Real Estate Investing in Iola, Kansas (66749)

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

Allen County • Population: 7,452 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 66749 (Iola, KS)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (75/100)

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
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 18.1% 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 Iola, KS (66749)?

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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 $111,925
Avg Monthly Rent $819
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $53,565
% Renters 35.1%

Market Analysis: 66749 Iola

ZIP 66749 in Iola, KS carries a healthy set of headwinds. Home values near $112K and rents of $819/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

From an investor standpoint, the numbers look inviting — $112K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 66749 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Statewide comparisons place 66749 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 66749 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

Strategically, 66749 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 Iola:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 79/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $819/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This area shows favorable conditions for homebuyers. Solid fundamentals with reasonable affordability.
🏠

Property Strategy for 66749

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
10.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+11.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$32,800/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $65,600 $910 10.0% +11.8% $32,800
3BR $131,385 $1,260 6.9% +10.1% $43,795
4BR $161,573 $1,320 5.9% +9.4% $40,393

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$118K$105K$92K$78K$65K$52KSep 2009Mar 2018Jul 2026

📊 How Does 66749 Compare?

Metric 66749 Iola Kansas
Home Value $111,925 $111,925 $237,409
5-Year CAGR 6.8% 6.8% 7.2%
Avg Rent $819 $819 -
Cap Rate 5.7% 5.7% -
💡 Why Invest in 66749? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 35% 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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Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 66749 (Iola, KS). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 66749 (Iola, KS)?

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.7%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.8%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $111,925
Monthly Rent $819
Price-to-Rent 11.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.8%
Cap Rate 5.7%
5-Year IRR 12.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.7%). 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
18.1%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.8%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 66749

Population: 7,452

💰 Median Household Income
$53,565
This area
$53,565
State
$67,472
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
35.1%
This area
35.1%
State
22.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.6%
This area
3.6%
State
-2.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
21.4%
This area
21.4%
State
17.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.5 years
This area
37.5 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
18.1%
This area
18.1%
State
16.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 88.9%
Other/Mixed 8.1%
Black/African American 2.8%
Hispanic/Latino 2.6%
Asian 0.3%
👶 Under 18
23.4%
This area
23.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.6%
This area
19.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.9%
This area
11.9%
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 66749

A+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
11.1:1 Avg Class Size
$31,806 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Iola Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
220 Students
👨‍🏫
11.2:1 Class Size
💰
$31,806 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Iola Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
635 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$31,806 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Iola Sr High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
322 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$31,806 Per Student
A Very Good

Iola High School Virtual

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
3 Students
👨‍🏫
3.8:1 Class Size
💰
$31,806 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 399 Off-Campus Students
C
Allen County Community College
1,817 students · 0.8 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What are vacancy rates like in Iola, KS?

Iola, KS carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect even-keeled absorption at market rents of $819/mo.

Is Iola, KS better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Iola, KS. The numbers - $112K homes against $819/mo rents - support that play.

How do home values compare in Iola, KS?

Median home price in Iola, KS is near $112K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been steady and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

What is it like being a landlord in Iola, KS?

The landlord environment in Iola, KS is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

Are tenants stable in Iola, KS?

The tenant pool in Iola, KS is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $819/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

You know 66749 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 66749 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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