Real Estate Investing in Clear Lake, South Dakota (57226)

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

Deuel • Population: 1,834 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 57226 (Clear Lake, SD)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (56/100)

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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 14.4% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 26.6 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

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

What’s happening in Clear Lake, SD (57226)?

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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 $267,237
Avg Monthly Rent $837
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $72,083
% Renters 25.9%

Market Analysis: 57226 Clear Lake

The 57226 ZIP in Clear Lake, SD is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $267K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 57226 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Within SD, ZIP 57226 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Deuel submarkets outperform. The gap is real and durable enough to shape underwriting.

Demographically, 57226 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

The 57226 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 Clear Lake:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 67/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+12.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $837/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.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$284K$256K$228K$200K$172K$144KFeb 2018May 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 57226 Compare?

Metric 57226 Clear Lake South Dakota
Home Value $267,237 $267,237 $311,504
5-Year CAGR 5.4% 5.4% 6.8%
Avg Rent $837 $837 -
Cap Rate 2.4% 2.4% -
💡 Why Invest in 57226? 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 57226 (Clear Lake, SD). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.4%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $267,237
Monthly Rent $837
Price-to-Rent 26.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.8%
Cap Rate 2.4%
5-Year IRR 7.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +12.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.4%). 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.

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⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
14.4%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 57226

Population: 1,834

💰 Median Household Income
$72,083
This area
$72,083
State
$68,422
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
25.9%
This area
25.9%
State
23.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.2%
This area
1.2%
State
-0.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
22.9%
This area
22.9%
State
17.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.6 years
This area
43.6 years
State
31.0 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.4%
This area
14.4%
State
18.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.5%
Other/Mixed 4.4%
Hispanic/Latino 1.9%
Black/African American 0.1%
👶 Under 18
21.6%
This area
21.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
26.4%
This area
26.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.2%
This area
4.2%
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 57226

B Avg School Grade
3 Schools
13.6:1 Avg Class Size
$12,022 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Clear Lake Elementary - 02

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
274 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$12,022 Per Student
B Good

Deuel High School - 01

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
171 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 Class Size
💰
$12,022 Per Student
B Good

Clear Lake Middle School - 04

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
99 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$12,022 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

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Clear Lake, SD?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Clear Lake, SD reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

What kind of tenants rent in Clear Lake, SD?

Clear Lake, SD offers a consistent renter base at the $837/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

Is housing expensive in Clear Lake, SD?

Clear Lake, SD home values average about $267K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $837/mo in monthly income.

Which investment style suits Clear Lake, SD?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Clear Lake, SD best. The market produces measured results for that approach at the $267K price point.

How much is rent in Clear Lake, SD?

Rents in Clear Lake, SD run near $837/mo. Compared with median home prices of $267K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

You know 57226 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 57226 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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