Real Estate Investing in Faribault, Minnesota (55021)

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

Rice County • Population: 30,860 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 55021 (Faribault, MN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (63/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 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.

What’s happening in Faribault, MN (55021)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $306,794
Avg Monthly Rent $1,449
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $66,742
% Renters 29.6%

Market Analysis: 55021 Faribault

ZIP 55021 in Faribault, MN carries a impressive set of headwinds. Home values near $307K and rents of $1,449/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

The 55021 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 55021 among MN's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Who lives in 55021 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

seems 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 Faribault:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,449/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
Faribault-Northfield, MN Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.3%
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 Faribault-Northfield, MN metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 55021

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
4.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+6.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$83,061/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $311,677 $920 2.1% +6.1% $311,677
2BR $264,630 $1,210 3.3% +6.7% $132,315
3BR $291,488 $1,560 3.9% +6.7% $97,163
4BR $354,226 $2,030 4.1% +6.4% $88,557
5BR $415,303 +6.5% $83,061

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$322K$281K$239K$198K$157K$115KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,619$1,565$1,511$1,457$1,403$1,349Feb 2026May 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 55021 Compare?

Metric 55021 Faribault Faribault-Northfield, MN Minnesota
Home Value $306,794 $306,794 N/A $340,597
5-Year CAGR 4.8% 4.8% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,449 $1,449 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.7% 3.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 55021? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 55021 (Faribault, MN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.8%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $306,794
Monthly Rent $1,449
Price-to-Rent 17.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.7%
Cap Rate 3.7%
5-Year IRR 8.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.7%). 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
3.0/5
Balanced
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 55021

Population: 30,860

💰 Median Household Income
$66,742
This area
$66,742
State
$77,168
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
29.6%
This area
29.6%
State
18.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.2%
This area
3.2%
State
-3.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
20.3%
This area
20.3%
State
20.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.5 years
This area
40.5 years
State
37.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.9%
This area
7.9%
State
17.0%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 75.9%
Black/African American 12.1%
Other/Mixed 10.9%
Hispanic/Latino 8.2%
Asian 1.2%
👶 Under 18
22.5%
This area
22.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.7%
This area
17.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.4%
This area
9.4%
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 55021

B+ Avg School Grade
21 Schools
8.9:1 Avg Class Size
$20,014 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
395 Students
👨‍🏫
11.1:1 Class Size
💰
$20,415 Per Student
A+ Excellent

LINCOLN ELEMENTARY

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
423 Students
👨‍🏫
11.0:1 Class Size
💰
$20,415 Per Student
A+ Excellent

ROOSEVELT ELEMENTARY

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
418 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$20,415 Per Student
A+ Excellent

FARIBAULT MIDDLE

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
636 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$20,415 Per Student
A Very Good

Falcons Online Academy-Middle

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
10 Students
👨‍🏫
8.4:1 Class Size
💰
$20,415 Per Student
A Very Good

FARIBAULT SENIOR HIGH

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
961 Students
👨‍🏫
15.5:1 Class Size
💰
$20,415 Per Student
A Very Good

EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
93 Students
👨‍🏫
4.0:1 Class Size
💰
$20,415 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Falcons Online Academy-HS

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
72 Students
👨‍🏫
17.1:1 Class Size
💰
$20,415 Per Student
B+ Above Average

CANNON RIVER STEM SCHOOL

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
234 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$16,828 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Discovery Public School - Faribault

📚 06 – 12 High School Charter
👥
48 Students
👨‍🏫
9.0:1 Class Size
💰
$18,388 Per Student
B+ Above Average

FARIBAULT AREA LEARNING CENTER

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
99 Students
👨‍🏫
12.1:1 Class Size
💰
$20,415 Per Student
B Good

McKinley PreK

📚 Grade PK Elementary Limited Data
💰
$20,415 Per Student
B Good

Surad Academy

📚 K – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
66 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
C+ Average

FARIBAULT DAY SCHOOL ALC

📚 06 – 08 Middle Limited Data
💰
$20,415 Per Student
C+ Average

MN ACADEMY FOR THE DEAF

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12
👥
82 Students
👨‍🏫
3.4:1 Class Size
C+ Average

SECONDARY AREA LEARNING CNTR SUMMER

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$20,415 Per Student
C+ Average

Alexander Learning Academy

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
31 Students
👨‍🏫
2.2:1 Class Size
C+ Average

CVSEC STEP

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
34 Students
👨‍🏫
3.5:1 Class Size
C+ Average

Laura Baker SUN Program

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
14 Students
👨‍🏫
1.7:1 Class Size
C+ Average

MN ACADEMY FOR THE BLIND

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12
👥
40 Students
👨‍🏫
2.9:1 Class Size
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

2 Nearby
B
St Olaf College
3,074 students · 12.2 mi
B+
Carleton College
2,069 students · 12.8 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical renter like in Faribault, MN?

The renter base in Faribault, MN is reasonable for the $1,449/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields even-keeled tenants.

How strong is Faribault, MN for real estate investors?

Our data puts Faribault, MN at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $307K and rents around $1,449/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

How expensive is real estate in Faribault, MN?

In Faribault, MN the median home value sits at $307K. Against the broader MN market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

How landlord-friendly is Faribault, MN?

MN law balanced for landlords, and Faribault inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

How strong are rents in Faribault, MN?

Rent in Faribault, MN is around $1,449/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $307K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

You know 55021 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 55021 ranks in Faribault-Northfield, MN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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