Real Estate Investing in John Day, Oregon (97845)

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

Grant County • Population: 2,326 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 97845 (John Day, OR)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (58/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 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
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.5% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

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

What’s happening in John Day, OR (97845)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $291,757
Avg Monthly Rent $1,080
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $62,736
% Renters 27.4%

Market Analysis: 97845 John Day

ZIP 97845 inside Grant County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $292K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

The investment case in 97845 is solid only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $292K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Regionally, 97845 sits on the difficult end of the OR spectrum. The a credible choice for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Resident income in 97845 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 97845 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 John Day:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 62/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,080/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.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$309K$268K$227K$186K$145K$104KApr 2011Dec 2018Jul 2026

📊 How Does 97845 Compare?

Metric 97845 John Day Oregon
Home Value $291,757 $291,757 $493,884
5-Year CAGR 5.7% 5.7% 4.9%
Avg Rent $1,080 $1,080 -
Cap Rate 2.9% 2.9% -
💡 Why Invest in 97845? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 97845 (John Day, OR). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.7%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $291,757
Monthly Rent $1,080
Price-to-Rent 22.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.4%
Cap Rate 2.9%
5-Year IRR 8.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.9%). 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
8.5%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 97845

Population: 2,326

💰 Median Household Income
$62,736
This area
$62,736
State
$71,325
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
27.4%
This area
27.4%
State
28.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.1%
This area
4.1%
State
-6.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
14.0%
This area
14.0%
State
13.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
53.3 years
This area
53.3 years
State
31.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.5%
This area
8.5%
State
17.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 89.8%
Other/Mixed 7.8%
Hispanic/Latino 4.5%
Asian 2.1%
Black/African American 0.3%
👶 Under 18
14.6%
This area
14.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
32.9%
This area
32.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
13.5%
This area
13.5%
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 97845

A+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
11.3:1 Avg Class Size
$18,613 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Grant Union Junior/Senior High School

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
204 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$18,613 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

Are there empty rentals in John Day, OR?

Vacancy in John Day, OR is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $1,080/mo.

Are renters plentiful in John Day, OR?

Working renters make up the core of the John Day, OR tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

Is John Day, OR better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

John Day, OR investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($292K prices, $1,080/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

Does house hacking make sense in John Day, OR?

House hacking works a challenging in John Day, OR. Rents of $1,080/mo against $292K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

How much should I expect to pay for a home in John Day, OR?

Typical homes in John Day, OR go for around $292K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% measured price movement.

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