Real Estate Investing in Saint Joseph, Missouri (64506)

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

Buchanan County • Population: 22,107 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 64506 (Saint Joseph, MO)? 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: 8.1% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Saint Joseph, MO (64506)?

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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 $283,774
Avg Monthly Rent $1,199
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $60,657
% Renters 41.1%

Market Analysis: 64506 Saint Joseph

ZIP 64506 in Saint Joseph, MO carries a notable set of headwinds. Home values near $284K and rents of $1,199/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

The 64506 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Nearby ZIPs in Saint Joseph have seen price recovery that 64506 has not matched. Buchanan County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

The demographic picture in 64506 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Saint Joseph averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Strategically, 64506 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 Saint Joseph:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 70/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,199/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
St. Joseph, MO-KS Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
44 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.7%
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 St. Joseph, MO-KS metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 64506

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+7.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$83,744/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $217,329 $1,080 3.6% +7.6% $108,664
3BR $261,877 $1,370 3.8% +7.6% $87,292
4BR $355,259 $1,570 3.2% +6.7% $88,815
5BR $418,719 +6.0% $83,744

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$294K$265K$236K$207K$178K$149KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,241$1,223$1,205$1,187$1,170$1,152Mar 2026May 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 64506 Compare?

Metric 64506 Saint Joseph St. Joseph, MO-KS Missouri
Home Value $283,774 $188,194 N/A $254,657
5-Year CAGR 6.1% 6.5% N/A 7.0%
Avg Rent $1,199 $1,130 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.3% 4.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 64506? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 41% 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 64506 (Saint Joseph, MO). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.1%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $283,774
Monthly Rent $1,199
Price-to-Rent 19.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.1%
Cap Rate 3.3%
5-Year IRR 9.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.3%). 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
8.1%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.1%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 64506

Population: 22,107

💰 Median Household Income
$60,657
This area
$60,657
State
$62,768
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
41.1%
This area
41.1%
State
23.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.0%
This area
2.0%
State
-8.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
34.0%
This area
34.0%
State
8.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.9 years
This area
39.9 years
State
20.4 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.1%
This area
8.1%
State
18.8%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 79.0%
Other/Mixed 11.7%
Black/African American 7.0%
Hispanic/Latino 5.4%
Asian 2.4%
👶 Under 18
20.2%
This area
20.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.8%
This area
20.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.4%
This area
8.4%
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 64506

C+ Avg School Grade
8 Schools
13.7:1 Avg Class Size
$13,485 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

BODE MIDDLE

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
474 Students
👨‍🏫
13.3:1 Class Size
💰
$13,485 Per Student
B+ Above Average

COLEMAN ELEM.

📚 K – 06 School
👥
394 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,485 Per Student
B+ Above Average

FIELD ELEM.

📚 K – 06 School
👥
267 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$13,485 Per Student
C+ Average

ALT. RESOURCE CTR.

📚 K – 12 K-12 Limited Data
💰
$13,485 Per Student
C+ Average

BUCHANAN CO. ACADEMY

📚 K – 12 K-12 Limited Data
💰
$13,485 Per Student
C+ Average

HILLYARD TECHNICAL CTR.

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$13,485 Per Student
C Below Average

WESTERN RECEPT/DIAG CORR CENTR

📚 07 – 12 High School Limited Data
C Below Average

WESTERN REGION TREATMENT CENTR

📚 07 – 12 High School Limited Data

Nearby Schools (3 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

B+ Above Average

CARDEN PARK ELEM

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 1510 Duncan, St. Joseph
👥
604 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$13,485 Per Student
B+ Above Average

EDISON ELEM.

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 515 N 22ND, ST JOSEPH
👥
388 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,485 Per Student
C+ Average

CENTRAL HIGH

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 2602 EDMOND, ST JOSEPH
👥
1,720 Students
👨‍🏫
15.6:1 Class Size
💰
$13,485 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 580 Off-Campus Students
C+
Missouri Western State University
3,817 students · 2.5 mi

Investor Insight: With 580 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Saint Joseph, MO a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

Saint Joseph, MO scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $284K and rents near $1,199/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

What do rentals go for in Saint Joseph, MO?

Rents in Saint Joseph, MO run near $1,199/mo. Compared with median home prices of $284K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

How do experienced investors play Saint Joseph, MO?

For Saint Joseph, MO, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in Saint Joseph, MO?

Rental vacancy in Saint Joseph, MO is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

Is rental property easy to operate in Saint Joseph, MO?

MO law landlord-friendly for landlords, and Saint Joseph inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

You know 64506 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 64506 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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How 64506 ranks in St. Joseph, MO-KS

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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