Real Estate Investing in Waubay, South Dakota (57273)

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

Day County • Population: 1,226 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 57273 (Waubay, SD)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (46/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 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: 50.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 28.3 — 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 Waubay, SD (57273)?

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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 $308,636
Avg Monthly Rent $909
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $47,344
% Renters 30.1%

Market Analysis: 57273 Waubay

The 57273 ZIP covers a section of Waubay that demands careful diligence. Prices near $309K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $309K asset, 57273 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Regionally, 57273 sits on the difficult end of the SD spectrum. The worth a close look for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Employment concentration in 57273 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

The 57273 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 Waubay:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 60/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 6.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+13.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $909/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)

$320K$290K$260K$230K$200K$171KDec 2018Oct 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 57273 Compare?

Metric 57273 Waubay South Dakota
Home Value $308,636 $308,636 $311,504
5-Year CAGR 7.6% 7.6% 6.8%
Avg Rent $909 $909 -
Cap Rate 2.3% 2.3% -
💡 Why Invest in 57273? 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 57273 (Waubay, SD). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.6%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $308,636
Monthly Rent $909
Price-to-Rent 28.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.5%
Cap Rate 2.3%
5-Year IRR 9.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +13.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +8.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.6% ▲
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: 2.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.3%). 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
50.5%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.6%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 57273

Population: 1,226

💰 Median Household Income
$47,344
This area
$47,344
State
$68,422
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
30.1%
This area
30.1%
State
23.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.2%
This area
5.2%
State
-0.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
22.0%
This area
22.0%
State
17.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.4 years
This area
39.4 years
State
31.0 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
50.5%
This area
50.5%
State
18.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 53.8%
Other/Mixed 45.9%
Hispanic/Latino 1.1%
Asian 0.3%
👶 Under 18
31.0%
This area
31.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.7%
This area
21.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
17.4%
This area
17.4%
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 57273

B+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
46.1:1 Avg Class Size
$21,561 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Waubay Elementary - 02

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
77 Students
👨‍🏫
6.8:1 Class Size
💰
$21,561 Per Student
A Very Good

Waubay Middle School - 03

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
27 Students
👨‍🏫
9.4:1 Class Size
💰
$21,561 Per Student
A Very Good

Waubay High School - 01

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
68 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$21,561 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

Enemy Swim Day School

📚 K – 08 School
👥
156 Students
👨‍🏫
156.0:1 Class Size
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

What approach is best for Waubay, SD real estate?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Waubay, SD best. The market produces stable results for that approach at the $309K price point.

How deep is the rental pool in Waubay, SD?

The renter base in Waubay, SD is reasonable for the $909/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields even-keeled tenants.

Do landlords face vacancy issues in Waubay, SD?

Vacancy risk in Waubay, SD is elevated. That supports measured cash flow for typical rental holds.

Can I house hack in Waubay, SD?

House hacking works a challenging in Waubay, SD. Rents of $909/mo against $309K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

How much is rent in Waubay, SD?

Rent in Waubay, SD is around $909/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $309K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

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