Real Estate Investing in Abilene, Texas (79603)

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

Taylor County • Population: 23,876 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 79603 (Abilene, TX)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GREAT FIT
Grade A (85/100)

Strong fundamentals — affordable, appreciating, and stable. A confident pick for primary residence.

📈 For Investors
STRONG
5.0 / 5 (100/100)

A balanced market — moderate cash flow and moderate appreciation. A "steady" investor profile fits best.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 11.1% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Abilene, TX (79603)?

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5.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $149,224
Avg Monthly Rent $1,807
1% Rule ✓ Meets
Median Income $52,055
% Renters 42.2%

Market Analysis: 79603 Abilene

In Abilene's 79603 ZIP, the arithmetic favors hands-on owners. Median home values reports $149K, leaving spread for capex-heavy BRRRR or reposition strategies.

Value-add is the defining thesis in 79603. Homes trade near $149K, well below the state median, and rehabbed comps tend to clear meaningfully higher — a classic forced-equity setup.

The a strong candidate for piece of regional context is that nearby ZIPs with newer stock and higher basis have priced out of the value-add game. 79603 has not.

The an appealing option for angle on demographics here is renter willingness to pay a premium for renovated product. The 42% rental share provides scale for the strategy.

Experienced operators with contractor networks find 79603 a strong candidate for. First-time flippers often underestimate scope, budget, and timeline, which is how deals here turn sour.

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
Affordable
Homes cost 2.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+15.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,807/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 79603

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
8.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$45,660/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $97,625 $1,190 8.8% +8.2% $48,812
3BR $153,482 $1,540 7.2% +7.4% $51,161
4BR $182,639 $1,850 7.3% +6.9% $45,660

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$156K$136K$116K$97K$77K$57KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,872$1,723$1,574$1,425$1,276$1,127Jun 2023Jan 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 79603 Compare?

Metric 79603 Abilene Abilene, TX Texas
Home Value $149,224 $141,154 N/A $297,000
5-Year CAGR 6.2% 6.0% N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $1,807 $2,094 N/A -
Cap Rate 9.5% 7.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 79603? Click to expand

This ZIP code meets the 1% rule with rent at $1,807/mo on homes averaging $149,224 — a strong indicator of cash flow potential.

Our analysis gives this area a 5/5 investability rating, placing it in the top tier for rental property potential.

A healthy rental market with 42% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 79603 (Abilene, TX). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Excellent
Cap Rate
9.5%
Excellent
5yr Growth
+6.2%
Strong

📉 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 $149,224
Monthly Rent $1,807
Price-to-Rent 6.9:1
1% Rule ✓ Passes

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 14.5%
Cap Rate 9.5%
5-Year IRR 15.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +15.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +33.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +14.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Positive Leverage Market Cap Rate: 9.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (9.5%) exceeds the current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%). When borrowing costs less than a property yields, leverage can increase your cash-on-cash return above the cap rate.

⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
11.1%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.2%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 79603

Population: 23,876

💰 Median Household Income
$52,055
This area
$52,055
State
$70,593
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
42.2%
This area
42.2%
State
29.5%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.5%
This area
2.5%
State
-25.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
16.5%
This area
16.5%
State
-5.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
34.7 years
This area
34.7 years
State
-3.7 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
11.1%
This area
11.1%
State
18.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 58.9%
Other/Mixed 30.4%
Hispanic/Latino 27.9%
Black/African American 9.3%
Asian 1.5%
👶 Under 18
28.2%
This area
28.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
14.7%
This area
14.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
15.4%
This area
15.4%
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 79603

B Avg School Grade
9 Schools
15.4:1 Avg Class Size
$13,899 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

MARTINEZ EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
391 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,351 Per Student
A Very Good

ORTIZ EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
447 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$14,351 Per Student
B+ Above Average

LONG EARLY LEARNING CENTER

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
751 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$14,351 Per Student
B+ Above Average

MANN MIDDLE

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
759 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$14,351 Per Student
B+ Above Average

PURCELL EL

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
594 Students
👨‍🏫
16.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,351 Per Student
B+ Above Average

STAFFORD EL

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
458 Students
👨‍🏫
15.2:1 Class Size
💰
$14,351 Per Student
B Good

ABILENE H S

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,903 Students
👨‍🏫
17.3:1 Class Size
💰
$14,351 Per Student
C+ Average

TEXAS LEADERSHIP OF ABILENE

📚 K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
870 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$10,280 Per Student
C Below Average

TAYLOR COUNTY LEARNING CENTER

📚 05 – 11 High School Limited Data
👥
8 Students
💰
$14,351 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 · 8.6 mi
C
McMurry University
2,549 students · 8.6 mi
C
Texas College of Cosmetology-Abilene
74 students · 9.1 mi
D
Hardin-Simmons University
1,655 students · 10.6 mi
C+
Abilene Christian University
5,114 students · 11.7 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How close is Abilene, TX to meeting the 1% rule?

The 1% rule in Abilene, TX is reasonable to achieve. Rent-to-price at the median ($1,807/mo on $149K) lands around 1.21%.

How strong is Abilene, TX for real estate investors?

Investors tracking Abilene, TX will find a 5.0/5 rating supported by $149K median home values and $1,807/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting reliable returns.

What price range are homes in Abilene, TX?

In Abilene, TX the median home value sits at $149K. Against the broader TX market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

Is Abilene, TX good for BRRRR investors?

Yes - BRRRR is a strong in Abilene, TX. The $149K home values and $1,807/mo rents anchor the refinance math.

Is Abilene, TX better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

The best-fit strategy in Abilene, TX is value-add and BRRRR deals. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

You know 79603 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 79603 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 79603 ranks in Abilene, TX

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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