Real Estate Investing in Alta Vista, Kansas (66834)

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

Wabaunsee County • Population: 1,030 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 66834 (Alta Vista, KS)? 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
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 19.6% 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 Alta Vista, KS (66834)?

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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 $183,977
Avg Monthly Rent $972
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $72,529
% Renters 24.6%

Market Analysis: 66834 Alta Vista

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Alta Vista's 66834 ZIP sits at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $184K pricing implies.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 66834 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Within KS, ZIP 66834 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Wabaunsee County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and robust enough to shape underwriting.

The 66834 ZIP's population of 1,030 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that registers the need for careful underwriting.

Strategy in 66834 is an operator game, not a passive one. Meanwhile, entry prices of $184K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 Alta Vista:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 77/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.5× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $972/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.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Topeka, KS Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
35 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.3%
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 Topeka, KS metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$200K$178K$155K$133K$110K$87KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 66834 Compare?

Metric 66834 Alta Vista Topeka, KS Kansas
Home Value $183,977 $183,977 N/A $237,409
5-Year CAGR 5.5% 5.5% N/A 7.2%
Avg Rent $972 $972 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.1% 4.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 66834? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 66834 (Alta Vista, KS). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.1%
Fair
5yr Growth
+5.5%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Topeka, KS metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
40%
Days Pending
0/2
35 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $183,977
Monthly Rent $972
Price-to-Rent 15.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.3%
Cap Rate 4.1%
5-Year IRR 9.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.2% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.1%). 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
19.6%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 66834

Population: 1,030

💰 Median Household Income
$72,529
This area
$72,529
State
$67,472
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
24.6%
This area
24.6%
State
22.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.8%
This area
4.8%
State
-2.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
22.7%
This area
22.7%
State
17.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.4 years
This area
40.4 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
19.6%
This area
19.6%
State
16.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 88.2%
Other/Mixed 5.3%
Asian 3.6%
Black/African American 3.0%
Hispanic/Latino 1.9%
👶 Under 18
28.8%
This area
28.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.8%
This area
21.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.1%
This area
6.1%
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 66834

B+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
8.7:1 Avg Class Size
$15,516 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Prairie Heights Elementary School

📚 K – 06 School
👥
74 Students
👨‍🏫
8.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,516 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best play in Alta Vista, KS?

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

How deep is the rental pool in Alta Vista, KS?

The tenant pool in Alta Vista, KS is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $972/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

Are homes affordable in Alta Vista, KS?

Alta Vista, KS median home values land near $184K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $972/mo-per-month rentals.

Is real estate in Alta Vista, KS a good investment right now?

Alta Vista, KS rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $184K and rents near $972/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

What does house hacking look like in Alta Vista, KS?

For house hackers, Alta Vista, KS is a challenging. The $972/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $184K property.

You know 66834 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 66834 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 66834 ranks in Topeka, KS

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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