Real Estate Investing in Emporia, Kansas (66801)

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

Lyon County • Population: 27,348 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 66801 (Emporia, KS)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (64/100)

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
  • High vacancy: 12.1% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Emporia, KS (66801)?

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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 $175,020
Avg Monthly Rent $890
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $54,322
% Renters 45.7%

Market Analysis: 66801 Emporia

The 66801 ZIP in Emporia, KS is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $175K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 66801 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Within KS, ZIP 66801 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Lyon County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and healthy enough to shape underwriting.

Resident income in 66801 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

The right play in 66801 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Emporia:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 76/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $890/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Emporia, KS Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
8.2%
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 Emporia, KS metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 66801

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
7.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+11.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$53,671/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $63,221 $680 7.7% +11.4% $63,221
2BR $107,341 $890 6.0% +9.5% $53,671
3BR $180,100 $1,160 4.6% +7.2% $60,033
4BR $236,295 $1,400 4.3% +6.8% $59,074
5BR $276,654 +6.7% $55,331

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$183K$163K$142K$122K$102K$81KApr 2010Jun 2018Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$917$860$803$747$690$633Oct 2023Mar 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 66801 Compare?

Metric 66801 Emporia Emporia, KS Kansas
Home Value $175,020 $175,020 N/A $237,409
5-Year CAGR 5.0% 5.0% N/A 7.2%
Avg Rent $890 $890 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.0% 4.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 66801? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 46% 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 66801 (Emporia, KS). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.0%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Emporia, KS metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
62%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $175,020
Monthly Rent $890
Price-to-Rent 16.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.1%
Cap Rate 4.0%
5-Year IRR 9.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +21.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.0%). 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
12.1%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 66801

Population: 27,348

💰 Median Household Income
$54,322
This area
$54,322
State
$67,472
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
45.7%
This area
45.7%
State
22.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.0%
This area
2.0%
State
-2.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
26.9%
This area
26.9%
State
17.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
32.2 years
This area
32.2 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
12.1%
This area
12.1%
State
16.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 77.2%
Other/Mixed 18.6%
Hispanic/Latino 13.8%
Asian 2.2%
Black/African American 2.0%
👶 Under 18
21.1%
This area
21.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
14.9%
This area
14.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.4%
This area
9.4%
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 66801

A+ Avg School Grade
8 Schools
13.7:1 Avg Class Size
$23,551 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Logan Ave Elem

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
215 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$23,551 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Timmerman Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
367 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$23,551 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Village Elem

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
386 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$23,551 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Emporia Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
852 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$23,551 Per Student
A+ Excellent

W A White Elem

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
244 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$23,551 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Walnut Elem

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
285 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$23,551 Per Student
A Very Good

Riverside Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
421 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$23,551 Per Student
B Good

Emporia High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,629 Students
👨‍🏫
18.4:1 Class Size
💰
$23,551 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

2 Nearby 1,388 Off-Campus Students
C+
Flint Hills Technical College
1,639 students · 0.6 mi
C
Emporia State University
4,658 students · 2.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,388 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do tenants pay in Emporia, KS?

Expect rents around $890/mo per month in Emporia, KS. With home values at $175K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

What investment strategy works best in Emporia, KS?

Most investors in Emporia, KS run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 3.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

What is the median home value in Emporia, KS?

Typical homes in Emporia, KS go for around $175K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% reliable price movement.

Is Emporia, KS a friendly market for rental owners?

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

How does Emporia, KS stack up for property investment?

Emporia, KS registers an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $175K and average rents around $890/mo. That combination puts it in the solid tier for investor interest.

You know 66801 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 66801 ranks in Emporia, KS

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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