Real Estate Investing in Melrose, Minnesota (56352)

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

Stearns • Population: 5,955 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 56352 (Melrose, MN)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (58/100)

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
  • Elevated vacancy: 10.4% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

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

What’s happening in Melrose, MN (56352)?

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 $299,840
Avg Monthly Rent $1,071
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $64,231
% Renters 20.4%

Market Analysis: 56352 Melrose

Investors eyeing 56352 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $300K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 56352 reports the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

ZIP 56352's metrics run below Stearns's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

A solid renter share of 20% in 56352 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

Strategy in 56352 is an operator game, not a passive one. From a cash-flow lens, entry prices of $300K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 Melrose:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 64/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,071/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.
🏠

Property Strategy for 56352

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+7.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$75,254/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $235,304 $1,190 3.6% +7.0% $117,652
3BR $281,904 $1,580 4.0% +7.2% $93,968
4BR $331,078 $1,850 4.0% +7.0% $82,769
5BR $376,272 +7.4% $75,254

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$322K$280K$238K$196K$154K$112KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 56352 Compare?

Metric 56352 Melrose Minnesota
Home Value $299,840 $299,840 $340,597
5-Year CAGR 5.3% 5.3% 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,071 $1,071 -
Cap Rate 2.8% 2.8% -
💡 Why Invest in 56352? 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 56352 (Melrose, MN). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 56352 (Melrose, MN)?

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

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.8%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.3%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $299,840
Monthly Rent $1,071
Price-to-Rent 23.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.3%
Cap Rate 2.8%
5-Year IRR 8.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.8%). 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
10.4%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
3.0/5
Balanced
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Moderate

Demographics in 56352

Population: 5,955

💰 Median Household Income
$64,231
This area
$64,231
State
$77,168
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
20.4%
This area
20.4%
State
18.9%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.2%
This area
1.2%
State
-3.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
19.2%
This area
19.2%
State
20.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
42.4 years
This area
42.4 years
State
37.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.4%
This area
10.4%
State
17.0%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 91.4%
Other/Mixed 7.9%
Hispanic/Latino 5.6%
Black/African American 0.5%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
24.4%
This area
24.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.0%
This area
21.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.8%
This area
4.8%
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 56352

B Avg School Grade
7 Schools
11.7:1 Avg Class Size
$15,597 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

MELROSE ELEMENTARY

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
476 Students
👨‍🏫
12.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,597 Per Student
B+ Above Average

MELROSE SECONDARY

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
504 Students
👨‍🏫
17.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,597 Per Student
B+ Above Average

MELROSE MIDDLE

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
286 Students
👨‍🏫
16.1:1 Class Size
💰
$15,597 Per Student
C+ Average

BEACON PROGRAM W CENTRAL ED. DIST.

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12
👥
11 Students
👨‍🏫
5.5:1 Class Size
C+ Average

WEST CENTRAL EDUCATION DISTRICT B-2

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
33 Students
👨‍🏫
11.0:1 Class Size
C+ Average

WEST CENTRAL AREA LEARNING CENTER

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
29 Students
👨‍🏫
7.2:1 Class Size
C Below Average

WCED Credit Recovery

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
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

Can I house hack in Melrose, MN?

The house hack math a challenging in Melrose, MN. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $1,071/mo rents and $300K home values.

What is the renter demographic in Melrose, MN?

Tenant demand in Melrose, MN is solid. The local workforce $1,071/mo rents across most rental classes.

What approach is best for Melrose, MN real estate?

Melrose, MN investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($300K prices, $1,071/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

Is Melrose, MN good for landlords?

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

What price range are homes in Melrose, MN?

In Melrose, MN the median home value sits at $300K. Against the broader MN market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

You know 56352 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 56352 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
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 56352 (Melrose)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 56352 (Melrose, MN).

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