Real Estate Investing in Mason, Texas (76856)

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

Mason County • Population: 3,525 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 76856 (Mason, TX)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (56/100)

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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 31.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 32.7 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Mason, TX (76856)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $359,920
Avg Monthly Rent $918
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $80,210
% Renters 20.5%

Market Analysis: 76856 Mason

The 76856 ZIP covers a section of Mason that demands careful diligence. Prices near $360K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 76856 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Regionally, 76856 sits on the difficult end of the TX spectrum. The a credible choice for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

On balance, 3,525 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

Strategically, 76856 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 Mason:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 63/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.5× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-2.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $918/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.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$392K$345K$299K$253K$207K$160KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 76856 Compare?

Metric 76856 Mason Texas
Home Value $359,920 $359,920 $297,000
5-Year CAGR 4.1% 4.1% 5.4%
Avg Rent $918 $918 -
Cap Rate 2.0% 2.0% -
💡 Why Invest in 76856? 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 76856 (Mason, TX). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+4.1%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $359,920
Monthly Rent $918
Price-to-Rent 32.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.1%
Cap Rate 2.0%
5-Year IRR 6.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -2.2% ▼
3-Year CAGR +2.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.0%). 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
31.5%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 76856

Population: 3,525

💰 Median Household Income
$80,210
This area
$80,210
State
$70,593
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
20.5%
This area
20.5%
State
29.5%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.7%
This area
1.7%
State
-25.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
38.4%
This area
38.4%
State
-5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.5 years
This area
43.5 years
State
-3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
31.5%
This area
31.5%
State
18.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 85.0%
Other/Mixed 14.2%
Hispanic/Latino 14.0%
Asian 0.7%
Black/African American 0.1%
👶 Under 18
24.2%
This area
24.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
27.6%
This area
27.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
1.5%
This area
1.5%
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 76856

A Avg School Grade
3 Schools
11.3:1 Avg Class Size
$14,498 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

MASON H S

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
210 Students
👨‍🏫
8.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,498 Per Student
A Very Good

MASON EL

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
300 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,498 Per Student
A Very Good

MASON J H

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
195 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,498 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 do experienced investors play Mason, TX?

The best-fit strategy in Mason, TX is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

What do landlords charge for rent in Mason, TX?

Expect rents around $918/mo per month in Mason, TX. With home values at $360K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

What is the typical renter like in Mason, TX?

Mason, TX offers a even-keeled renter base at the $918/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

Should investors consider Mason, TX?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Mason, TX reflects its $360K prices and $918/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within TX.

How expensive is real estate in Mason, TX?

The median home value in Mason, TX is roughly $360K. That puts it reasonable relative to the TX statewide average.

You know 76856 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 76856 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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