Is Lincoln County, NC good for real estate investing?

Lincoln County has an investment score of 56/100, rated as "Hold". The county ranks #640 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

What is the rent-to-price ratio in Lincoln?

The rent-to-price ratio in Lincoln County is 5.12% annually, which ranks in the 27th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in Lincoln?

The median home price in Lincoln County is $396,190. This ranks #793 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Lincoln?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Lincoln County would generate negative cash flow of $978/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Lincoln County

North CarolinaPopulation: 87,933

/100

Hold

#640 of 1,000 counties

#46 in North Carolina (100 counties)

Market Snapshot

$396,190

Median Home Price

45% above national median

$1,690/mo

Median Rent

13% above national median

5.12%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 73% nationally

-$978

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Price History

Trend based on YoY growth rate. Source: Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$396,190

Down Payment (20%)$79,238

Loan Amount$316,952

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,690

Monthly P&I-$2,077

Est. Expenses (35%)-$591

Net Cash Flow-$978/mo

3.3%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-12.9%

Cash-on-Cash Return

5.12%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 3.3% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

56/100

Cash Flow(30%)

47/100

Based on 5.12% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

76/100

Based on 2.6% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

51/100

Price-to-income ratio of 5.2x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

+Complete rent data available

Challenges

-Below-average rent-to-price ratio (5.12%)
-Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$978/mo)
-Negative leverage (cap rate 3.3% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population

87,933

Median Income

$75,672

vs $62,400 national est.

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

5.2x

Less affordable

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
RockinghamNC	57	$189,398	$1,084	6.87%	Hold	View
CurrentLincolnNC	56	$396,190	$1,690	5.12%	Hold
JohnstonNC	55	$338,752	$1,810	6.41%	Hold	View
FranklinNC	55	$354,406	$1,782	6.03%	Hold	View
StanlyNC	55	$295,055	Est. pending	—	Hold	View
VanceNC	55	$182,064	$936	6.17%	Hold	View

The Bottom Line

HoldLincoln is a neutral market. Consider house hacking or targeting below-market deals.

Lincoln County in North Carolina scores 56/100, ranking #640 of 1,000 US counties (top 64%). The 5.12% rent-to-price ratio may require creative strategies or below-market purchases for positive cash flow. Current market conditions make traditional buy-and-hold investing challenging. Consider house hacking, value-add strategies, or all-cash purchases.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-978/mo

Cap Rate

3.3%

Cash-on-Cash

-12.9%

Ready to Analyze a Deal in Lincoln?

Use our investment calculators to run detailed numbers on specific properties.

Single Family1-4 unit rentals, BRRRR House HackOwner-occupied strategy Multifamily5+ unit properties

Explore Other Markets

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$396,190

Down Payment (20%)$79,238

Loan Amount$316,952

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,690

Monthly P&I-$2,077

Est. Expenses (35%)-$591

Net Cash Flow-$978/mo

3.3%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-12.9%

Cash-on-Cash Return

5.12%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 3.3% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

56/100

Cash Flow(30%)

47/100

Based on 5.12% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

76/100

Based on 2.6% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

51/100

Price-to-income ratio of 5.2x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

County

Verdict

RockinghamNC

$189,398

$1,084

6.87%

Hold

View

CurrentLincolnNC

$396,190

$1,690

5.12%

Hold

JohnstonNC

$338,752

$1,810

6.41%

Hold

View

FranklinNC

$354,406

$1,782

6.03%

Hold

View

StanlyNC

$295,055

Est. pending

—

Hold

View

VanceNC

$182,064

$936

6.17%

Hold

View

The Bottom Line

HoldLincoln is a neutral market. Consider house hacking or targeting below-market deals.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-978/mo

Cap Rate

3.3%

Cash-on-Cash

-12.9%