Real Estate Investing in Willits, California (95490)

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

Mendocino County • Population: 14,627 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 95490 (Willits, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
WEAK FIT
Grade F (37/100)

Multiple negative signals. Better options likely exist nearby.

📈 For Investors
WEAK
2.0 / 5 (33/100)

Structural challenges here. The numbers may look cheap but operational risk is high. Only for experienced, hands-on investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
4 flags
  • Declining values: -6.6% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • Elevated vacancy: 10.2% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • 1-year downturn: Values declined 3.3% in the last year.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

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

What’s happening in Willits, CA (95490)?

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2.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $346,966
Avg Monthly Rent $1,431
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $63,418
% Renters 41.7%

Market Analysis: 95490 Willits

Investors eyeing 95490 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $347K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $347K asset, 95490 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

The gap between 95490 and stronger Willits ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Looking more closely, 14,627 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.

Strategy in 95490 is an operator game, not a passive one. On the rental side, entry prices of $347K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 Willits:

D Needs Caution
Buy Confidence Score: 42/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
0/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.5× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-3.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,431/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Ukiah, CA Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.3%
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 Ukiah, CA metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$521K$459K$398K$336K$275K$213KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 95490 Compare?

Metric 95490 Willits Ukiah, CA California
Home Value $346,966 $346,966 N/A $761,003
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A N/A 5.7%
Avg Rent $1,431 $1,431 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.2% 3.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 95490? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 95490 (Willits, CA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
3.2%
Low
5yr Growth
-6.6%
Declining

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Ukiah, CA metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
2/3
62%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $346,966
Monthly Rent $1,431
Price-to-Rent 20.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.0%
Cap Rate 3.2%
5-Year IRR N/A

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -3.3% ▼
3-Year CAGR -7.7% ▼
5-Year CAGR -6.6% ▼
10-Year CAGR -0.1% ▼

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.2%). 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
10.2%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
-6.6%
Declining
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 95490

Population: 14,627

💰 Median Household Income
$63,418
This area
$63,418
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
41.7%
This area
41.7%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.9%
This area
5.9%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
22.7%
This area
22.7%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.9 years
This area
40.9 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.2%
This area
10.2%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 78.7%
Other/Mixed 18.4%
Hispanic/Latino 11.2%
Asian 1.6%
Black/African American 1.3%
👶 Under 18
20.0%
This area
20.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
25.3%
This area
25.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
8.7%
This area
8.7%
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 95490

B Avg School Grade
9 Schools
17.9:1 Avg Class Size
$17,316 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Willits High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
402 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$17,391 Per Student
A Very Good

Willits Charter

📚 06 – 12 High School Charter
👥
123 Students
👨‍🏫
14.5:1 Class Size
💰
$25,421 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Baechtel Grove Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
338 Students
👨‍🏫
19.2:1 Class Size
💰
$17,391 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Brookside Elementary

📚 K – 02 Elementary
👥
377 Students
👨‍🏫
21.1:1 Class Size
💰
$17,391 Per Student
B Good

Blosser Lane Elementary

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
321 Students
👨‍🏫
22.9:1 Class Size
💰
$17,391 Per Student
B Good

Sherwood

📚 K – 08 School
👥
46 Students
👨‍🏫
15.3:1 Class Size
💰
$17,391 Per Student
C+ Average

La Vida Charter

📚 K – 12 K-12 Charter
👥
71 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$12,455 Per Student
C+ Average

Sanhedrin Alternative

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
62 Students
👨‍🏫
20.7:1 Class Size
💰
$17,391 Per Student
C+ Average

Willits Elementary Charter

📚 K – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
152 Students
👨‍🏫
20.5:1 Class Size
💰
$13,622 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

Is Willits, CA a good market for buy-and-hold investors?

Willits, CA scores 2.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $347K and rents near $1,431/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

Where do rents currently stand in Willits, CA?

Rent in Willits, CA is around $1,431/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $347K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

How tight is the rental market in Willits, CA?

Willits, CA sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader CA rental market.

What strategy should investors use in Willits, CA?

Most investors in Willits, CA run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 2.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

Is housing expensive in Willits, CA?

Typical homes in Willits, CA go for around $347K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% measured price movement.

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How 95490 ranks in Ukiah, CA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

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