Real Estate Investing in Brookston, Minnesota (55711)

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

Saint Louis County • Population: 518 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 55711 (Brookston, MN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (53/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 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 vacancy: 23.8% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Brookston, MN (55711)?

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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 $213,919
Avg Monthly Rent $1,053
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $52,500
% Renters 17.2%

Market Analysis: 55711 Brookston

In practical terms, ZIP 55711 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $214K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $214K asset, 55711 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Nearby ZIPs in Brookston have seen price recovery that 55711 has not matched. Saint Louis County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Employment concentration in 55711 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

New investors are better served looking at Brookston's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 55711. 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 Brookston:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 63/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+9.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,053/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
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

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$222K$199K$176K$153K$130K$107KJan 2013Oct 2019Jul 2026

📊 How Does 55711 Compare?

Metric 55711 Brookston Duluth, MN-WI Minnesota
Home Value $213,919 $213,919 N/A $340,597
5-Year CAGR 3.2% 3.2% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,053 $1,053 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.8% 3.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 55711? 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 55711 (Brookston, MN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.2%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $213,919
Monthly Rent $1,053
Price-to-Rent 16.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.9%
Cap Rate 3.8%
5-Year IRR 7.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +9.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.8%). 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.

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⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
23.8%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
3.0/5
Balanced
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 55711

Population: 518

💰 Median Household Income
$52,500
This area
$52,500
State
$77,168
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
17.2%
This area
17.2%
State
18.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.9%
This area
2.9%
State
-3.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
9.2%
This area
9.2%
State
20.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.6 years
This area
37.6 years
State
37.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
23.8%
This area
23.8%
State
17.0%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 83.4%
Other/Mixed 15.9%
Hispanic/Latino 1.3%
Black/African American 0.7%
👶 Under 18
17.1%
This area
17.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.8%
This area
16.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.5%
This area
6.5%
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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average home sale price in Brookston, MN?

Median home price in Brookston, MN is near $214K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been measured and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

How high is vacancy risk in Brookston, MN?

Occupancy in Brookston, MN runs consistent with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $1,053/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

Is Brookston, MN a friendly market for rental owners?

The landlord environment in Brookston, MN is balanced. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

Does house hacking make sense in Brookston, MN?

The house hack math a challenging in Brookston, MN. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $1,053/mo rents and $214K home values.

How strong is the working-renter base in Brookston, MN?

Working renters make up the core of the Brookston, MN tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

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How 55711 ranks in Duluth, MN-WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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