Real Estate Investing in Willows, California (95988)

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

Glenn County • Population: 9,060 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 95988 (Willows, CA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (45/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 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: 13.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

What’s happening in Willows, CA (95988)?

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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 $317,146
Avg Monthly Rent $1,061
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $66,023
% Renters 46.5%

Market Analysis: 95988 Willows

ZIP 95988 in Willows, CA carries a healthy set of headwinds. Home values near $317K and rents of $1,061/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

For an experienced owner, 95988 can be a a strong candidate for hunting ground — but the discount at $317K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

ZIP 95988's metrics run below Glenn County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Demographically, 95988 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 95988 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Willows:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 60/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,061/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.
🏠

Property Strategy for 95988

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
4.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+4.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$93,075/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $226,526 $1,360 4.3% +3.6% $113,263
3BR $318,435 $1,800 4.1% +4.6% $106,145
4BR $372,300 $2,180 4.2% +4.3% $93,075

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$341K$292K$243K$193K$144K$95KFeb 2007Nov 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,266$1,220$1,173$1,127$1,080$1,034Oct 2025Mar 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 95988 Compare?

Metric 95988 Willows California
Home Value $317,146 $317,146 $761,003
5-Year CAGR 3.4% 3.4% 5.7%
Avg Rent $1,061 $1,061 -
Cap Rate 2.6% 2.6% -
💡 Why Invest in 95988? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 47% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 95988 (Willows, CA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.4%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $317,146
Monthly Rent $1,061
Price-to-Rent 24.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.0%
Cap Rate 2.6%
5-Year IRR 6.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.6%). 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
13.2%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Very Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 95988

Population: 9,060

💰 Median Household Income
$66,023
This area
$66,023
State
$94,164
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
46.5%
This area
46.5%
State
39.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.4%
This area
4.4%
State
-16.6%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
16.4%
This area
16.4%
State
7.7%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
34.6 years
This area
34.6 years
State
9.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
13.2%
This area
13.2%
State
15.3%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 67.7%
Other/Mixed 24.1%
Hispanic/Latino 18.3%
Asian 7.9%
Black/African American 0.4%
👶 Under 18
28.4%
This area
28.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.5%
This area
16.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
16.3%
This area
16.3%
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 95988

C+ Avg School Grade
7 Schools
20.7:1 Avg Class Size
$32,306 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Glenn County Special Education

📚 K – 12 K-12
👥
70 Students
👨‍🏫
10.0:1 Class Size
💰
$118,035 Per Student
B Good

Murdock Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
592 Students
👨‍🏫
21.1:1 Class Size
💰
$15,631 Per Student
B Good

Willows High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
428 Students
👨‍🏫
20.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,631 Per Student
B Good

Willows Intermediate

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
316 Students
👨‍🏫
20.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,631 Per Student
C+ Average

Walden Academy

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
186 Students
👨‍🏫
16.9:1 Class Size
💰
$13,276 Per Student
C Below Average

Glenn County ROP

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
D Needs Improvement

Willows Community High

📚 10 – 12 High School
👥
21 Students
👨‍🏫
35.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,631 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 deep is the rental pool in Willows, CA?

Tenant demand in Willows, CA is solid. The local workforce $1,061/mo rents across most rental classes.

Is Willows, CA a good place for real estate investing?

Our data puts Willows, CA at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $317K and rents around $1,061/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

How high is vacancy risk in Willows, CA?

Rental vacancy in Willows, CA is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Willows, CA?

For rental operators, Willows, CA rates as tenant-protective. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

Is Willows, CA good for house hacking?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Willows, CA reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

You know 95988 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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