Real Estate Investing in Harlem, Montana (59526)

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

Blaine County • Population: 2,584 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 59526 (Harlem, MT)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (72/100)

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

📈 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
3 flags
  • High vacancy: 21.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Elevated poverty: 22.9% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • Higher unemployment: 10.5% unemployment — tenant risk signal.

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

What’s happening in Harlem, MT (59526)?

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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 $162,732
Avg Monthly Rent $1,071
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $56,890
% Renters 43.2%

Market Analysis: 59526 Harlem

Stepping back, ZIP 59526 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $163K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $163K asset, 59526 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Regionally, 59526 sits on the difficult end of the MT spectrum. The a credible choice for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Put differently, 2,584 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.

Strategically, 59526 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Harlem:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 72/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.5%)
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 59526

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
7.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+11.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$57,224/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $114,449 $1,190 7.5% +9.5% $57,224
3BR $184,058 $1,430 5.6% +11.1% $61,353

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$175K$152K$130K$108K$86K$63KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 59526 Compare?

Metric 59526 Harlem Montana
Home Value $162,732 $162,732 $457,278
5-Year CAGR 5.8% 5.8% 9.2%
Avg Rent $1,071 $1,071 -
Cap Rate 5.1% 5.1% -

Similar ZIPs Within 25 Miles

Compare other nearby markets to see if a neighbor offers a better fit.

💡 Why Invest in 59526? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 43% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 59526 (Harlem, MT). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.1%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.8%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $162,732
Monthly Rent $1,071
Price-to-Rent 12.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.9%
Cap Rate 5.1%
5-Year IRR 10.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.1%). 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
21.5%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 59526

Population: 2,584

💰 Median Household Income
$56,890
This area
$56,890
State
$64,023
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
43.2%
This area
43.2%
State
24.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
10.5%
This area
10.5%
State
-0.5%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
18.1%
This area
18.1%
State
20.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
26.8 years
This area
26.8 years
State
38.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
21.5%
This area
21.5%
State
26.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Other/Mixed 80.0%
White 19.8%
Hispanic/Latino 2.8%
Asian 0.1%
👶 Under 18
34.1%
This area
34.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
11.3%
This area
11.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
22.9%
This area
22.9%
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 59526

A Avg School Grade
4 Schools
10.4:1 Avg Class Size
$19,772 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Harlem Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
364 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$17,766 Per Student
A Very Good

North Harlem Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
3 Students
👨‍🏫
3.0:1 Class Size
💰
$27,143 Per Student
A Very Good

Harlem 7-8

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
92 Students
👨‍🏫
10.9:1 Class Size
💰
$17,766 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Harlem High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
165 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$16,411 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

1 Nearby 107 Off-Campus Students
C+
Aaniiih Nakoda College
133 students · 4.9 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Should investors worry about vacancy in Harlem, MT?

Harlem, MT sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader MT rental market.

What is the average home sale price in Harlem, MT?

Typical homes in Harlem, MT go for around $163K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% stable price movement.

Is Harlem, MT better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

Harlem, MT investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($163K prices, $1,071/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

Does house hacking make sense in Harlem, MT?

House hacking works a challenging in Harlem, MT. Rents of $1,071/mo against $163K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

What are rental rates like in Harlem, MT?

Rental rates in Harlem, MT average $1,071/mo. Tenant demand and $163K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

You know 59526 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 59526 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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