Real Estate Investing in Castle Rock, Washington (98611)

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

Cowlitz County • Population: 9,367 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 98611 (Castle Rock, WA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (57/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 27.0 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

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

What’s happening in Castle Rock, WA (98611)?

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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 $487,160
Avg Monthly Rent $1,503
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $83,207
% Renters 16.6%

Market Analysis: 98611 Castle Rock

Investors eyeing 98611 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $487K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Rent of $1,503/mo on a $487K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 98611 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

The gap between 98611 and stronger Castle Rock ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

The demographic picture in 98611 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Castle Rock averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

trends toward the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Castle Rock:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 58/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.9× the median income
Value Trend
Stable (+2.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,503/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
Longview, WA Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
10.2%
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 Longview, WA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 98611

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
3.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+6.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$117,756/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $372,851 $1,670 3.2% +6.2% $186,425
3BR $496,361 $2,320 3.4% +6.6% $165,454
4BR $547,425 $2,800 3.7% +6.9% $136,856
5BR $588,778 +6.9% $117,756

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$514K$439K$364K$290K$215K$140KFeb 2009Nov 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 98611 Compare?

Metric 98611 Castle Rock Longview, WA Washington
Home Value $487,160 $487,160 N/A $591,536
5-Year CAGR 3.2% 3.2% N/A 5.9%
Avg Rent $1,503 $1,503 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.4% 2.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 98611? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 98611 (Castle Rock, WA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.4%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.2%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Longview, WA metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
36%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $487,160
Monthly Rent $1,503
Price-to-Rent 27.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.7%
Cap Rate 2.4%
5-Year IRR 5.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +2.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.4%). 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
4.5%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.2%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 98611

Population: 9,367

💰 Median Household Income
$83,207
This area
$83,207
State
$83,286
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
16.6%
This area
16.6%
State
29.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
-13.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
12.8%
This area
12.8%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
42.0 years
This area
42.0 years
State
10.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.5%
This area
4.5%
State
14.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 90.3%
Other/Mixed 9.3%
Hispanic/Latino 3.2%
Asian 0.3%
Black/African American 0.1%
👶 Under 18
23.1%
This area
23.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.5%
This area
21.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.5%
This area
4.5%
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 98611

B Avg School Grade
4 Schools
16.6:1 Avg Class Size
$16,180 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Castle Rock Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
715 Students
👨‍🏫
17.4:1 Class Size
💰
$16,180 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Castle Rock High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
438 Students
👨‍🏫
15.6:1 Class Size
💰
$16,180 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Castle Rock Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
331 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$16,180 Per Student
C Below Average

Castle Rock Virtual Academy

📚 K – 12 K-12 Limited Data
👥
8 Students
💰
$16,180 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

2 Nearby 1,259 Off-Campus Students
C+
Lower Columbia College
2,412 students · 11.4 mi
C
Stylemaster College of Hair Design
64 students · 11.9 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,259 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Castle Rock, WA a good place for real estate investing?

Investors tracking Castle Rock, WA will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $487K median home values and $1,503/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting predictable returns.

Does house hacking work in Castle Rock, WA?

Castle Rock, WA offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $1,503/mo rent level.

Are there empty rentals in Castle Rock, WA?

Castle Rock, WA vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

What is the typical home price in Castle Rock, WA?

Typical homes in Castle Rock, WA go for around $487K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% measured price movement.

How much is rent in Castle Rock, WA?

Rent in Castle Rock, WA is around $1,503/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $487K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

You know 98611 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 98611 ranks in Longview, WA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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