Real Estate Investing in Hawarden, Iowa (51023)

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

Sioux County • Population: 3,437 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 51023 (Hawarden, IA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (79/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 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: 11.7% 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 Hawarden, IA (51023)?

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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 $197,419
Avg Monthly Rent $900
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $71,897
% Renters 32.1%

Market Analysis: 51023 Hawarden

The 51023 ZIP in Hawarden, IA is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $197K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Rent of $900/mo on a $197K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 51023 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

The gap between 51023 and stronger Hawarden ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Resident income in 51023 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

The 51023 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Hawarden:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 77/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+9.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $900/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Sioux City, IA-NE-SD Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
58 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.0%
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 Sioux City, IA-NE-SD metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$208K$178K$148K$118K$87K$57KMar 2009Nov 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 51023 Compare?

Metric 51023 Hawarden Sioux City, IA-NE-SD Iowa
Home Value $197,419 $197,419 N/A $227,232
5-Year CAGR 7.4% 7.4% N/A 6.0%
Avg Rent $900 $900 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.6% 3.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 51023? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 51023 (Hawarden, IA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.4%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $197,419
Monthly Rent $900
Price-to-Rent 18.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.5%
Cap Rate 3.6%
5-Year IRR 10.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +9.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.6%). 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
11.7%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.4%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 51023

Population: 3,437

💰 Median Household Income
$71,897
This area
$71,897
State
$71,886
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
32.1%
This area
32.1%
State
19.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
0.0%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
22.9%
This area
22.9%
State
18.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
34.6 years
This area
34.6 years
State
40.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
11.7%
This area
11.7%
State
11.7%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 79.9%
Other/Mixed 19.9%
Hispanic/Latino 15.6%
Black/African American 0.1%
👶 Under 18
33.6%
This area
33.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.2%
This area
15.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
10.3%
This area
10.3%
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 51023

B+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
12.7:1 Avg Class Size
$15,010 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Hawarden Elementary School

📚 02 – 05 Elementary
👥
209 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$15,010 Per Student
B+ Above Average

West Sioux High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
250 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,010 Per Student
B+ Above Average

West Sioux Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
151 Students
👨‍🏫
14.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,010 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

Is vacancy a concern in Hawarden, IA?

Expect elevated vacancy in Hawarden, IA. Rents at $900/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

Are renters plentiful in Hawarden, IA?

Working renters make up the core of the Hawarden, IA tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

Is Hawarden, IA a good place for real estate investing?

Hawarden, IA stands at an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $197K and average rents around $900/mo. That combination puts it in the solid tier for investor interest.

Is rental property easy to operate in Hawarden, IA?

Landlord-friendliness in Hawarden, IA is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

Is Hawarden, IA good for house hacking?

The house hack math a challenging in Hawarden, IA. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $900/mo rents and $197K home values.

You know 51023 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 51023 ranks in Sioux City, IA-NE-SD

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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