Real Estate Investing in Abilene, Texas (79602)

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

Taylor County • Population: 26,588 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 79602 (Abilene, TX)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (73/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (57/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 11.9% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Abilene, TX (79602)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $271,538
Avg Monthly Rent $2,510
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $78,850
% Renters 21.9%

Market Analysis: 79602 Abilene

Investors eyeing 79602 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $272K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

The 79602 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

The gap between 79602 and stronger Abilene ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Resident income in 79602 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

New investors are better served looking at Abilene's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 79602. 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 Abilene:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 78/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+9.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,510/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This area shows favorable conditions for homebuyers. Solid fundamentals with reasonable affordability.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Abilene, TX Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
34 days
Average time to sell
Average
10.1%
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 Abilene, TX metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 79602

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
7.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+6.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$58,790/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $117,580 $1,260 7.7% +6.1% $58,790
3BR $248,208 $1,630 4.7% +6.2% $82,736
4BR $370,367 $1,960 3.8% +5.9% $92,592
5BR $612,787 +6.8% $122,557

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$283K$250K$218K$185K$153K$120KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,627$2,311$1,996$1,680$1,364$1,048Feb 2022May 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 79602 Compare?

Metric 79602 Abilene Abilene, TX Texas
Home Value $271,538 $141,154 N/A $297,000
5-Year CAGR 5.4% 6.0% N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $2,510 $2,094 N/A -
Cap Rate 7.2% 7.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 79602? 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 79602 (Abilene, TX). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
7.2%
Good
5yr Growth
+5.4%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Abilene, TX metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
38%
Days Pending
0/2
34 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $271,538
Monthly Rent $2,510
Price-to-Rent 9.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 11.1%
Cap Rate 7.2%
5-Year IRR 12.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +9.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +65.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +24.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Neutral Leverage Cap Rate: 7.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage is roughly neutral here.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) is close to the estimated cap rate (7.2%). Financing this market at current rates produces a cash-on-cash return near the cap rate. Appreciation and tax benefits may still support the investment.

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
11.9%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 79602

Population: 26,588

💰 Median Household Income
$78,850
This area
$78,850
State
$70,593
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
21.9%
This area
21.9%
State
29.5%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.1%
This area
1.1%
State
-25.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
36.1%
This area
36.1%
State
-5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.2 years
This area
38.2 years
State
-3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
11.9%
This area
11.9%
State
18.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 70.7%
Other/Mixed 16.7%
Hispanic/Latino 14.9%
Black/African American 10.2%
Asian 2.5%
👶 Under 18
23.7%
This area
23.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.0%
This area
15.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
7.9%
This area
7.9%
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 79602

B Avg School Grade
11 Schools
12.8:1 Avg Class Size
$13,205 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good
👥
386 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$14,351 Per Student
A Very Good

BOWIE EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
478 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$14,351 Per Student
A Very Good

THOMAS EL

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
389 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,351 Per Student
B Good

WYLIE EAST EL

📚 K – 03 Elementary
👥
796 Students
👨‍🏫
14.7:1 Class Size
💰
$10,649 Per Student
B Good

WYLIE EAST J H

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
552 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$10,649 Per Student
B Good

JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
14 Students
👨‍🏫
7.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,351 Per Student
B Good

OCEANS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
7 Students
👨‍🏫
7.0:1 Class Size
💰
$14,351 Per Student
B Good

WYLIE EAST INT

📚 04 – 05 Elementary
👥
381 Students
👨‍🏫
17.3:1 Class Size
💰
$10,649 Per Student
C+ Average

DAEP

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
96 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,351 Per Student
C Below Average

ADULT LEARNING CTR

📚 Grade AE Elementary Limited Data
💰
$14,351 Per Student
D Needs Improvement

TAYLOR COUNTY LEARNING CENTER

📚 Grade 11 High School Limited Data
👥
1 Students
💰
$12,853 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

5 Nearby
D
Neecee's Barber College
33 students · 6.3 mi
C
McMurry University
2,549 students · 8.0 mi
C
Texas College of Cosmetology-Abilene
74 students · 9.0 mi
C+
Abilene Christian University
5,114 students · 9.5 mi
D
Hardin-Simmons University
1,655 students · 10.5 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Is housing expensive in Abilene, TX?

In Abilene, TX the median home value sits at $272K. Against the broader TX market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

What is the best play in Abilene, TX?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Abilene, TX best. The market produces measured results for that approach at the $272K price point.

What are vacancy rates like in Abilene, TX?

Expect elevated vacancy in Abilene, TX. Rents at $2,510/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

Is Abilene, TX a friendly market for rental owners?

The landlord environment in Abilene, TX is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

How qualified is the tenant pool in Abilene, TX?

Abilene, TX offers a measured renter base at the $2,510/mo rent level. Tenant turnover is reasonable for well-managed properties.

You know 79602 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 79602 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 79602 ranks in Abilene, TX

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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