Real Estate Investing in Wilton, Iowa (52778)

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

Muscatine County • Population: 3,677 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 52778 (Wilton, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (71/100)

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 Wilton, IA (52778)?

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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 $236,801
Avg Monthly Rent $837
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $69,792
% Renters 24.5%

Market Analysis: 52778 Wilton

Investors eyeing 52778 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $237K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

The investment case in 52778 is durable only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $237K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Within IA, ZIP 52778 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Muscatine County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and sturdy enough to shape underwriting.

The demographic picture in 52778 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Wilton averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

The right play in 52778 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Wilton:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+10.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $837/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
Muscatine, IA Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
4.8%
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 Muscatine, IA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 52778

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+6.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$71,027/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $173,670 $930 3.9% $86,835
3BR $221,562 $1,210 3.9% +5.9% $73,854
4BR $284,107 $1,400 3.5% +6.2% $71,027

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$247K$218K$188K$159K$129K$100KMar 2009Nov 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 52778 Compare?

Metric 52778 Wilton Muscatine, IA Iowa
Home Value $236,801 $236,801 N/A $227,232
5-Year CAGR 5.7% 5.7% N/A 6.0%
Avg Rent $837 $837 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.8% 2.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 52778? 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 52778 (Wilton, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.7%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Muscatine, IA metro

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

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $236,801
Monthly Rent $837
Price-to-Rent 23.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.2%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 8.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +10.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲

🏠 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
6.6%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 52778

Population: 3,677

💰 Median Household Income
$69,792
This area
$69,792
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
24.5%
This area
24.5%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.4%
This area
0.4%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
31.9%
This area
31.9%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
46.9 years
This area
46.9 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.6%
This area
6.6%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.1%
Other/Mixed 4.4%
Hispanic/Latino 3.5%
Black/African American 0.3%
Asian 0.3%
👶 Under 18
18.3%
This area
18.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.7%
This area
21.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
1.2%
This area
1.2%
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 52778

B+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
15.0:1 Avg Class Size
$12,909 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Wilton Jr-Sr High School

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
441 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$12,909 Per Student
B Good

Wilton Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
524 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,909 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

What is the rental occupancy rate in Wilton, IA?

Wilton, IA vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

What strategy should investors use in Wilton, IA?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Wilton, IA. With home values at $237K and rents near $837/mo, other strategies can work but produce stable rather than outsized returns.

What is the median home value in Wilton, IA?

Expect median prices around $237K in Wilton, IA. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been even-keeled.

Does house hacking work in Wilton, IA?

House hacking in Wilton, IA is reasonable to execute. Prices around $237K and rents of $837/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

How qualified is the tenant pool in Wilton, IA?

The tenant pool in Wilton, IA is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $837/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

You know 52778 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 52778 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 52778 ranks in Muscatine, IA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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