Real Estate Investing in Goldendale, Washington (98620)

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

Klickitat County • Population: 7,617 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 98620 (Goldendale, WA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (56/100)

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
1 flag
  • Tenant-protective state: Landlord rating 1.0/5 — slower evictions, more regulations.

What’s happening in Goldendale, WA (98620)?

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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 $322,783
Avg Monthly Rent $1,250
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $55,507
% Renters 31.2%

Market Analysis: 98620 Goldendale

The 98620 ZIP in Goldendale, WA is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $323K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 98620 comes in at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Within WA, ZIP 98620 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Klickitat County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and substantial enough to shape underwriting.

The 98620 ZIP's population of 7,617 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that registers the need for careful underwriting.

The 98620 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Goldendale:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 56/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,250/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 98620

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
3.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+7.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$100,469/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $236,747 $900 2.7% +6.3% $236,747
2BR $242,044 $1,180 3.5% +7.7% $121,022
3BR $333,096 $1,410 3.0% +6.6% $111,032
4BR $401,874 $1,610 2.9% +6.7% $100,469

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$347K$300K$254K$208K$161K$115KMay 2009Dec 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,696$1,600$1,504$1,408$1,313$1,217Feb 2026Apr 2026Jun 2026

📊 How Does 98620 Compare?

Metric 98620 Goldendale Washington
Home Value $322,783 $322,783 $591,536
5-Year CAGR 2.5% 2.5% 5.9%
Avg Rent $1,250 $1,250 -
Cap Rate 3.0% 3.0% -
💡 Why Invest in 98620? 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 →
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 98620 (Goldendale, WA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+2.5%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $322,783
Monthly Rent $1,250
Price-to-Rent 21.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.7%
Cap Rate 3.0%
5-Year IRR 5.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +1.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +2.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.0%). 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
6.8%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+2.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 98620

Population: 7,617

💰 Median Household Income
$55,507
This area
$55,507
State
$83,286
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
31.2%
This area
31.2%
State
29.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
6.0%
This area
6.0%
State
-13.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
24.3%
This area
24.3%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
45.4 years
This area
45.4 years
State
10.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.8%
This area
6.8%
State
14.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 90.9%
Other/Mixed 7.5%
Hispanic/Latino 1.6%
Black/African American 1.2%
Asian 0.3%
👶 Under 18
21.2%
This area
21.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
27.1%
This area
27.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
11.9%
This area
11.9%
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 98620

B Avg School Grade
5 Schools
21.0:1 Avg Class Size
$19,762 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Goldendale Primary School

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
300 Students
👨‍🏫
17.0:1 Class Size
💰
$19,762 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Goldendale High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
313 Students
👨‍🏫
21.4:1 Class Size
💰
$19,762 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Goldendale Middle School

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
262 Students
👨‍🏫
18.5:1 Class Size
💰
$19,762 Per Student
C+ Average

Goldendale Support Service Center

📚 Grade PK Elementary Limited Data
👥
8 Students
💰
$19,762 Per Student
C Below Average
👥
2,059 Students
👨‍🏫
27.3:1 Class Size
💰
$19,762 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 strong is Goldendale, WA for real estate investors?

Our data puts Goldendale, WA at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $323K and rents around $1,250/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

Are there empty rentals in Goldendale, WA?

Goldendale, WA carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect predictable absorption at market rents of $1,250/mo.

Does Goldendale, WA favor landlords or tenants?

Goldendale, WA falls under WA landlord-tenant law, which is tenant-protective. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

Is house hacking profitable in Goldendale, WA?

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

What do landlords charge for rent in Goldendale, WA?

The typical rental in Goldendale, WA commands about $1,250/mo monthly. That rent profile reliable cash flow against the $323K purchase basis.

You know 98620 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 98620 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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