Real Estate Investing in Cottonwood Falls, Kansas (66845)

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

Chase County • Population: 1,136 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 66845 (Cottonwood Falls, KS)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (72/100)

Solid choice — stable market with a reasonable entry point and good rental backup if you ever need to move.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 21.2% 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 Cottonwood Falls, KS (66845)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $131,149
Avg Monthly Rent $792
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $48,571
% Renters 23.0%

Market Analysis: 66845 Cottonwood Falls

Investors eyeing 66845 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $131K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

On balance, the numbers look inviting — $131K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 66845 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Within KS, ZIP 66845 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Chase County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and significant enough to shape underwriting.

Demographically, 66845 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

New investors are better served looking at Cottonwood Falls's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 66845. 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 Cottonwood Falls:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $792/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 66845

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
7.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+6.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$45,405/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $90,811 $880 7.0% +6.3% $45,405
3BR $159,868 $1,180 5.3% +5.2% $53,289

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$141K$127K$112K$98K$84K$70KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 66845 Compare?

Metric 66845 Cottonwood Falls Emporia, KS Kansas
Home Value $131,149 $131,149 N/A $237,409
5-Year CAGR 4.5% 4.5% N/A 7.2%
Avg Rent $792 $792 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.7% 4.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 66845? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 66845 (Cottonwood Falls, KS). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.7%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.5%
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 $131,149
Monthly Rent $792
Price-to-Rent 13.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.3%
Cap Rate 4.7%
5-Year IRR 9.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.7%). 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
21.2%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 66845

Population: 1,136

💰 Median Household Income
$48,571
This area
$48,571
State
$67,472
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
23.0%
This area
23.0%
State
22.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.2%
This area
1.2%
State
-2.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
23.9%
This area
23.9%
State
17.3%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
44.3 years
This area
44.3 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
21.2%
This area
21.2%
State
16.4%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 88.3%
Other/Mixed 10.9%
Hispanic/Latino 4.6%
Black/African American 0.8%
👶 Under 18
18.0%
This area
18.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.1%
This area
22.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.7%
This area
4.7%
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 66845

A Avg School Grade
1 Schools
11.6:1 Avg Class Size
$17,070 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Chase County Junior Senior High School

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
170 Students
👨‍🏫
11.6:1 Class Size
💰
$17,070 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

How strong are rents in Cottonwood Falls, KS?

Rents in Cottonwood Falls, KS run near $792/mo. Compared with median home prices of $131K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

What real estate strategy is ideal for Cottonwood Falls, KS?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Cottonwood Falls, KS best. The market produces even-keeled results for that approach at the $131K price point.

What kind of market is Cottonwood Falls, KS for investors?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Cottonwood Falls, KS ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $131K and rents of $792/mo drive the underlying numbers.

Where do home prices stand in Cottonwood Falls, KS?

Homes in Cottonwood Falls, KS typically sell near $131K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which even-keeled long-term demand.

What are vacancy rates like in Cottonwood Falls, KS?

Rental vacancy in Cottonwood Falls, KS is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

You know 66845 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 66845 ranks in Emporia, KS

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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