Real Estate Investing in Burlington, Iowa (52601)

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

Des Moines County • Population: 27,465 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 52601 (Burlington, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (74/100)

Solid choice — stable market with a reasonable entry point and good rental backup if you ever need to move.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (57/100)

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
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 9.0% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Burlington, IA (52601)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $127,387
Avg Monthly Rent $991
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $53,827
% Renters 30.8%

Market Analysis: 52601 Burlington

On balance, ZIP 52601 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $127K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 52601 shows the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

The gap between 52601 and stronger Burlington ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

The 52601 ZIP's population of 27,465 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that stands at the need for careful underwriting.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. substantial returns are possible in 52601, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Burlington:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 73/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $991/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
Burlington, IA-IL Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
5.2%
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 Burlington, IA-IL metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 52601

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
9.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+4.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$42,829/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $60,733 $820 9.7% +0.3% $60,733
2BR $99,711 $1,080 7.8% +2.9% $49,856
3BR $139,264 $1,390 7.2% +3.5% $46,421
4BR $171,316 $1,450 6.1% +4.0% $42,829
5BR $255,430 +4.7% $51,086

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$133K$122K$111K$100K$89K$78KFeb 2009Nov 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,000$974$947$921$894$868Jan 2026May 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 52601 Compare?

Metric 52601 Burlington Burlington, IA-IL Iowa
Home Value $127,387 $127,387 N/A $227,232
5-Year CAGR 2.7% 2.7% N/A 6.0%
Avg Rent $991 $991 N/A -
Cap Rate 6.1% 6.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 52601? 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 52601 (Burlington, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
6.1%
Good
5yr Growth
+2.7%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $127,387
Monthly Rent $991
Price-to-Rent 10.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 9.3%
Cap Rate 6.1%
5-Year IRR 8.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +2.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 6.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (6.1%). 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
9.0%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 52601

Population: 27,465

💰 Median Household Income
$53,827
This area
$53,827
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
30.8%
This area
30.8%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
22.4%
This area
22.4%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.5 years
This area
43.5 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.0%
This area
9.0%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 86.3%
Other/Mixed 7.0%
Black/African American 5.4%
Hispanic/Latino 2.2%
Asian 1.4%
👶 Under 18
22.0%
This area
22.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.8%
This area
21.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
13.6%
This area
13.6%
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 52601

B+ Avg School Grade
8 Schools
14.1:1 Avg Class Size
$16,738 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Aldo Leopold Intermediate School

📚 05 – 06 School
👥
424 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$16,738 Per Student
A Very Good

Black Hawk Elementary School

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
290 Students
👨‍🏫
11.2:1 Class Size
💰
$16,738 Per Student
A Very Good

James Wilson Grimes School

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
247 Students
👨‍🏫
11.2:1 Class Size
💰
$16,738 Per Student
A Very Good

Sunnyside Elementary School

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
298 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$16,738 Per Student
B+ Above Average

North Hill Elementary School

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
237 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$16,738 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Edward Stone Middle School

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
471 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$16,738 Per Student
B Good

Burlington Community High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,090 Students
👨‍🏫
17.2:1 Class Size
💰
$16,738 Per Student
C+ Average

Corse Early Childhood Center

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
176 Students
👨‍🏫
22.3:1 Class Size
💰
$16,738 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

1 Nearby 627 Off-Campus Students
C
Southeastern Community College
2,562 students · 4.2 mi

Investor Insight: With 627 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What price range are homes in Burlington, IA?

Expect median prices around $127K in Burlington, IA. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been consistent.

What is the best play in Burlington, IA?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Burlington, IA. With home values at $127K and rents near $991/mo, other strategies can work but produce stable rather than outsized returns.

Is house hacking profitable in Burlington, IA?

The house hack math a challenging in Burlington, IA. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $991/mo rents and $127K home values.

Is Burlington, IA landlord-friendly?

Burlington, IA operates under IA law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect even-keeled treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

What do landlords charge for rent in Burlington, IA?

Average rent in Burlington, IA is approximately $991/mo per month. Against $127K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

You know 52601 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 52601 ranks in Burlington, IA-IL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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