Real Estate Investing in Cotton, Minnesota (55724)

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

Saint Louis County • Population: 719 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 55724 (Cotton, MN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (60/100)

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 vacancy: 55.6% 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 Cotton, MN (55724)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
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 $233,670
Avg Monthly Rent $1,125
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $69,107
% Renters 7.4%

Market Analysis: 55724 Cotton

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Cotton's 55724 ZIP reflects signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $234K pricing implies.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 55724 reports the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Nearby ZIPs in Cotton have seen price recovery that 55724 has not matched. Saint Louis County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

The 55724 ZIP's population of 719 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that stands at the need for careful underwriting.

The right play in 55724 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Cotton:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 72/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+14.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,125/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 55724

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+7.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$105,139/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $222,586 $1,250 4.0% +5.9% $111,293
3BR $315,416 $1,710 3.9% +7.1% $105,139

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$245K$213K$180K$148K$116K$84KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 55724 Compare?

Metric 55724 Cotton Duluth, MN-WI Minnesota
Home Value $233,670 $233,670 N/A $340,597
5-Year CAGR 6.0% 6.0% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,125 $1,125 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.8% 3.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 55724? 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.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 55724 (Cotton, MN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 55724 (Cotton, MN)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.0%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $233,670
Monthly Rent $1,125
Price-to-Rent 17.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.8%
Cap Rate 3.8%
5-Year IRR 9.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +14.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲
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: 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.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
55.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
3.0/5
Balanced
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.0%
Growing
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 55724

Population: 719

💰 Median Household Income
$69,107
This area
$69,107
State
$77,168
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
7.4%
This area
7.4%
State
18.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.5%
This area
1.5%
State
-3.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
27.3%
This area
27.3%
State
20.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
60.3 years
This area
60.3 years
State
37.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
55.6%
This area
55.6%
State
17.0%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 96.2%
Other/Mixed 3.8%
Hispanic/Latino 1.0%
👶 Under 18
11.2%
This area
11.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
35.6%
This area
35.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.5%
This area
2.5%
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 typical home price in Cotton, MN?

Median home price in Cotton, MN is near $234K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been stable and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

Is Cotton, MN a friendly market for rental owners?

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

How viable is house hacking in Cotton, MN?

Cotton, MN offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $1,125/mo rent level.

Is Cotton, MN a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

Cotton, MN rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $234K and rents near $1,125/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

What is the renter demographic in Cotton, MN?

Tenant demand in Cotton, MN is solid. The local workforce $1,125/mo rents across most rental classes.

You know 55724 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 55724 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.

Compare Plans

How 55724 ranks in Duluth, MN-WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 55724 (Cotton)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 55724 (Cotton, MN).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.