Real Estate Investing in Duluth, Minnesota (55806)

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

Saint Louis County • Population: 9,545 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 55806 (Duluth, MN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (62/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.6% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Duluth, MN (55806)?

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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 $217,684
Avg Monthly Rent $1,240
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $40,955
% Renters 53.9%

Market Analysis: 55806 Duluth

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Duluth's 55806 ZIP clocks in at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $218K pricing implies.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 55806 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Regionally, 55806 sits on the difficult end of the MN spectrum. The a solid fit for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

In practical terms, 9,545 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.

New investors are better served looking at Duluth's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 55806. 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 Duluth:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 64/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,240/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 55806

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
5.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$59,668/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $196,767 $1,160 4.2% +8.7% $98,383
3BR $209,974 $1,590 5.5% +8.3% $69,991
4BR $238,671 $1,950 5.9% +7.3% $59,668

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$228K$198K$169K$139K$110K$80KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,302$1,277$1,252$1,227$1,201$1,176Jan 2025Oct 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 55806 Compare?

Metric 55806 Duluth Duluth, MN-WI Minnesota
Home Value $217,684 $278,655 N/A $340,597
5-Year CAGR 6.8% 6.2% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,240 $1,528 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.4% 4.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 55806? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

54% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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 55806 (Duluth, MN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.4%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.8%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $217,684
Monthly Rent $1,240
Price-to-Rent 14.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.8%
Cap Rate 4.4%
5-Year IRR 11.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -1.3% ▼
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.4%). 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
8.6%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
3.0/5
Balanced
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.8%
Growing
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 55806

Population: 9,545

💰 Median Household Income
$40,955
This area
$40,955
State
$77,168
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
53.9%
This area
53.9%
State
18.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.2%
This area
5.2%
State
-3.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
27.0%
This area
27.0%
State
20.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
31.7 years
This area
31.7 years
State
37.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.6%
This area
8.6%
State
17.0%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 79.4%
Other/Mixed 13.5%
Black/African American 6.3%
Hispanic/Latino 2.5%
Asian 0.8%
👶 Under 18
20.4%
This area
20.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
10.4%
This area
10.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
18.6%
This area
18.6%
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 55806

A+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
12.2:1 Avg Class Size
$18,265 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

LINCOLN PARK MIDDLE SCHOOL

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
568 Students
👨‍🏫
12.2:1 Class Size
💰
$18,265 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

LAURA MACARTHUR ELEMENTARY

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 720 N CENTRAL AVE, DULUTH
👥
308 Students
👨‍🏫
8.9:1 Class Size
💰
$18,265 Per Student
A+ Excellent

MYERS-WILKINS ELEMENTARY

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1027 N 8TH AVE E, DULUTH
👥
319 Students
👨‍🏫
7.5:1 Class Size
💰
$18,265 Per Student
A Very Good

Academic Excellence Online

📚 06 – 12 High School
📍 11 E SUPERIOR ST, DULUTH
👥
73 Students
👨‍🏫
8.8:1 Class Size
💰
$18,265 Per Student
A Very Good

RALEIGH PRIMARY/EL ACADEMY

📚 K – 05 Elementary Charter
📍 5905 RALEIGH ST, DULUTH
👥
172 Students
👨‍🏫
9.7:1 Class Size
💰
$19,539 Per Student
B+ Above Average

DENFELD HIGH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 401 N 44TH AVE W, DULUTH
👥
917 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$18,265 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

4 Nearby 2,991 Off-Campus Students
C
Lake Superior College
4,001 students · 1.4 mi
C
The College of Saint Scholastica
2,979 students · 3.5 mi
C
University of Wisconsin-Superior
2,726 students · 3.9 mi
C+
University of Minnesota-Duluth
9,350 students · 4.0 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,991 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Duluth, MN make sense for an investment property?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Duluth, MN reflects its $218K prices and $1,240/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within MN.

What are rental rates like in Duluth, MN?

Rental rates in Duluth, MN average $1,240/mo. Tenant demand and $218K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

Which investment style suits Duluth, MN?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Duluth, MN best. The market produces predictable results for that approach at the $218K price point.

Are there empty rentals in Duluth, MN?

Duluth, MN sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader MN rental market.

Are homes affordable in Duluth, MN?

Duluth, MN median home values land near $218K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,240/mo-per-month rentals.

You know 55806 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 55806 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 55806 ranks in Duluth, MN-WI

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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