Real Estate Investing in Mapleton, Iowa (51034)

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

Monona County • Population: 1,844 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 51034 (Mapleton, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (68/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 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
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 14.9% of homes vacant — above national norms.

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

What’s happening in Mapleton, IA (51034)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $173,767
Avg Monthly Rent $864
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $66,786
% Renters 22.1%

Market Analysis: 51034 Mapleton

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Mapleton's 51034 ZIP reflects signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $174K pricing implies.

Put differently, the numbers look inviting — $174K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 51034 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Put differently, 51034 offers a low basis, the region around Mapleton has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

The 51034 ZIP's population of 1,844 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that reports the need for careful underwriting.

Strategy in 51034 is an operator game, not a passive one. On balance, entry prices of $174K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 Mapleton:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.6× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+1.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $864/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
58 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.0%
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 Sioux City, IA-NE-SD metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 51034

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
5.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+7.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$53,070/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $133,668 $960 5.2% +7.0% $66,834
3BR $182,652 $1,190 4.7% +7.3% $60,884
4BR $212,281 $1,550 5.3% +7.3% $53,070

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$185K$166K$147K$128K$108K$89KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 51034 Compare?

Metric 51034 Mapleton Sioux City, IA-NE-SD Iowa
Home Value $173,767 $173,767 N/A $227,232
5-Year CAGR 4.8% 4.8% N/A 6.0%
Avg Rent $864 $864 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.9% 3.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 51034? 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 51034 (Mapleton, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.8%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $173,767
Monthly Rent $864
Price-to-Rent 16.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.0%
Cap Rate 3.9%
5-Year IRR 8.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +1.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.9%). 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
14.9%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 51034

Population: 1,844

💰 Median Household Income
$66,786
This area
$66,786
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
22.1%
This area
22.1%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.8%
This area
0.8%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
19.3%
This area
19.3%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
47.4 years
This area
47.4 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.9%
This area
14.9%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.7%
Other/Mixed 2.3%
Hispanic/Latino 1.9%
👶 Under 18
23.3%
This area
23.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.7%
This area
22.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.5%
This area
2.5%
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 51034

A Avg School Grade
2 Schools
12.2:1 Avg Class Size
$16,256 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Mapleton Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
179 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$16,256 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Maple Valley-Anthon Oto High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
278 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$16,256 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

How strong is Mapleton, IA for real estate investors?

Mapleton, IA rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $174K and rents near $864/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

What is the average monthly rent in Mapleton, IA?

Expect rents around $864/mo per month in Mapleton, IA. With home values at $174K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

What strategy should investors use in Mapleton, IA?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Mapleton, IA. With home values at $174K and rents near $864/mo, other strategies can work but produce consistent rather than outsized returns.

How landlord-friendly is Mapleton, IA?

The landlord environment in Mapleton, IA is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

How tight is the rental market in Mapleton, IA?

Vacancy risk in Mapleton, IA is elevated. That supports measured cash flow for typical rental holds.

You know 51034 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 51034 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 51034 ranks in Sioux City, IA-NE-SD

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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