Real Estate Investing in McMinnville, Oregon (97128)

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

Yamhill County • Population: 38,625 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 97128 (McMinnville, OR)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (51/100)

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

📈 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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in McMinnville, OR (97128)?

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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 $488,522
Avg Monthly Rent $1,679
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $67,176
% Renters 35.8%

Market Analysis: 97128 McMinnville

Turning to rents, ZIP 97128 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $489K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 97128 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Meanwhile, 97128 offers a low basis, the region around McMinnville has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Resident income in 97128 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Strategically, 97128 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 McMinnville:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 55/100
Affordability
5/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 7.3× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+0.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,679/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
🏠

Property Strategy for 97128

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+5.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$125,455/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $374,197 $1,800 3.5% +5.1% $187,099
3BR $465,361 $2,470 3.8% +5.0% $155,120
4BR $572,084 $2,900 3.6% +5.0% $143,021
5BR $627,275 +5.0% $125,455

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$518K$446K$374K$302K$230K$158KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,067$1,982$1,897$1,812$1,727$1,642Nov 2023Mar 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 97128 Compare?

Metric 97128 McMinnville Oregon
Home Value $488,522 $488,522 $493,884
5-Year CAGR 1.9% 1.9% 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,679 $1,679 -
Cap Rate 2.7% 2.7% -
💡 Why Invest in 97128? Click to expand

A healthy rental market with 36% 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 97128 (McMinnville, OR). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
2.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+1.9%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $488,522
Monthly Rent $1,679
Price-to-Rent 24.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.1%
Cap Rate 2.7%
5-Year IRR 4.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +0.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +1.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -8.4% ▼
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.7%). 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
4.0%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.9%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 97128

Population: 38,625

💰 Median Household Income
$67,176
This area
$67,176
State
$71,325
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
35.8%
This area
35.8%
State
28.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.4%
This area
2.4%
State
-6.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
28.4%
This area
28.4%
State
13.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.4 years
This area
41.4 years
State
31.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.0%
This area
4.0%
State
17.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 79.2%
Other/Mixed 19.0%
Hispanic/Latino 11.7%
Asian 1.4%
Black/African American 0.4%
👶 Under 18
21.7%
This area
21.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.9%
This area
20.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
12.1%
This area
12.1%
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 97128

B+ Avg School Grade
8 Schools
16.7:1 Avg Class Size
$15,755 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Grandhaven Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
436 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,755 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Memorial Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
530 Students
👨‍🏫
16.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,755 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Newby Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
436 Students
👨‍🏫
15.3:1 Class Size
💰
$15,755 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Patton Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
668 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,755 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Sue Buel Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
421 Students
👨‍🏫
16.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,755 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Willamette Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
446 Students
👨‍🏫
15.5:1 Class Size
💰
$15,755 Per Student
B Good

Duniway Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
778 Students
👨‍🏫
18.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,755 Per Student
C+ Average

McMinnville High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,319 Students
👨‍🏫
20.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,755 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

1 Nearby
C
Linfield University
1,726 students · 2.9 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What are vacancy rates like in McMinnville, OR?

McMinnville, OR sees elevated vacancy, which is reasonable relative to the broader OR rental market.

Are landlord laws favorable in McMinnville, OR?

Rental owners in McMinnville, OR deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in McMinnville, OR?

For house hackers, McMinnville, OR is a challenging. The $1,679/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $489K property.

How much do tenants pay in McMinnville, OR?

Rent in McMinnville, OR is around $1,679/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $489K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

Is housing expensive in McMinnville, OR?

McMinnville, OR median home values land near $489K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,679/mo-per-month rentals.

You know 97128 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 97128 ranks in Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA

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