Real Estate Investing in Winthrop, Minnesota (55396)

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

Sibley County • Population: 2,162 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 55396 (Winthrop, MN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (59/100)

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
  • Elevated vacancy: 11.5% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

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

What’s happening in Winthrop, MN (55396)?

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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 $240,323
Avg Monthly Rent $873
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $67,941
% Renters 20.7%

Market Analysis: 55396 Winthrop

The 55396 ZIP in Winthrop, MN is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $240K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 55396 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

The gap between 55396 and stronger Winthrop ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Who lives in 55396 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

New investors are better served looking at Winthrop's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 55396. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Winthrop:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+10.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $873/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.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$253K$217K$181K$144K$108K$72KJan 2012May 2019Jul 2026

📊 How Does 55396 Compare?

Metric 55396 Winthrop Minnesota
Home Value $240,323 $240,323 $340,597
5-Year CAGR 3.5% 3.5% 4.9%
Avg Rent $873 $873 -
Cap Rate 2.8% 2.8% -
💡 Why Invest in 55396? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 55396 (Winthrop, MN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.5%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $240,323
Monthly Rent $873
Price-to-Rent 22.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.4%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 6.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +10.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲

🏠 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
11.5%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
3.0/5
Balanced
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 55396

Population: 2,162

💰 Median Household Income
$67,941
This area
$67,941
State
$77,168
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
20.7%
This area
20.7%
State
18.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.4%
This area
2.4%
State
-3.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
18.5%
This area
18.5%
State
20.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.0 years
This area
43.0 years
State
37.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
11.5%
This area
11.5%
State
17.0%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 87.5%
Other/Mixed 11.0%
Hispanic/Latino 8.7%
Black/African American 1.5%
Asian 0.1%
👶 Under 18
22.8%
This area
22.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
23.0%
This area
23.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.0%
This area
6.0%
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 55396

A Avg School Grade
2 Schools
14.5:1 Avg Class Size
$17,612 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

GFW High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
225 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$17,612 Per Student
B+ Above Average

GFW Middle School

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
175 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$17,612 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

Is housing expensive in Winthrop, MN?

Expect median prices around $240K in Winthrop, MN. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been reliable.

What do rentals go for in Winthrop, MN?

Winthrop, MN rentals go for roughly $873/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $240K acquisition costs.

How qualified is the tenant pool in Winthrop, MN?

Winthrop, MN draws a even-keeled base of working renters. Demand at the $873/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

Does house hacking work in Winthrop, MN?

For house hackers, Winthrop, MN is a challenging. The $873/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $240K property.

How strict are landlord regulations in Winthrop, MN?

For rental operators, Winthrop, MN rates as balanced. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

You know 55396 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 55396 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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