Real Estate Investing in Hiawatha, Kansas (66434)

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

Brown County • Population: 4,738 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 66434 (Hiawatha, KS)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (73/100)

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
  • High vacancy: 21.6% of homes vacant — above national norms.

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

What’s happening in Hiawatha, KS (66434)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $173,883
Avg Monthly Rent $801
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $64,817
% Renters 26.4%

Market Analysis: 66434 Hiawatha

This part of Brown County is not an easy win. The 66434 ZIP clocks in at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 66434 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Statewide comparisons place 66434 among KS's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Who lives in 66434 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

New investors are better served looking at Hiawatha's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 66434. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Hiawatha:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 75/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+9.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $801/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 66434

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+12.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$53,948/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $118,851 $890 5.4% +12.0% $59,426
3BR $174,689 $1,160 4.8% +10.2% $58,230
4BR $215,790 $1,180 3.9% +9.9% $53,948

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$185K$161K$137K$113K$88K$64KJun 2011Jan 2019Jul 2026

📊 How Does 66434 Compare?

Metric 66434 Hiawatha Kansas
Home Value $173,883 $173,883 $237,409
5-Year CAGR 9.2% 9.2% 7.2%
Avg Rent $801 $801 -
Cap Rate 3.6% 3.6% -
💡 Why Invest in 66434? Click to expand

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

📊 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.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 66434 (Hiawatha, KS). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 66434 (Hiawatha, KS)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+9.2%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $173,883
Monthly Rent $801
Price-to-Rent 18.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.5%
Cap Rate 3.6%
5-Year IRR 12.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +9.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +8.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +9.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.0% ▲

🏠 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
21.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+9.2%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 66434

Population: 4,738

💰 Median Household Income
$64,817
This area
$64,817
State
$67,472
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
26.4%
This area
26.4%
State
22.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.5%
This area
2.5%
State
-2.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
21.4%
This area
21.4%
State
17.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.5 years
This area
43.5 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
21.6%
This area
21.6%
State
16.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 88.9%
Other/Mixed 9.4%
Hispanic/Latino 1.6%
Black/African American 1.3%
Asian 0.4%
👶 Under 18
25.6%
This area
25.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.5%
This area
20.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.5%
This area
5.5%
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 66434

B+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
13.5:1 Avg Class Size
$13,364 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Hiawatha Elem

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
350 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,364 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Hiawatha Middle School

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
270 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,364 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Hiawatha Sr High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
261 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,364 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 405 Off-Campus Students
C
Highland Community College
2,182 students · 14.6 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do rents currently stand in Hiawatha, KS?

Investors in Hiawatha, KS typically see rents near $801/mo per month against $174K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

What is the typical renter like in Hiawatha, KS?

Hiawatha, KS offers a consistent renter base at the $801/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

Is Hiawatha, KS a friendly market for rental owners?

Hiawatha, KS falls under KS landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

Is Hiawatha, KS a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

Our data puts Hiawatha, KS at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $174K and rents around $801/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

What is the average home sale price in Hiawatha, KS?

Expect median prices around $174K in Hiawatha, KS. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been consistent.

You know 66434 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 66434 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.

Compare Plans
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 66434 (Hiawatha)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 66434 (Hiawatha, KS).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.