Real Estate Investing in West Burlington, Iowa (52655)

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

Des Moines County • Population: 4,300 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 52655 (West Burlington, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (62/100)

Mixed — values have been flat. OK for long-horizon buyers, less attractive if you may need to sell soon.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

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
  • Flat appreciation: Values have barely moved over 5 years (0.4% CAGR).

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

What’s happening in West Burlington, IA (52655)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $173,661
Avg Monthly Rent $909
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $51,927
% Renters 39.3%

Market Analysis: 52655 West Burlington

The 52655 ZIP in West Burlington, IA is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $174K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

The 52655 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 52655 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Des Moines County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and healthy enough to shape underwriting.

Employment concentration in 52655 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

appears to 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 West Burlington:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 58/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
10/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $909/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
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 52655

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
5.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+5.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$53,051/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $132,338 $1,010 5.5% +2.7% $66,169
3BR $169,674 $1,300 5.5% +3.8% $56,558
4BR $212,202 $1,360 4.6% +5.2% $53,051

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$197K$172K$148K$124K$100K$75KFeb 2009Nov 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 52655 Compare?

Metric 52655 West Burlington Burlington, IA-IL Iowa
Home Value $173,661 $173,661 N/A $227,232
5-Year CAGR 0.4% 0.4% N/A 6.0%
Avg Rent $909 $909 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.1% 4.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 52655? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 39% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 52655 (West Burlington, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.1%
Fair
5yr Growth
+0.4%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $173,661
Monthly Rent $909
Price-to-Rent 15.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.3%
Cap Rate 4.1%
5-Year IRR 4.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR 0.0% ▼
5-Year CAGR +0.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +2.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.1%). 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
6.4%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+0.4%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 52655

Population: 4,300

💰 Median Household Income
$51,927
This area
$51,927
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
39.3%
This area
39.3%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.1%
This area
1.1%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
25.0%
This area
25.0%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.5 years
This area
40.5 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.4%
This area
6.4%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 80.9%
Black/African American 12.5%
Other/Mixed 6.4%
Hispanic/Latino 4.2%
Asian 0.1%
👶 Under 18
21.0%
This area
21.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.5%
This area
20.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.4%
This area
11.4%
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 52655

B+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
15.0:1 Avg Class Size
$12,291 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

West Burlington Elem School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
437 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$12,291 Per Student
B Good

West Burlington Arnold Jr./Sr. High School

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
463 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$12,291 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 · 3.1 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What approach is best for West Burlington, IA real estate?

West Burlington, IA investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($174K prices, $909/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

What is the typical rental rate in West Burlington, IA?

Rent in West Burlington, IA is around $909/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $174K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

How landlord-friendly is West Burlington, IA?

IA ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. West Burlington generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

Are tenants stable in West Burlington, IA?

The tenant pool in West Burlington, IA is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $909/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

What kind of market is West Burlington, IA for investors?

West Burlington, IA scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $174K and rents near $909/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

You know 52655 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 52655 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 52655 ranks in Burlington, IA-IL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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