Real Estate Investing in Dubuque, Iowa (52001)

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

Dubuque County • Population: 43,064 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 52001 (Dubuque, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (71/100)

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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Dubuque, IA (52001)?

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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 $210,778
Avg Monthly Rent $1,048
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $58,759
% Renters 37.1%

Market Analysis: 52001 Dubuque

The 52001 ZIP in Dubuque, IA is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $211K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Meanwhile, the numbers look inviting — $211K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 52001 is substantial and deserves full respect.

The gap between 52001 and stronger Dubuque ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Resident income in 52001 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

The 52001 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Dubuque:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 71/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,048/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Dubuque, IA Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
13.0%
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 Dubuque, IA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 52001

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
5.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+7.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$62,241/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $119,149 $840 5.1% +6.1% $119,149
2BR $165,495 $1,080 4.7% +7.5% $82,747
3BR $210,186 $1,450 5.0% +7.2% $70,062
4BR $248,965 $1,810 5.2% +6.9% $62,241
5BR $311,293 +6.8% $62,259

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$222K$200K$177K$155K$132K$109KFeb 2009Nov 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,092$1,019$946$874$801$728Dec 2021Apr 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 52001 Compare?

Metric 52001 Dubuque Dubuque, IA Iowa
Home Value $210,778 $181,029 N/A $227,232
5-Year CAGR 5.5% 5.8% N/A 6.0%
Avg Rent $1,048 $1,330 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.9% 3.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 52001? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 37% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 52001 (Dubuque, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.5%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Dubuque, IA metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
51%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $210,778
Monthly Rent $1,048
Price-to-Rent 16.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.0%
Cap Rate 3.9%
5-Year IRR 9.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +4.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲
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
7.9%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 52001

Population: 43,064

💰 Median Household Income
$58,759
This area
$58,759
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
37.1%
This area
37.1%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.9%
This area
3.9%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
28.8%
This area
28.8%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.8 years
This area
36.8 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.9%
This area
7.9%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 87.7%
Other/Mixed 6.4%
Black/African American 4.5%
Hispanic/Latino 2.0%
Asian 1.4%
👶 Under 18
18.5%
This area
18.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.5%
This area
18.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.3%
This area
8.3%
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 52001

A Avg School Grade
11 Schools
12.1:1 Avg Class Size
$16,003 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

George Washington Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
607 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$16,003 Per Student
A Very Good

Marshall Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
335 Students
👨‍🏫
10.8:1 Class Size
💰
$16,003 Per Student
A Very Good

Prescott Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
383 Students
👨‍🏫
8.9:1 Class Size
💰
$16,003 Per Student
A Very Good

Thomas Jefferson Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
454 Students
👨‍🏫
10.0:1 Class Size
💰
$16,003 Per Student
A Very Good

Audubon Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
268 Students
👨‍🏫
8.4:1 Class Size
💰
$16,003 Per Student
A Very Good

Lincoln Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
249 Students
👨‍🏫
8.7:1 Class Size
💰
$16,003 Per Student
A Very Good

Irving Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
407 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 Class Size
💰
$16,003 Per Student
A Very Good

Dubuque Senior High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,466 Students
👨‍🏫
11.2:1 Class Size
💰
$16,003 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Hoover Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
286 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$16,003 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Eisenhower Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
595 Students
👨‍🏫
16.1:1 Class Size
💰
$16,003 Per Student
B Good

Dubuque Online School

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
242 Students
👨‍🏫
21.9:1 Class Size
💰
$16,003 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

7 Nearby
C
Clarke University
1,025 students · 2.7 mi
C+
Emmaus Bible College
197 students · 2.8 mi
C+
Loras College
1,213 students · 3.1 mi
C
University of Dubuque
1,795 students · 3.5 mi
C
Capri College-Dubuque
153 students · 3.8 mi
C
Wartburg Theological Seminary
164 students · 4.3 mi
B
Divine Word College
61 students · 14.3 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Do rentals sit vacant long in Dubuque, IA?

Occupancy in Dubuque, IA runs measured with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $1,048/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

How expensive is real estate in Dubuque, IA?

In Dubuque, IA the median home value sits at $211K. Against the broader IA market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

What is the investability score for Dubuque, IA?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Dubuque, IA ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $211K and rents of $1,048/mo drive the underlying numbers.

Is Dubuque, IA landlord-friendly?

Landlord-friendliness in Dubuque, IA is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

How do experienced investors play Dubuque, IA?

For Dubuque, IA, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

You know 52001 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 52001 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 52001 ranks in Dubuque, IA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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