Real Estate Investing in Wellman, Iowa (52356)

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

Washington County • Population: 2,754 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 52356 (Wellman, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (76/100)

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 Wellman, IA (52356)?

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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 $255,353
Avg Monthly Rent $900
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $57,193
% Renters 28.1%

Market Analysis: 52356 Wellman

The 52356 ZIP in Wellman, IA is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $255K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

The 52356 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 52356 among IA's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

A substantial renter share of 28% in 52356 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

The 52356 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 Wellman:

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 4.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+10.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $900/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.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Iowa City, IA Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
49 days
Average time to sell
Average
7.2%
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 Iowa City, IA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 52356

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+6.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$75,378/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $155,622 $1,000 4.6% +5.6% $77,811
3BR $226,133 $1,400 4.5% +5.8% $75,378
4BR $301,545 $1,680 4.0% +6.9% $75,386

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$269K$230K$190K$151K$111K$72KFeb 2009Nov 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 52356 Compare?

Metric 52356 Wellman Iowa City, IA Iowa
Home Value $255,353 $255,353 N/A $227,232
5-Year CAGR 6.6% 6.6% N/A 6.0%
Avg Rent $900 $900 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.8% 2.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 52356? 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 52356 (Wellman, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.6%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Iowa City, IA metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
53%
Days Pending
1/2
49 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $255,353
Monthly Rent $900
Price-to-Rent 23.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.2%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 9.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +10.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.8%). 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
2.7%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.6%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 52356

Population: 2,754

💰 Median Household Income
$57,193
This area
$57,193
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
28.1%
This area
28.1%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.9%
This area
1.9%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
14.9%
This area
14.9%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
47.7 years
This area
47.7 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
2.7%
This area
2.7%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.3%
Other/Mixed 2.4%
Hispanic/Latino 0.9%
Black/African American 0.2%
👶 Under 18
22.3%
This area
22.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
23.6%
This area
23.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.2%
This area
2.2%
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 52356

B Avg School Grade
3 Schools
14.8:1 Avg Class Size
$14,970 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Mid-Prairie High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
374 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,970 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Mid-Prairie West Elementary School

📚 03 – 04 Elementary
👥
328 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,970 Per Student
C+ Average

Mid-Prairie Virtual Academy

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
26 Students
💰
$14,970 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

Does Wellman, IA make sense for an investment property?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Wellman, IA ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $255K and rents of $900/mo drive the underlying numbers.

Is Wellman, IA good for landlords?

For rental operators, Wellman, IA rates as landlord-friendly. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

What monthly rent should investors expect in Wellman, IA?

Average rent in Wellman, IA is approximately $900/mo per month. Against $255K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

Is the tenant base reliable in Wellman, IA?

The renter base in Wellman, IA is reasonable for the $900/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields consistent tenants.

What strategy should investors use in Wellman, IA?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Wellman, IA best. The market produces stable results for that approach at the $255K price point.

You know 52356 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 52356 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 52356 ranks in Iowa City, IA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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