Real Estate Investing in Norway, Iowa (52318)

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

Benton County • Population: 1,054 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 52318 (Norway, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (84/100)

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.

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

What’s happening in Norway, IA (52318)?

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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 $276,465
Avg Monthly Rent $1,152
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $95,682
% Renters 19.0%

Market Analysis: 52318 Norway

This part of Benton County is not an easy win. The 52318 ZIP comes in at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

The 52318 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

The gap between 52318 and stronger Norway ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Resident income in 52318 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

New investors are better served looking at Norway's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 52318. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Norway:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 77/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,152/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Cedar Rapids, IA Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
41 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.2%
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 Cedar Rapids, IA metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$289K$253K$216K$179K$142K$106KOct 2012Sep 2019Jul 2026

📊 How Does 52318 Compare?

Metric 52318 Norway Cedar Rapids, IA Iowa
Home Value $276,465 $276,465 N/A $227,232
5-Year CAGR 7.1% 7.1% N/A 6.0%
Avg Rent $1,152 $1,152 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.3% 3.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 52318? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 52318 (Norway, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.1%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Cedar Rapids, IA metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
46%
Days Pending
1/2
41 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $276,465
Monthly Rent $1,152
Price-to-Rent 20.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.0%
Cap Rate 3.3%
5-Year IRR 10.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.3%). 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)
+7.1%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 52318

Population: 1,054

💰 Median Household Income
$95,682
This area
$95,682
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
19.0%
This area
19.0%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.6%
This area
2.6%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
23.1%
This area
23.1%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
51.5 years
This area
51.5 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 100.0%
👶 Under 18
18.3%
This area
18.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.7%
This area
19.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
1.0%
This area
1.0%
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 52318

B+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
15.0:1 Avg Class Size
$13,301 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Norway Elementary School

📚 04 – 06 School
👥
341 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,301 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

5 Nearby 8,317 Off-Campus Students
C
Capri College-Cedar Rapids
128 students · 10.8 mi
C
Kirkwood Community College
12,660 students · 12.7 mi
C
Mercy-St Luke's School of Radiologic Technology
21 students · 13.8 mi
C+
Coe College
1,278 students · 14.0 mi
C
Mount Mercy University
1,451 students · 14.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 8,317 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best play in Norway, IA?

Norway, IA investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($276K prices, $1,152/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

What is the median home value in Norway, IA?

Typical homes in Norway, IA go for around $276K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% measured price movement.

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

Yes - Norway, IA a 3.0/5 investability score. With $276K home prices against $1,152/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

Is Norway, IA a good market for FHA house hackers?

Norway, IA offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $1,152/mo rent level.

What is the average monthly rent in Norway, IA?

Expect rents around $1,152/mo per month in Norway, IA. With home values at $276K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

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How 52318 ranks in Cedar Rapids, IA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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