Real Estate Investing in Neola, Iowa (51559)

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

Pottawattamie County • Population: 1,896 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 51559 (Neola, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (67/100)

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 price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 25.6 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

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

What’s happening in Neola, IA (51559)?

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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 $318,003
Avg Monthly Rent $1,035
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $77,095
% Renters 26.4%

Market Analysis: 51559 Neola

The 51559 ZIP in Neola, IA is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $318K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

The 51559 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Statewide comparisons place 51559 among IA's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Employment concentration in 51559 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 51559 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 Neola:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 67/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,035/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)

$334K$288K$242K$197K$151K$105KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 51559 Compare?

Metric 51559 Neola Iowa
Home Value $318,003 $318,003 $227,232
5-Year CAGR 6.5% 6.5% 6.0%
Avg Rent $1,035 $1,035 -
Cap Rate 2.5% 2.5% -
💡 Why Invest in 51559? 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 51559 (Neola, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.5%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $318,003
Monthly Rent $1,035
Price-to-Rent 25.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.9%
Cap Rate 2.5%
5-Year IRR 9.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.5%). 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)
+6.5%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 51559

Population: 1,896

💰 Median Household Income
$77,095
This area
$77,095
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
26.4%
This area
26.4%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.1%
This area
5.1%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
23.4%
This area
23.4%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
35.6 years
This area
35.6 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 97.1%
Other/Mixed 2.6%
Hispanic/Latino 1.3%
Black/African American 0.4%
👶 Under 18
27.5%
This area
27.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
12.4%
This area
12.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.1%
This area
3.1%
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 51559

B Avg School Grade
3 Schools
15.4:1 Avg Class Size
$13,323 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Tri-Center Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
354 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$13,323 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Tri-Center High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
226 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,323 Per Student
C+ Average

Tri-Center Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
140 Students
👨‍🏫
20.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,323 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

1 Nearby 1,012 Off-Campus Students
C
Iowa Western Community College
5,503 students · 14.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,012 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are tenants stable in Neola, IA?

The tenant pool in Neola, IA is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $1,035/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

Is rental property easy to operate in Neola, IA?

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

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Neola, IA?

Occupancy in Neola, IA runs predictable with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $1,035/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

Is Neola, IA better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

The best-fit strategy in Neola, IA is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

What is the median home value in Neola, IA?

Neola, IA median home values land near $318K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,035/mo-per-month rentals.

You know 51559 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 51559 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 51559 ranks in Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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