Real Estate Investing in Clearwater, Minnesota (55320)

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

Stearns • Population: 5,676 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 55320 (Clearwater, 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 28.4 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Clearwater, MN (55320)?

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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 $374,623
Avg Monthly Rent $1,100
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $98,491
% Renters 13.5%

Market Analysis: 55320 Clearwater

The 55320 ZIP in Clearwater, MN is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $375K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

The 55320 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 MN, ZIP 55320 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Stearns submarkets outperform. The gap is real and solid enough to shape underwriting.

Employment concentration in 55320 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Strategically, 55320 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Clearwater:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,100/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
🏠

Property Strategy for 55320

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+7.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$106,713/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $297,465 $1,520 3.7% +6.2% $148,733
3BR $359,505 $2,020 4.0% +6.3% $119,835
4BR $426,854 $2,270 3.8% +7.4% $106,713
5BR $633,255 +6.8% $126,651

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$401K$345K$290K$234K$179K$123KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

No data available

📊 How Does 55320 Compare?

Metric 55320 Clearwater Minnesota
Home Value $374,623 $374,623 $340,597
5-Year CAGR 4.1% 4.1% 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,100 $1,100 -
Cap Rate 2.3% 2.3% -
💡 Why Invest in 55320? 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 55320 (Clearwater, MN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 55320 (Clearwater, MN)?

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.1%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $374,623
Monthly Rent $1,100
Price-to-Rent 28.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.5%
Cap Rate 2.3%
5-Year IRR 6.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.3%). 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
7.0%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
3.0/5
Balanced
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 55320

Population: 5,676

💰 Median Household Income
$98,491
This area
$98,491
State
$77,168
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
13.5%
This area
13.5%
State
18.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.3%
This area
2.3%
State
-3.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
29.2%
This area
29.2%
State
20.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.2 years
This area
39.2 years
State
37.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.0%
This area
7.0%
State
17.0%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.2%
Other/Mixed 4.1%
Hispanic/Latino 1.6%
Asian 0.8%
👶 Under 18
26.0%
This area
26.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.1%
This area
15.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.6%
This area
4.6%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

4 Nearby 2,927 Off-Campus Students
C+
Saint Cloud State University
10,514 students · 11.4 mi
C
Model College of Hair Design
108 students · 11.8 mi
C+
Rasmussen University-Minnesota
8,823 students · 12.1 mi
C
St Cloud Technical and Community College
3,565 students · 13.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,927 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do rentals go for in Clearwater, MN?

Expect rents around $1,100/mo per month in Clearwater, MN. With home values at $375K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

What is the smart move for investors in Clearwater, MN?

The best-fit strategy in Clearwater, MN is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

What does house hacking look like in Clearwater, MN?

Clearwater, MN offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $1,100/mo rent level.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Clearwater, MN?

Rental owners in Clearwater, MN deal with a balanced legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

Where do home prices stand in Clearwater, MN?

In Clearwater, MN the median home value sits at $375K. Against the broader MN market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

You know 55320 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 55320 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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