Real Estate Investing in Edgewood, Iowa (52042)

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

Clayton • Population: 1,898 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 52042 (Edgewood, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (56/100)

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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 16.3% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 29.6 — 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 Edgewood, IA (52042)?

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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 $299,953
Avg Monthly Rent $846
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $76,518
% Renters 27.3%

Market Analysis: 52042 Edgewood

On the rental side, ZIP 52042 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $300K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

The 52042 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Within IA, ZIP 52042 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Clayton submarkets outperform. The gap is real and healthy enough to shape underwriting.

A resilient renter share of 27% in 52042 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

tilts toward the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Edgewood:

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 3.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+11.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $846/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.
🏠

Property Strategy for 52042

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
3.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+8.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$72,634/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $186,387 $940 3.6% +7.9% $93,193
3BR $239,047 $1,130 3.4% +8.2% $79,682
4BR $290,534 $1,290 3.2% +8.9% $72,634

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$330K$291K$252K$212K$173K$134KJan 2014May 2020Jul 2026

📊 How Does 52042 Compare?

Metric 52042 Edgewood Iowa
Home Value $299,953 $299,953 $227,232
5-Year CAGR 6.4% 6.4% 6.0%
Avg Rent $846 $846 -
Cap Rate 2.2% 2.2% -
💡 Why Invest in 52042? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 52042 (Edgewood, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.4%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $299,953
Monthly Rent $846
Price-to-Rent 29.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.4%
Cap Rate 2.2%
5-Year IRR 8.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +11.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.2%). 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
16.3%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 52042

Population: 1,898

💰 Median Household Income
$76,518
This area
$76,518
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
27.3%
This area
27.3%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.1%
This area
1.1%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
16.6%
This area
16.6%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
35.7 years
This area
35.7 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
16.3%
This area
16.3%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 98.0%
Other/Mixed 2.1%
Hispanic/Latino 0.3%
👶 Under 18
23.3%
This area
23.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.2%
This area
20.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.7%
This area
0.7%
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 52042

A Avg School Grade
1 Schools
9.3:1 Avg Class Size
$14,203 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Edgewood-Colesburg High School

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
198 Students
👨‍🏫
9.3:1 Class Size
💰
$14,203 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

What type of investing works in Edgewood, IA?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Edgewood, IA best. The market produces measured results for that approach at the $300K price point.

What is the median home value in Edgewood, IA?

Typical homes in Edgewood, IA go for around $300K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% measured price movement.

What do rentals go for in Edgewood, IA?

Average rent in Edgewood, IA is approximately $846/mo per month. Against $300K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

Is vacancy a concern in Edgewood, IA?

Rental vacancy in Edgewood, IA is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

What is the renter demographic in Edgewood, IA?

Tenant quality in Edgewood, IA ranks as solid. Landlords generally report reliable occupancy at market rents of $846/mo.

You know 52042 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 52042 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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