Real Estate Investing in Pierson, Iowa (51048)

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

Woodbury County • Population: 465 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 51048 (Pierson, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (51/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
WEAK
2.0 / 5 (38/100)

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
  • High vacancy: 14.6% 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 Pierson, IA (51048)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
2.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

0.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $172,501
Avg Monthly Rent $927
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $74,063
% Renters 31.6%

Market Analysis: 51048 Pierson

This part of Woodbury County is not an easy win. The 51048 ZIP records softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $173K asset, 51048 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Within IA, ZIP 51048 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Woodbury County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and significant enough to shape underwriting.

Demographically, 51048 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

New investors are better served looking at Pierson's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 51048. 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 Pierson:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 79/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $927/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: This area shows favorable conditions for homebuyers. Solid fundamentals with reasonable affordability.
❄️
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

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$177K$169K$160K$151K$142K$133KFeb 2022May 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 51048 Compare?

Metric 51048 Pierson Sioux City, IA-NE-SD Iowa
Home Value $172,501 $172,501 N/A $227,232
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A N/A 6.0%
Avg Rent $927 $927 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.2% 4.2% - -
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 51048 (Pierson, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 51048 (Pierson, IA)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
4.2%
Fair

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $172,501
Monthly Rent $927
Price-to-Rent 15.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.5%
Cap Rate 4.2%
5-Year IRR 9.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
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: 4.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.2%). 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.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
14.6%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
N/A
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 51048

Population: 465

💰 Median Household Income
$74,063
This area
$74,063
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
31.6%
This area
31.6%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.4%
This area
2.4%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
17.0%
This area
17.0%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
32.2 years
This area
32.2 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.6%
This area
14.6%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.2%
Other/Mixed 4.8%
Hispanic/Latino 0.6%
👶 Under 18
30.3%
This area
30.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
14.3%
This area
14.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.3%
This area
2.3%
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 51048

B+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
14.4:1 Avg Class Size
$16,668 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Pierson Middle School

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
133 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$16,668 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

Where do rents currently stand in Pierson, IA?

Investors in Pierson, IA typically see rents near $927/mo per month against $173K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

What does house hacking look like in Pierson, IA?

For house hackers, Pierson, IA is a challenging. The $927/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $173K property.

Is Pierson, IA a good place for real estate investing?

Yes - Pierson, IA a 2.0/5 investability score. With $173K home prices against $927/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Pierson, IA?

Occupancy in Pierson, IA runs steady with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $927/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

Is housing expensive in Pierson, IA?

Pierson, IA median home values land near $173K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $927/mo-per-month rentals.

You know 51048 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 51048 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.

Compare Plans

How 51048 ranks in Sioux City, IA-NE-SD

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 51048 (Pierson)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 51048 (Pierson, IA).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.