyers, less attractive if you may need to sell soon.

📈 For Investors
STRONG
4.0 / 5 (86/100)

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
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 15.0% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Declining values: -3.0% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • 1-year downturn: Values declined 12.7% in the last year.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Laurens, IA (50554)?

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4.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $78,838
Avg Monthly Rent $828
1% Rule ✓ Meets
Median Income $61,912
% Renters 24.6%

Market Analysis: 50554 Laurens

ZIP 50554 offers what many appreciation markets cannot: an affordable basis at $79K and rent support of $828/mo for rehab-driven equity creation in Pocahontas County.

Investors in 50554 do not buy the market average — they buy the unit they can improve. $79K median pricing and $828/mo comps define the envelope within which the work has to pay.

Comparing Laurens submarkets, ZIP 50554 offers an entry cost that most surrounding neighborhoods have moved past. The significant delta is the opportunity.

Demographically, 50554 is a working ZIP — not a luxury market. That profile is exactly what value-add operators need in order to price their renovated product correctly.

The strategy in 50554 is forced equity, not market equity. On balance, entry prices are accommodating at $79K, the returns sit in the renovation budget, not the holding period.

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 Laurens:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 55/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
0/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 1.3× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-12.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $828/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$112K$104K$96K$87K$79K$71KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 50554 Compare?

Metric 50554 Laurens Iowa
Home Value $78,838 $78,838 $227,232
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A 6.0%
Avg Rent $828 $828 -
Cap Rate 8.2% 8.2% -
💡 Why Invest in 50554? Click to expand

This ZIP code meets the 1% rule with rent at $828/mo on homes averaging $78,838 — a strong indicator of cash flow potential.

Our analysis gives this area a 4/5 investability rating, placing it in the top tier for rental property potential.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 50554 (Laurens, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Excellent
Cap Rate
8.2%
Excellent
5yr Growth
-3.0%
Declining

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $78,838
Monthly Rent $828
Price-to-Rent 7.9:1
1% Rule ✓ Passes

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 12.6%
Cap Rate 8.2%
5-Year IRR 5.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -12.7% ▼
3-Year CAGR -1.2% ▼
5-Year CAGR -3.0% ▼
10-Year CAGR +0.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Positive Leverage Market Cap Rate: 8.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (8.2%) exceeds the current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%). When borrowing costs less than a property yields, leverage can increase your cash-on-cash return above the cap rate.

⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
15.0%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
-3.0%
Declining
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 50554

Population: 1,639

💰 Median Household Income
$61,912
This area
$61,912
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
24.6%
This area
24.6%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.1%
This area
5.1%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
16.5%
This area
16.5%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
46.3 years
This area
46.3 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.0%
This area
15.0%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.9%
Other/Mixed 1.7%
Hispanic/Latino 1.3%
Asian 0.4%
👶 Under 18
19.2%
This area
19.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
23.1%
This area
23.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.3%
This area
6.3%
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 50554

A+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
9.6:1 Avg Class Size
$36,403 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Laurens-Marathon Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
145 Students
👨‍🏫
9.6:1 Class Size
💰
$36,403 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

Can investors BRRRR in Laurens, IA?

Laurens, IA BRRRR deals are a strong. With proper buy-side discipline, operators can recycle most of their capital post-refinance.

Is Laurens, IA a smart market for rental property?

The 4.0/5 investability rating in Laurens, IA reflects its $79K prices and $828/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within IA.

Can you find 1% rule deals in Laurens, IA?

With $828/mo rents against $79K home prices, Laurens, IA produces a 1.05% ratio. That is reasonable proximity to the 1% threshold.

What do landlords charge for rent in Laurens, IA?

Rent in Laurens, IA is around $828/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $79K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

What is the median home value in Laurens, IA?

Expect median prices around $79K in Laurens, IA. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been steady.

You know 50554 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 50554 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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