Real Estate Investing in Clearfield, Iowa (50840)

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

Taylor County • Population: 659 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 50840 (Clearfield, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (75/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

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

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 16.5% 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 Clearfield, IA (50840)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $123,738
Avg Monthly Rent $828
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $73,214
% Renters 19.3%

Market Analysis: 50840 Clearfield

Investors eyeing 50840 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $124K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 50840 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

The gap between 50840 and stronger Clearfield ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Resident income in 50840 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

New investors are better served looking at Clearfield's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 50840. 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 Clearfield:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 77/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 1.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+28.2%)
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.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$128K$116K$104K$93K$81K$69KFeb 2019Nov 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 50840 Compare?

Metric 50840 Clearfield Iowa
Home Value $123,738 $123,738 $227,232
5-Year CAGR 6.2% 6.2% 6.0%
Avg Rent $828 $828 -
Cap Rate 5.2% 5.2% -
💡 Why Invest in 50840? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 50840 (Clearfield, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.2%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.2%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $123,738
Monthly Rent $828
Price-to-Rent 12.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.0%
Cap Rate 5.2%
5-Year IRR 11.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +28.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲
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: 5.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.2%). 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
16.5%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.2%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 50840

Population: 659

💰 Median Household Income
$73,214
This area
$73,214
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
19.3%
This area
19.3%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.3%
This area
3.3%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
16.6%
This area
16.6%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
44.3 years
This area
44.3 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
16.5%
This area
16.5%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 96.3%
Other/Mixed 3.7%
Hispanic/Latino 1.8%
👶 Under 18
22.5%
This area
22.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
34.4%
This area
34.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.3%
This area
3.3%
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

Frequently Asked Questions

What monthly rent should investors expect in Clearfield, IA?

Average rent in Clearfield, IA is approximately $828/mo per month. Against $124K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

How strict are landlord regulations in Clearfield, IA?

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

Is Clearfield, IA a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

Our data puts Clearfield, IA at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $124K and rents around $828/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Clearfield, IA?

Occupancy in Clearfield, IA runs consistent with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $828/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

What does house hacking look like in Clearfield, IA?

For house hackers, Clearfield, IA is a challenging. The $828/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $124K property.

You know 50840 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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