Is Fayette County, PA good for real estate investing?

Fayette County has an investment score of 69/100, rated as "Buy". The county ranks #132 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

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

The rent-to-price ratio in Fayette County is 8.42% annually, which ranks in the 94th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in Fayette?

The median home price in Fayette County is $136,224. This ranks #109 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Fayette?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Fayette County would generate negative cash flow of $93/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Fayette County

PennsylvaniaPopulation: 128,417Pittsburgh, PA Metro

/100

Buy

#132 of 1,000 counties

#17 in Pennsylvania (67 counties)

Market Snapshot

$136,224

Median Home Price

42% below national median

$956/mo

Median Rent

37% below national median

8.42%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 6% nationally

-$93

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Price History

Historical data from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$136,224

Down Payment (20%)$27,245

Loan Amount$108,979

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$956

Monthly P&I-$714

Est. Expenses (35%)-$335

Net Cash Flow-$93/mo

5.5%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-3.6%

Cash-on-Cash Return

8.42%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 5.5% 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

69/100

Cash Flow(30%)

84/100

Based on 8.42% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

50/100

Based on -0.1% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

93/100

Price-to-income ratio of 2.5x. 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

+Above-average rent-to-price ratio (8.42%)
+Affordable relative to local incomes
+Complete rent data available

Challenges

-Declining home values (-0.1% YoY)
-Negative leverage (cap rate 5.5% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population

128,417

Median Income

$55,579

vs $57,018 national est.

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

2.5x

Very affordable

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
CrawfordPA	70	$160,004	$767	5.75%	Buy	View
CurrentFayettePA	69	$136,224	$956	8.42%	Buy
AlleghenyPA	69	$231,937	$1,530	7.92%	Buy	View
EriePA	68	$211,721	$1,047	5.93%	Buy	View
LawrencePA	67	$152,781	$1,000	7.86%	Buy	View
SomersetPA	67	$169,583	$882	6.24%	Buy	View

The Bottom Line

BuyFayette offers solid investment potential with good cash flow or appreciation prospects.

Fayette County in Pennsylvania scores 69/100, ranking #132 of 1,000 US counties (top 17%). The 8.42% rent-to-price ratio exceeds the 1% rule target, suggesting strong cash flow potential.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-93/mo

Cap Rate

5.5%

Cash-on-Cash

-3.6%

Ready to Analyze a Deal in Fayette?

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$136,224

Down Payment (20%)$27,245

Loan Amount$108,979

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$956

Monthly P&I-$714

Est. Expenses (35%)-$335

Net Cash Flow-$93/mo

5.5%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-3.6%

Cash-on-Cash Return

8.42%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 5.5% 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

69/100

Cash Flow(30%)

84/100

Based on 8.42% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

50/100

Based on -0.1% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

93/100

Price-to-income ratio of 2.5x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

County

Verdict

CrawfordPA

$160,004

$767

5.75%

Buy

View

CurrentFayettePA

$136,224

$956

8.42%

Buy

AlleghenyPA

$231,937

$1,530

7.92%

Buy

View

EriePA

$211,721

$1,047

5.93%

Buy

View

LawrencePA

$152,781

$1,000

7.86%

Buy

View

SomersetPA

$169,583

$882

6.24%

Buy

View

The Bottom Line

BuyFayette offers solid investment potential with good cash flow or appreciation prospects.

Fayette County in Pennsylvania scores 69/100, ranking #132 of 1,000 US counties (top 17%). The 8.42% rent-to-price ratio exceeds the 1% rule target, suggesting strong cash flow potential.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-93/mo

Cap Rate

5.5%

Cash-on-Cash

-3.6%