Real Estate Investing in Saint Paul, Minnesota (55103)

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

Ramsey County • Population: 13,892 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 55103 (Saint Paul, MN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (60/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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
  • Elevated poverty: 22.2% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.

What’s happening in Saint Paul, MN (55103)?

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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 $256,443
Avg Monthly Rent $1,348
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $45,242
% Renters 56.6%

Market Analysis: 55103 Saint Paul

Put differently, ZIP 55103 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $256K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

For an experienced owner, 55103 can be a a strong candidate for hunting ground — but the discount at $256K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

The gap between 55103 and stronger Saint Paul ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Demographically, 55103 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.

tilts toward 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 Saint Paul:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 58/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,348/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
🏠

Property Strategy for 55103

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
6.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+3.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$60,394/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $144,451 $1,250 6.2% +3.2% $144,451
2BR $212,389 $1,520 5.2% +3.0% $106,194
3BR $249,986 $2,020 5.8% +3.3% $83,329
4BR $278,908 $2,270 5.9% +3.2% $69,727
5BR $301,968 +3.8% $60,394

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$274K$234K$194K$153K$113K$73KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,567$1,478$1,389$1,300$1,211$1,123Apr 2024Jun 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 55103 Compare?

Metric 55103 Saint Paul Minnesota
Home Value $256,443 $262,186 $340,597
5-Year CAGR 1.6% 1.7% 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,348 $1,440 -
Cap Rate 4.1% 3.9% -
💡 Why Invest in 55103? Click to expand

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

57% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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 55103 (Saint Paul, MN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Ramsey County

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Property Care
Roseville, MN

Property Care provides HOA Management services. summary from their website

HOA
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Simply Residential Property Management offers expert management of single-family, condominiums, and multi-family dwellings throughout the Twin Cities. summary from their website

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Spire Community Management provides HOA management services in Minnesota, with a local phone number for the state. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.1%
Fair
5yr Growth
+1.6%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $256,443
Monthly Rent $1,348
Price-to-Rent 15.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.3%
Cap Rate 4.1%
5-Year IRR 5.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +1.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +5.0% ▲
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
7.1%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
3.0/5
Balanced
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.6%
Flat
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 55103

Population: 13,892

💰 Median Household Income
$45,242
This area
$45,242
State
$77,168
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
56.6%
This area
56.6%
State
18.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.5%
This area
2.5%
State
-3.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
26.3%
This area
26.3%
State
20.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
33.1 years
This area
33.1 years
State
37.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.1%
This area
7.1%
State
17.0%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 36.7%
Black/African American 28.9%
Asian 21.2%
Other/Mixed 13.1%
Hispanic/Latino 4.4%
👶 Under 18
27.1%
This area
27.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
10.1%
This area
10.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
22.2%
This area
22.2%
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 55103

A Avg School Grade
8 Schools
12.3:1 Avg Class Size
$22,972 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

BENJAMIN E MAYS MAGNET

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
353 Students
👨‍🏫
9.4:1 Class Size
💰
$24,161 Per Student
A+ Excellent

East African Culture and Learning

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
145 Students
👨‍🏫
7.4:1 Class Size
💰
$24,161 Per Student
A Very Good

ST. PAUL CITY PRIMARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
299 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$24,144 Per Student
A Very Good

St. Paul City High School

📚 09 – 12 High School Charter
👥
150 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$24,144 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Twin Cities German Immersion Chrtr

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
587 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 Class Size
💰
$14,702 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Early Education Ben Mays/Rondo

📚 Pre-K – K Elementary
👥
18 Students
👨‍🏫
3.1:1 Class Size
💰
$24,161 Per Student
B+ Above Average

CAPITOL HILL MAGNET/RONDO

📚 01 – 08 School
👥
1,065 Students
👨‍🏫
20.0:1 Class Size
💰
$24,161 Per Student
B Good

ST. PAUL CITY MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 06 – 08 Middle Charter
👥
141 Students
👨‍🏫
18.0:1 Class Size
💰
$24,144 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

BRUCE F VENTO ELEMENTARY

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 409 CASE AVE E, SAINT PAUL
👥
478 Students
👨‍🏫
11.2:1 Class Size
💰
$24,161 Per Student
A+ Excellent

COMO PARK ELEMENTARY

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 780 WHEELOCK PKWY W, SAINT PAUL
👥
322 Students
👨‍🏫
8.9:1 Class Size
💰
$24,161 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Global Arts Plus Lower

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
📍 1023 OSCEOLA AVE, SAINT PAUL
👥
393 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$24,161 Per Student
A+ Excellent

MAXFIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 380 VICTORIA ST N, SAINT PAUL
👥
336 Students
👨‍🏫
10.6:1 Class Size
💰
$24,161 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Mississippi Creative Arts Elem

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1575 L'ORIENT ST, SAINT PAUL
👥
555 Students
👨‍🏫
11.1:1 Class Size
💰
$24,161 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

8 Nearby 3,974 Off-Campus Students
C
Saint Paul College
5,155 students · 1.2 mi
C
Mitchell Hamline School of Law
1,217 students · 1.7 mi
D
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System Office
0 students · 1.8 mi
C
Concordia University-Saint Paul
5,854 students · 1.8 mi
C
Hamline University
2,432 students · 2.0 mi
C
Metropolitan State University
6,005 students · 2.5 mi
B+
Macalester College
2,142 students · 2.8 mi
C
American Academy of Health and Wellness
29 students · 3.5 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,974 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Saint Paul, MN?

Occupancy in Saint Paul, MN runs even-keeled with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $1,348/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

What is the smart move for investors in Saint Paul, MN?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Saint Paul, MN. With home values at $256K and rents near $1,348/mo, other strategies can work but produce reliable rather than outsized returns.

Are tenants stable in Saint Paul, MN?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Saint Paul, MN. The rental market absorbs $1,348/mo rents without meaningful friction.

Is Saint Paul, MN suited for a house hack?

House hacking in Saint Paul, MN is reasonable to execute. Prices around $256K and rents of $1,348/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

What is the average home sale price in Saint Paul, MN?

Saint Paul, MN median home values land near $256K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,348/mo-per-month rentals.

You know 55103 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 55103 ranks in Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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