Real Estate Investing in Prescott, Arizona (86303)

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

Yavapai County • Population: 19,611 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 86303 (Prescott, AZ)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (29/100)

Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.

📈 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: 20.1% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 28.6 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Prescott, AZ (86303)?

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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 $581,306
Avg Monthly Rent $1,693
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $61,811
% Renters 30.6%

Market Analysis: 86303 Prescott

The 86303 ZIP in Prescott, AZ is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $581K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 86303 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

In the broader AZ picture, 86303 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

The 86303 ZIP's population of 19,611 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that clocks in at the need for careful underwriting.

The 86303 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Prescott:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 50/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 9.4× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,693/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
75 days
Average time to sell
Slow
8.8%
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 Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 86303

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
2.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+8.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$193,721/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $318,767 $1,230 2.8% +5.7% $318,767
2BR $425,437 $1,540 2.6% +7.3% $212,718
3BR $640,256 $2,140 2.4% +7.7% $213,419
4BR $828,744 $2,350 2.0% +7.8% $207,186
5BR $968,603 +8.1% $193,721

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$635K$545K$454K$363K$273K$182KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,813$1,721$1,628$1,535$1,443$1,350Mar 2022May 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 86303 Compare?

Metric 86303 Prescott Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ Arizona
Home Value $581,306 $455,781 N/A $419,643
5-Year CAGR 3.0% 3.0% N/A 6.5%
Avg Rent $1,693 $1,755 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.3% 2.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 86303? 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 →
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 86303 (Prescott, AZ). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.0%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $581,306
Monthly Rent $1,693
Price-to-Rent 28.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.5%
Cap Rate 2.3%
5-Year IRR 5.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -2.5% ▼
3-Year CAGR +1.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.3%). 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
20.1%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 86303

Population: 19,611

💰 Median Household Income
$61,811
This area
$61,811
State
$66,355
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
30.6%
This area
30.6%
State
28.6%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.7%
This area
1.7%
State
-23.2%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
38.8%
This area
38.8%
State
-1.0%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
59.2 years
This area
59.2 years
State
11.1 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
20.1%
This area
20.1%
State
19.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 89.4%
Other/Mixed 8.5%
Hispanic/Latino 5.2%
Asian 1.3%
Black/African American 0.9%
👶 Under 18
13.1%
This area
13.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
38.0%
This area
38.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.4%
This area
6.4%
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 86303

C+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
18.0:1 Avg Class Size
$10,265 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

C+ Average

Lincoln Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
290 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$10,458 Per Student
C+ Average

Prescott Mile High Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
546 Students
👨‍🏫
21.0:1 Class Size
💰
$10,458 Per Student
C Below Average

Skyview School

📚 K – 08 School Charter Limited Data
👥
214 Students
💰
$9,879 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

3 Nearby 2,217 Off-Campus Students
C+
Yavapai College
7,200 students · 4.2 mi
D
Prescott College
909 students · 4.7 mi
C+
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
3,286 students · 8.9 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,217 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is real estate in Prescott, AZ a good investment right now?

Prescott, AZ rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $581K and rents near $1,693/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

How deep is the rental pool in Prescott, AZ?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Prescott, AZ. The rental market absorbs $1,693/mo rents without meaningful friction.

What real estate strategy is ideal for Prescott, AZ?

For Prescott, AZ, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Prescott, AZ?

Prescott, AZ vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

Does house hacking work in Prescott, AZ?

House hacking in Prescott, AZ is reasonable to execute. Prices around $581K and rents of $1,693/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

You know 86303 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 86303 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 86303 ranks in Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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