Real Estate Investing in Griswold, Iowa (51535)

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

Cass County • Population: 1,768 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 51535 (Griswold, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (73/100)

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
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 Griswold, IA (51535)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $199,450
Avg Monthly Rent $918
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $81,326
% Renters 14.7%

Market Analysis: 51535 Griswold

ZIP 51535 in Griswold, IA carries a significant set of headwinds. Home values near $199K and rents of $918/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

From a cash-flow lens, the numbers look inviting — $199K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 51535 is substantial and deserves full respect.

The gap between 51535 and stronger Griswold ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Resident income in 51535 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Strategically, 51535 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Griswold:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 80/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+14.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $918/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This area shows favorable conditions for homebuyers. Solid fundamentals with reasonable affordability.
🏠

Property Strategy for 51535

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+10.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$62,759/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $128,224 $1,020 5.7% +8.2% $64,112
3BR $188,278 $1,400 5.4% +8.5% $62,759
4BR $270,069 $1,630 4.3% +10.0% $67,517

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$208K$183K$157K$132K$107K$81KJul 2015Jan 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 51535 Compare?

Metric 51535 Griswold Iowa
Home Value $199,450 $199,450 $227,232
5-Year CAGR 9.6% 9.6% 6.0%
Avg Rent $918 $918 -
Cap Rate 3.6% 3.6% -
💡 Why Invest in 51535? 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 51535 (Griswold, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+9.6%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $199,450
Monthly Rent $918
Price-to-Rent 18.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.5%
Cap Rate 3.6%
5-Year IRR 13.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +14.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +9.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +9.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.6%). 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)
+9.6%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 51535

Population: 1,768

💰 Median Household Income
$81,326
This area
$81,326
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
14.7%
This area
14.7%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.8%
This area
0.8%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
18.1%
This area
18.1%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
48.4 years
This area
48.4 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 94.9%
Other/Mixed 5.1%
Hispanic/Latino 1.4%
👶 Under 18
22.9%
This area
22.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
24.4%
This area
24.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.9%
This area
3.9%
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 51535

A Avg School Grade
2 Schools
11.5:1 Avg Class Size
$16,220 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Griswold Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
239 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$16,220 Per Student
A Very Good

Griswold Middle/High School

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
197 Students
👨‍🏫
11.4:1 Class Size
💰
$16,220 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

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

Yes - Griswold, IA a 3.0/5 investability score. With $199K home prices against $918/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

Should investors worry about vacancy in Griswold, IA?

Griswold, IA sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader IA rental market.

How strong are rents in Griswold, IA?

Investors in Griswold, IA typically see rents near $918/mo per month against $199K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

What is it like being a landlord in Griswold, IA?

IA ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Griswold generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

How much should I expect to pay for a home in Griswold, IA?

Typical homes in Griswold, IA go for around $199K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% even-keeled price movement.

You know 51535 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 51535 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 51535 ranks in Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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