Real Estate Investing in Toppenish, Washington (98948)

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

Yakima County • Population: 12,960 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 98948 (Toppenish, WA)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (61/100)

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

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

What’s happening in Toppenish, WA (98948)?

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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 $281,030
Avg Monthly Rent $1,170
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $62,401
% Renters 39.5%

Market Analysis: 98948 Toppenish

The 98948 ZIP covers a section of Toppenish that demands careful diligence. Prices near $281K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

For an experienced owner, 98948 can be a a credible choice for hunting ground — but the discount at $281K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

ZIP 98948's metrics run below Yakima County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

The demographic picture in 98948 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Toppenish averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 98948 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 Toppenish:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,170/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Yakima, WA Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
66 days
Average time to sell
Slow
9.0%
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 Yakima, WA metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 98948

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+7.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$66,285/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $177,715 $990 4.0% +7.5% $177,715
2BR $229,604 $1,300 4.1% +6.1% $114,802
3BR $287,683 $1,810 4.5% +6.2% $95,894
4BR $315,065 $1,980 4.5% +6.2% $78,766
5BR $331,424 +5.1% $66,285

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$297K$255K$212K$169K$127K$84KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 98948 Compare?

Metric 98948 Toppenish Yakima, WA Washington
Home Value $281,030 $281,030 N/A $591,536
5-Year CAGR 3.0% 3.0% N/A 5.9%
Avg Rent $1,170 $1,170 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.3% 3.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 98948? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 40% 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 98948 (Toppenish, WA). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+3.0%
Slow

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Yakima, WA metro

2/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
46%
Days Pending
2/2
66 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $281,030
Monthly Rent $1,170
Price-to-Rent 20.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.0%
Cap Rate 3.3%
5-Year IRR 6.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +2.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.0% ▲
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: 3.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.3%). 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
2.1%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
1.0/5
Protective
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.0%
Stable
Eviction process: Slow Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 98948

Population: 12,960

💰 Median Household Income
$62,401
This area
$62,401
State
$83,286
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
39.5%
This area
39.5%
State
29.3%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
6.4%
This area
6.4%
State
-13.7%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
7.9%
This area
7.9%
State
10.6%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
29.1 years
This area
29.1 years
State
10.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
14.9%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Other/Mixed 62.1%
Hispanic/Latino 47.5%
White 36.9%
Asian 0.9%
Black/African American 0.1%
👶 Under 18
30.6%
This area
30.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
12.8%
This area
12.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
15.3%
This area
15.3%
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 98948

B Avg School Grade
9 Schools
42.5:1 Avg Class Size
$19,444 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Garfield Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
344 Students
👨‍🏫
17.2:1 Class Size
💰
$19,444 Per Student
A Very Good

Kirkwood Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
404 Students
👨‍🏫
15.5:1 Class Size
💰
$19,444 Per Student
A Very Good

Toppenish Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
772 Students
👨‍🏫
17.7:1 Class Size
💰
$19,444 Per Student
A Very Good

Valley View Elementary

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
454 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$19,444 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Lincoln Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
280 Students
👨‍🏫
15.6:1 Class Size
💰
$19,444 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Toppenish High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
988 Students
👨‍🏫
19.6:1 Class Size
💰
$19,444 Per Student
C+ Average

Toppenish Pre School

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
228 Students
👨‍🏫
228.0:1 Class Size
💰
$19,444 Per Student
C Below Average

Computer Academy Toppenish High School

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
249 Students
👨‍🏫
28.3:1 Class Size
💰
$19,444 Per Student
C Below Average

Yakama Nation Tribal School

📚 08 – 12 High School
👥
153 Students
👨‍🏫
25.5:1 Class Size
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
Heritage University
835 students · 10.0 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Toppenish, WA rate as a rental market?

Toppenish, WA scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $281K and rents near $1,170/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

What are rental rates like in Toppenish, WA?

Rental rates in Toppenish, WA average $1,170/mo. Tenant demand and $281K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

Is vacancy a concern in Toppenish, WA?

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

What is the typical home price in Toppenish, WA?

In Toppenish, WA the median home value sits at $281K. Against the broader WA market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Toppenish, WA?

Toppenish, WA is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $281K price point reasonable to enter.

You know 98948 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 98948 ranks in Yakima, WA

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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