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Market MapNorth CarolinaJackson

Jackson County

North CarolinaPopulation: 42,388
36
/100
Avoid
#736 of 1,000 counties
#81 in North Carolina (100 counties)
Analysis by RentalCalcs Research·Independent data + algorithm-driven scoring
Updated May 11, 2026Sources: Zillow ZHVI, Zillow ZORI, US Census ACS, Tax Foundation

Market Snapshot

$444,171
Median Home Price
90% above national median
$1,297/mo
Median Rent
14% below national median
3.50%
Rent-to-Price Ratio
Top 98% nationally
-$1,485
Est. Monthly Cash Flow
With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Scenario comparison

Same $1,297/mo rent assumption, 20% down, 6.85% rate. What changes is the acquisition price.
ScenarioPurchase priceMonthly cash flowCap rateCash-on-cash
75% of median
value-add or distressed
$333,128-$903/mo3.0%-14.1%
Median
typical MLS deal
$444,171-$1,485/mo2.3%-17.4%
125% of median
newer / premium
$555,213-$2,068/mo1.8%-19.4%

Price History

Historical data from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

20%
5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$444,171
Down Payment (20%)$88,834
Loan Amount$355,337
Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,297
Monthly P&I-$2,328
Est. Expenses (35%)-$454
Net Cash Flow-$1,485/mo
2.3%
Cap Rate (all cash)
-17.4%
Cash-on-Cash Return
3.50%
Rent-to-Price Ratio
Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 2.3% 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 AnalysisTry House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score
36/100
36
Cash Flow(30%)
23/100

Based on 3.50% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)
55/100

Based on 0.5% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)
50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)
17/100

Price-to-income ratio of 8.6x. 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 (3.50%)
  • -Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$1,485/mo)
  • -Negative leverage (cap rate 2.3% < mortgage rate 6.9%)
  • -High price-to-income ratio makes financing challenging

Economic Indicators

Population
42,388
Median Income
$51,482
vs $57,059 national est.
Unemployment Rate
—
Data pending
Price-to-Income
8.6x
Less affordable

Who this market fits

Best for
  • +All-cash buyers: removing debt service flips the cap rate to actual yield
Skip if
  • −You need positive cash flow on day one at typical leverage
  • −You can't tolerate negative leverage (cap rate below mortgage rate today)
  • −You rely on FHA-style financing: prices are stretched relative to local incomes
  • −You want a market with broad institutional consensus on fundamentals

Compare to Nearby Counties

CountyVerdict
SwainNC
44$319,059Est. pending—AvoidView
WakeNC
43$474,088$1,6684.22%AvoidView
New HanoverNC
43$435,002$1,6774.63%AvoidView
ChathamNC
42$542,358$1,7853.95%AvoidView
BuncombeNC
40$449,409$1,7864.77%AvoidView
CurrentJacksonNC
36$444,171$1,2973.50%Avoid

The Bottom Line

AvoidJackson may be challenging for traditional rentals. High prices or low rents make cash flow difficult.

Jackson County in North Carolina scores 36/100, ranking #736 of 1,000 US counties (top 97%). At 20% down and current rates, a median-priced rental loses about $1485/month; the 3.50% gross rent-to-price ratio doesn't survive debt service. The thesis here is appreciation, value-add, house hacking, or all-cash.

Monthly Cash Flow
$-1,485/mo
Cap Rate
2.3%
Cash-on-Cash
-17.4%

Related markets

Markets like Jackson with stronger cash flow

  • Buncombe County for cash-flow rentals
  • New Hanover County for cash-flow rentals
  • Wake County for cash-flow rentals

Cheaper alternatives to Jackson

  • Swain County, lower entry price
  • New Hanover County, lower entry price

Head-to-head comparisons

  • Jackson vs Buncombe for rentals
  • Jackson vs Chatham for rentals
  • Jackson vs Wake for rentals
All counties in North Carolina →

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