Real Estate Investing in Carlton, Minnesota (55718)

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

Carlton County • Population: 3,068 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 55718 (Carlton, MN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (62/100)

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
2 flags
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.3% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 29.8 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

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

What’s happening in Carlton, MN (55718)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $347,440
Avg Monthly Rent $972
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $85,677
% Renters 15.7%

Market Analysis: 55718 Carlton

Investors eyeing 55718 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $347K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Rent of $972/mo on a $347K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 55718 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

In the broader MN picture, 55718 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Demographically, 55718 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.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 55718 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Carlton:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 67/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $972/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)

$364K$318K$272K$225K$179K$133KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 55718 Compare?

Metric 55718 Carlton Duluth, MN-WI Minnesota
Home Value $347,440 $347,440 N/A $340,597
5-Year CAGR 6.6% 6.6% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $972 $972 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.2% 2.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 55718? 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 55718 (Carlton, MN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.6%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $347,440
Monthly Rent $972
Price-to-Rent 29.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.4%
Cap Rate 2.2%
5-Year IRR 8.7%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.2%). 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
8.3%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
3.0/5
Balanced
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.6%
Growing
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 55718

Population: 3,068

💰 Median Household Income
$85,677
This area
$85,677
State
$77,168
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
15.7%
This area
15.7%
State
18.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.6%
This area
3.6%
State
-3.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
22.6%
This area
22.6%
State
20.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.7 years
This area
43.7 years
State
37.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.3%
This area
8.3%
State
17.0%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.4%
Other/Mixed 5.6%
Hispanic/Latino 0.8%
Black/African American 0.7%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
21.4%
This area
21.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.5%
This area
18.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.6%
This area
2.6%
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

🎓 Schools in 55718

B+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
13.0:1 Avg Class Size
$38,135 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

SOUTH TERRACE ELEMENTARY

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
145 Students
👨‍🏫
9.1:1 Class Size
💰
$17,943 Per Student
B+ Above Average

CARLTON SECONDARY

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
151 Students
👨‍🏫
15.3:1 Class Size
💰
$17,943 Per Student
B+ Above Average

NLA-Carlton

📚 04 – 12 High School
👥
31 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$78,519 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

1 Nearby 540 Off-Campus Students
C+
Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College
1,749 students · 4.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 540 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What monthly rent should investors expect in Carlton, MN?

Expect rents around $972/mo per month in Carlton, MN. With home values at $347K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

Are tenants stable in Carlton, MN?

Tenant demand in Carlton, MN is solid. The local workforce $972/mo rents across most rental classes.

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Carlton, MN?

Vacancy in Carlton, MN is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $972/mo.

What investment strategy works best in Carlton, MN?

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

Is Carlton, MN a smart market for rental property?

Investors tracking Carlton, MN will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $347K median home values and $972/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting predictable returns.

You know 55718 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 55718 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 55718 ranks in Duluth, MN-WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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