Real Estate Investing in Ackley, Iowa (50601)

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

Hardin County • Population: 2,377 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 50601 (Ackley, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (78/100)

Solid choice — stable market with a reasonable entry point and good rental backup if you ever need to move.

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

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
  • Elevated vacancy: 9.9% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

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

What’s happening in Ackley, IA (50601)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $146,219
Avg Monthly Rent $828
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $63,333
% Renters 17.4%

Market Analysis: 50601 Ackley

ZIP 50601 in Ackley, IA carries a resilient set of headwinds. Home values near $146K and rents of $828/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 50601 reflects the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

On balance, 50601 offers a low basis, the region around Ackley has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Put differently, 2,377 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.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. solid returns are possible in 50601, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Ackley:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 73/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+9.4%)
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: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
36 days
Average time to sell
Average
8.4%
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 Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 50601

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
6.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+7.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$40,542/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $103,561 $920 6.4% $51,780
3BR $146,506 $1,200 5.9% +5.5% $48,835
4BR $162,169 $1,510 6.7% +7.2% $40,542

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$151K$138K$125K$111K$98K$85KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 50601 Compare?

Metric 50601 Ackley Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA Iowa
Home Value $146,219 $166,338 N/A $227,232
5-Year CAGR 4.8% 5.7% N/A 6.0%
Avg Rent $828 $828 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.4% 3.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 50601? 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 50601 (Ackley, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.4%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.8%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $146,219
Monthly Rent $828
Price-to-Rent 14.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.8%
Cap Rate 4.4%
5-Year IRR 9.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +9.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.4%). 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
9.9%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 50601

Population: 2,377

💰 Median Household Income
$63,333
This area
$63,333
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
17.4%
This area
17.4%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.2%
This area
2.2%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
24.8%
This area
24.8%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.3 years
This area
43.3 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.9%
This area
9.9%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.6%
Other/Mixed 5.5%
Hispanic/Latino 3.2%
Asian 0.9%
👶 Under 18
20.4%
This area
20.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.4%
This area
22.4%
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

🎓 Schools in 50601

A Avg School Grade
3 Schools
12.0:1 Avg Class Size
$18,435 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

AGWSR High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
192 Students
👨‍🏫
11.4:1 Class Size
💰
$18,435 Per Student
A Very Good

AGWSR Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
204 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$18,435 Per Student
B+ Above Average

The Cougars Den

📚 Pre-K – K Elementary
👥
35 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$18,435 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

1 Nearby 5 Off-Campus Students
C
Ellsworth Community College
685 students · 11.0 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What are rental rates like in Ackley, IA?

Rental rates in Ackley, IA average $828/mo. Tenant demand and $146K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

What is the typical renter like in Ackley, IA?

Ackley, IA offers a measured renter base at the $828/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Ackley, IA?

Ackley, IA vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

What is the average home sale price in Ackley, IA?

Expect median prices around $146K in Ackley, IA. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been stable.

Does Ackley, IA make sense for an investment property?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Ackley, IA reflects its $146K prices and $828/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within IA.

You know 50601 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 50601 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 50601 ranks in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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