Real Estate Investing in Spillville, Iowa (52168)

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

Winneshiek County • Population: 409 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 52168 (Spillville, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (41/100)

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
2 flags
  • Elevated vacancy: 9.5% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • Lower household income: $39,167 median — tenant affordability is tighter.

• 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 Spillville, IA (52168)?

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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 $180,928
Avg Monthly Rent $936
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $39,167
% Renters 37.4%

Market Analysis: 52168 Spillville

The 52168 ZIP in Spillville, IA is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $181K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $181K asset, 52168 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

From a cash-flow lens, 52168 offers a low basis, the region around Spillville has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

The 52168 ZIP's population of 409 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that sits at the need for careful underwriting.

trends 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 Spillville:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $936/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)

$184K$175K$167K$158K$150K$141KFeb 2022May 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 52168 Compare?

Metric 52168 Spillville Iowa
Home Value $180,928 $180,928 $227,232
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A 6.0%
Avg Rent $936 $936 -
Cap Rate 4.0% 4.0% -
💡 Why Invest in 52168? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 52168 (Spillville, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
4.0%
Fair

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $180,928
Monthly Rent $936
Price-to-Rent 16.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.2%
Cap Rate 4.0%
5-Year IRR 9.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲
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: 4.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.0%). 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
9.5%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
N/A
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 52168

Population: 409

💰 Median Household Income
$39,167
This area
$39,167
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
37.4%
This area
37.4%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.0%
This area
1.0%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
18.6%
This area
18.6%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
47.3 years
This area
47.3 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.5%
This area
9.5%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.4%
Other/Mixed 2.6%
Hispanic/Latino 1.1%
👶 Under 18
20.0%
This area
20.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
30.0%
This area
30.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.3%
This area
5.3%
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 52168

Nearby Schools (1 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

B+ Above Average

South Winneshiek High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 203 W South St, Calmar
👥
195 Students
👨‍🏫
12.9:1 Class Size
💰
$16,274 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

2 Nearby 1,930 Off-Campus Students
C
Northeast Iowa Community College
4,378 students · 4.8 mi
C+
Luther College
1,463 students · 10.7 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,930 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Spillville, IA stack up for property investment?

With a 2.0/5 investability score, Spillville, IA ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $181K and rents of $936/mo drive the underlying numbers.

How much is rent in Spillville, IA?

Average rent in Spillville, IA is approximately $936/mo per month. Against $181K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

How tight is the rental market in Spillville, IA?

Vacancy in Spillville, IA is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $936/mo.

Where do home prices stand in Spillville, IA?

Typical homes in Spillville, IA go for around $181K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% reliable price movement.

Does house hacking make sense in Spillville, IA?

For house hackers, Spillville, IA is a challenging. The $936/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $181K property.

You know 52168 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 52168 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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