Real Estate Investing in Wayne, Nebraska (68787)

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

Wayne County • Population: 6,816 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 68787 (Wayne, NE)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (80/100)

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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Wayne, NE (68787)?

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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 $243,086
Avg Monthly Rent $1,305
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $59,931
% Renters 38.3%

Market Analysis: 68787 Wayne

On balance, ZIP 68787 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $243K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Rent of $1,305/mo on a $243K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 68787 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Regionally, 68787 sits on the difficult end of the NE spectrum. The a viable market for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

A healthy renter share of 38% in 68787 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

Strategically, 68787 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 Wayne:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 72/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,305/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 68787

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
4.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+9.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$62,995/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $180,424 $960 3.8% +9.5% $90,212
3BR $230,364 $1,280 4.0% +9.5% $76,788
4BR $251,982 $1,610 4.6% +7.4% $62,995
5BR $319,317 +8.2% $63,863

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$255K$220K$186K$151K$116K$81KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

No data available

📊 How Does 68787 Compare?

Metric 68787 Wayne Nebraska
Home Value $243,086 $243,086 $269,423
5-Year CAGR 7.6% 7.6% 6.7%
Avg Rent $1,305 $1,305 -
Cap Rate 4.2% 4.2% -
💡 Why Invest in 68787? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 38% 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 68787 (Wayne, NE). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 68787 (Wayne, NE)?

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.2%
Fair
5yr Growth
+7.6%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $243,086
Monthly Rent $1,305
Price-to-Rent 15.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.4%
Cap Rate 4.2%
5-Year IRR 11.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.2%). 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
5.3%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.6%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 68787

Population: 6,816

💰 Median Household Income
$59,931
This area
$59,931
State
$70,851
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
38.3%
This area
38.3%
State
22.7%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.1%
This area
3.1%
State
-5.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
35.4%
This area
35.4%
State
15.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
26.3 years
This area
26.3 years
State
33.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.3%
This area
5.3%
State
15.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 91.5%
Other/Mixed 6.4%
Hispanic/Latino 4.7%
Black/African American 1.8%
Asian 0.3%
👶 Under 18
16.4%
This area
16.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.5%
This area
15.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
10.2%
This area
10.2%
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 68787

C+ Avg School Grade
5 Schools
24.5:1 Avg Class Size
$13,184 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

WAYNE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
477 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,184 Per Student
B Good

WAYNE HIGH SCHOOL

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
319 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,184 Per Student
B Good

WAYNE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
161 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$13,184 Per Student
C Below Average

TOWER SCHOOL

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12 Limited Data
D Needs Improvement

WAYNE EARLY LEARNING CENTER

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
52 Students
👨‍🏫
52.0:1 Class Size
💰
$13,184 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 235 Off-Campus Students
C+
Wayne State College
4,807 students · 2.1 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What are vacancy rates like in Wayne, NE?

Wayne, NE sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader NE rental market.

What is the average monthly rent in Wayne, NE?

Rent in Wayne, NE is around $1,305/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $243K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

Are tenants stable in Wayne, NE?

Working renters make up the core of the Wayne, NE tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

Are eviction rules reasonable in Wayne, NE?

For rental operators, Wayne, NE rates as landlord-friendly. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

What price range are homes in Wayne, NE?

The median home value in Wayne, NE is roughly $243K. That puts it reasonable relative to the NE statewide average.

You know 68787 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 68787 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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