Real Estate Investing in Dunkerton, Iowa (50626)

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

Black Hawk County • Population: 1,478 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 50626 (Dunkerton, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (79/100)

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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

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

What’s happening in Dunkerton, IA (50626)?

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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 $242,510
Avg Monthly Rent $828
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $81,679
% Renters 16.3%

Market Analysis: 50626 Dunkerton

ZIP 50626 inside Black Hawk County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $243K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $243K asset, 50626 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Statewide comparisons place 50626 among IA's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

The 50626 ZIP's population of 1,478 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that stands at the need for careful underwriting.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 50626 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 Dunkerton:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 72/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 3× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+3.0%)
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 50626

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
3.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+6.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$75,947/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $170,376 $920 3.9% +6.3% $85,188
3BR $227,842 $1,190 3.8% +6.5% $75,947

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$253K$224K$196K$167K$138K$109KMay 2007Dec 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 50626 Compare?

Metric 50626 Dunkerton Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA Iowa
Home Value $242,510 $242,510 N/A $227,232
5-Year CAGR 6.2% 6.2% N/A 6.0%
Avg Rent $828 $828 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.7% 2.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 50626? 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 50626 (Dunkerton, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.2%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $242,510
Monthly Rent $828
Price-to-Rent 24.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.1%
Cap Rate 2.7%
5-Year IRR 8.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.7%). 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.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
6.0%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.2%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 50626

Population: 1,478

💰 Median Household Income
$81,679
This area
$81,679
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
16.3%
This area
16.3%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.1%
This area
3.1%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
19.7%
This area
19.7%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
42.8 years
This area
42.8 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.0%
This area
6.0%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 98.8%
Other/Mixed 1.2%
Hispanic/Latino 0.6%
Black/African American 0.1%
👶 Under 18
21.3%
This area
21.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.4%
This area
18.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.4%
This area
4.4%
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 50626

B+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
14.6:1 Avg Class Size
$14,562 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Dunkerton High School

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
208 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,562 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Dunkerton Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
223 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,562 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

4 Nearby 2,330 Off-Campus Students
C
Allen College
489 students · 9.3 mi
C
Hawkeye Community College
4,796 students · 13.2 mi
C+
La James International College-Cedar Falls
40 students · 14.2 mi
D
The Salon Professional Academy-Cedar Falls
101 students · 14.2 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,330 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there empty rentals in Dunkerton, IA?

Vacancy in Dunkerton, IA is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $828/mo.

How strong is tenant demand in Dunkerton, IA?

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

How does Dunkerton, IA rate as a rental market?

Dunkerton, IA scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $243K and rents near $828/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

Is IA a landlord-friendly state?

Landlord-friendliness in Dunkerton, IA is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

What monthly rent should investors expect in Dunkerton, IA?

Average rent in Dunkerton, IA is approximately $828/mo per month. Against $243K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

You know 50626 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 50626 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 50626 ranks in Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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