Real Estate Investing in Medford, Minnesota (55049)

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

Steele County • Population: 2,634 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 55049 (Medford, MN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (67/100)

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
1 flag
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 25.4 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

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

What’s happening in Medford, MN (55049)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
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 $320,293
Avg Monthly Rent $1,053
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $87,940
% Renters 17.5%

Market Analysis: 55049 Medford

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Medford's 55049 ZIP posts signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $320K pricing implies.

The investment case in 55049 is resilient only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $320K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

The gap between 55049 and stronger Medford ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Demographically, 55049 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. substantial returns are possible in 55049, 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 Medford:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,053/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
Owatonna, MN Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
10.9%
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 Owatonna, MN metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 55049

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+7.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$86,219/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
3BR $258,657 $1,590 4.4% +7.0% $86,219
4BR $354,839 $1,860 3.8% +6.4% $88,710

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$335K$292K$249K$207K$164K$121KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 55049 Compare?

Metric 55049 Medford Owatonna, MN Minnesota
Home Value $320,293 $320,293 N/A $340,597
5-Year CAGR 5.2% 5.2% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,053 $1,053 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.6% 2.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 55049? 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.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 55049 (Medford, MN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 55049 (Medford, MN)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.2%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Owatonna, MN metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
36%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $320,293
Monthly Rent $1,053
Price-to-Rent 25.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.0%
Cap Rate 2.6%
5-Year IRR 7.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.6%). 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
6.0%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
3.0/5
Balanced
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 55049

Population: 2,634

💰 Median Household Income
$87,940
This area
$87,940
State
$77,168
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
17.5%
This area
17.5%
State
18.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.7%
This area
3.7%
State
-3.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
20.8%
This area
20.8%
State
20.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
33.6 years
This area
33.6 years
State
37.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.0%
This area
6.0%
State
17.0%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 83.9%
Other/Mixed 14.6%
Hispanic/Latino 12.1%
Asian 0.8%
Black/African American 0.7%
👶 Under 18
30.0%
This area
30.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
11.3%
This area
11.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.3%
This area
5.3%
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 55049

B Avg School Grade
2 Schools
16.9:1 Avg Class Size
$12,248 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

MEDFORD ELEMENTARY

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
491 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$12,248 Per Student
B Good

MEDFORD SECONDARY

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
399 Students
👨‍🏫
19.1:1 Class Size
💰
$12,248 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

How high is vacancy risk in Medford, MN?

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

Are landlord laws favorable in Medford, MN?

MN ranks as a balanced state for landlord-tenant law. Medford generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

How much rent can I charge in Medford, MN?

The typical rental in Medford, MN commands about $1,053/mo monthly. That rent profile stable cash flow against the $320K purchase basis.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Medford, MN?

Medford, MN offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $1,053/mo rent level.

Does Medford, MN make sense for an investment property?

Investors tracking Medford, MN will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $320K median home values and $1,053/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting consistent returns.

You know 55049 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 55049 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.

Compare Plans
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 55049 (Medford)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 55049 (Medford, MN).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.