Real Estate Investing in Grand Rapids, Minnesota (55744)

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

Itasca County • Population: 20,469 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 55744 (Grand Rapids, 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: 12.8% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Grand Rapids, MN (55744)?

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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 $286,679
Avg Monthly Rent $1,225
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $64,158
% Renters 24.6%

Market Analysis: 55744 Grand Rapids

ZIP 55744 inside Itasca County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $287K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

For an experienced owner, 55744 can be a a solid fit for hunting ground — but the discount at $287K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

Within MN, ZIP 55744 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Itasca County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and healthy enough to shape underwriting.

On balance, 20,469 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. solid returns are possible in 55744, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Grand Rapids:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 71/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,225/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Grand Rapids, MN Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.8%
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 Grand Rapids, MN metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 55744

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$80,926/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $185,137 $900 3.5% +8.3% $185,137
2BR $246,357 $1,130 3.3% +8.3% $123,178
3BR $280,488 $1,470 3.8% +8.1% $93,496
4BR $342,206 $1,600 3.4% +7.8% $85,551
5BR $404,630 +8.2% $80,926

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$299K$268K$236K$205K$173K$142KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

No data available

📊 How Does 55744 Compare?

Metric 55744 Grand Rapids Grand Rapids, MN Minnesota
Home Value $286,679 $286,679 N/A $340,597
5-Year CAGR 5.4% 5.4% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,225 $1,225 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.3% 3.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 55744? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 55744 (Grand Rapids, MN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.4%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Grand Rapids, MN metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
50%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $286,679
Monthly Rent $1,225
Price-to-Rent 19.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.1%
Cap Rate 3.3%
5-Year IRR 8.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲
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: 3.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.3%). 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
12.8%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
3.0/5
Balanced
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 55744

Population: 20,469

💰 Median Household Income
$64,158
This area
$64,158
State
$77,168
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
24.6%
This area
24.6%
State
18.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.9%
This area
2.9%
State
-3.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
29.6%
This area
29.6%
State
20.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
46.5 years
This area
46.5 years
State
37.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
12.8%
This area
12.8%
State
17.0%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 91.4%
Other/Mixed 7.6%
Hispanic/Latino 3.0%
Black/African American 0.7%
Asian 0.3%
👶 Under 18
20.4%
This area
20.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
24.9%
This area
24.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.8%
This area
7.8%
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 55744

B Avg School Grade
9 Schools
16.2:1 Avg Class Size
$17,082 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

East Rapids Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
649 Students
👨‍🏫
16.6:1 Class Size
💰
$17,082 Per Student
A Very Good

ROBERT J. ELKINGTON MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
778 Students
👨‍🏫
17.6:1 Class Size
💰
$17,082 Per Student
A Very Good

West Rapids Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
639 Students
👨‍🏫
16.3:1 Class Size
💰
$17,082 Per Student
B+ Above Average

GRAND RAPIDS EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
62 Students
👨‍🏫
10.3:1 Class Size
💰
$17,082 Per Student
B Good

ITASKIN EDUCATION CENTER

📚 04 – 12 High School
👥
36 Students
👨‍🏫
6.0:1 Class Size
💰
$17,082 Per Student
B Good

GRAND RAPIDS SENIOR HIGH

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,114 Students
👨‍🏫
20.3:1 Class Size
💰
$17,082 Per Student
C Below Average

MIDDLE AREA LEARNING CENTER

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
26 Students
💰
$17,082 Per Student
C Below Average

Infinity: Minnesota Digital Academy

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
C Below Average

GRAND RAPIDS AREA LEARNING CENTER

📚 08 – 12 High School
👥
127 Students
👨‍🏫
26.4:1 Class Size
💰
$17,082 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

How high is vacancy risk in Grand Rapids, MN?

Vacancy risk in Grand Rapids, MN is elevated. That supports reliable cash flow for typical rental holds.

Is Grand Rapids, MN a friendly market for rental owners?

Grand Rapids, MN falls under MN landlord-tenant law, which is balanced. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

What does house hacking look like in Grand Rapids, MN?

For house hackers, Grand Rapids, MN is a challenging. The $1,225/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $287K property.

What are rental rates like in Grand Rapids, MN?

Average rent in Grand Rapids, MN is approximately $1,225/mo per month. Against $287K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

Are homes affordable in Grand Rapids, MN?

Grand Rapids, MN median home values land near $287K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,225/mo-per-month rentals.

You know 55744 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 55744 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 55744 ranks in Grand Rapids, MN

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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