Real Estate Investing in Babbitt, Minnesota (55706)

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

Saint Louis County • Population: 1,827 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 55706 (Babbitt, MN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (72/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

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 vacancy: 27.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.

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

What’s happening in Babbitt, MN (55706)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $153,779
Avg Monthly Rent $927
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $56,250
% Renters 14.5%

Market Analysis: 55706 Babbitt

On balance, ZIP 55706 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $154K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Looking more closely, the numbers look inviting — $154K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 55706 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Regionally, 55706 sits on the difficult end of the MN spectrum. The worth a close look for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Demographically, 55706 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.

Strategically, 55706 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 Babbitt:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 72/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+11.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $927/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.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Duluth, MN-WI Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
49 days
Average time to sell
Average
8.7%
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 Duluth, MN-WI metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 55706

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
6.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+9.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$50,138/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $127,067 $1,030 5.8% +9.9% $63,533
3BR $150,413 $1,390 6.7% +8.7% $50,138

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$161K$140K$120K$99K$79K$58KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 55706 Compare?

Metric 55706 Babbitt Duluth, MN-WI Minnesota
Home Value $153,779 $153,779 N/A $340,597
5-Year CAGR 6.9% 6.9% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $927 $927 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.7% 4.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 55706? 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.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 55706 (Babbitt, MN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.7%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.9%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $153,779
Monthly Rent $927
Price-to-Rent 13.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.2%
Cap Rate 4.7%
5-Year IRR 11.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +11.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.7%). 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
27.7%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
3.0/5
Balanced
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.9%
Growing
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 55706

Population: 1,827

💰 Median Household Income
$56,250
This area
$56,250
State
$77,168
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
14.5%
This area
14.5%
State
18.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.8%
This area
1.8%
State
-3.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
19.9%
This area
19.9%
State
20.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
55.6 years
This area
55.6 years
State
37.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
27.7%
This area
27.7%
State
17.0%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.9%
Other/Mixed 4.1%
Hispanic/Latino 2.2%
Asian 0.9%
Black/African American 0.1%
👶 Under 18
13.3%
This area
13.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
27.9%
This area
27.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.9%
This area
11.9%
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 55706

A+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
9.5:1 Avg Class Size
$21,082 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

NORTHEAST RANGE SECONDARY

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
119 Students
👨‍🏫
9.8:1 Class Size
💰
$21,082 Per Student
A Very Good

BABBITT ELEMENTARY

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
97 Students
👨‍🏫
9.2:1 Class Size
💰
$21,082 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

Which real estate strategy fits Babbitt, MN?

For Babbitt, MN, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

How expensive is real estate in Babbitt, MN?

Homes in Babbitt, MN typically sell near $154K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which measured long-term demand.

Where do rents currently stand in Babbitt, MN?

Rent in Babbitt, MN is around $927/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $154K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

Should investors worry about vacancy in Babbitt, MN?

Vacancy risk in Babbitt, MN is elevated. That supports steady cash flow for typical rental holds.

Are landlord laws favorable in Babbitt, MN?

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

You know 55706 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 55706 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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How 55706 ranks in Duluth, MN-WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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