Frackville is home to the best residential real estate investment market in Pennsylvania.
The 17931 zip code in Frackville presents the greatest opportunity for investors among the 2,528 individual real estate markets in Pennsylvania we evaluated. We looked at property values, population trends, and six other metrics for each market. We used that data to calculate each market's InvestScore.
Top 5 Pennsylvania residential real estate markets
| Rank | City | InvestScore | Affordability | Property value appreciation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Frackville | 100 | 1.8 | 58.55% |
| 2 | Tamaqua | 98.1 | 1.9 | 83.29% |
| 3 | Ford City | 97.7 | 2.3 | 54.93% |
| 4 | Jermyn | 95.8 | 2.5 | 56.50% |
| 5 | Carbondale | 94.8 | 2.5 | 53.68% |
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1. Frackville
We've identified the 17931 zip code in Frackville as Pennsylvania's best real estate investment market. Here's why.
🔎 Key data about Frackville
| Data point | Value | Rank in state (of 2,528 markets) |
|---|---|---|
| Zip code | 17931 | N/A |
| InvestScore | 100 | Highest |
| Typical property value | $112,105[1] | 42nd lowest |
| Five-year appreciation | 58.55%[2] | 84th highest |
| Household income | $63,286[3] | 437th highest |
| Affordability ratio | 1.8 | 22nd most affordable |
| Five-year population growth | 2.2%[4] | 290th highest |
| Unemployment rate | 2.8%[5] | 96th lowest |
| Property taxes | $1,903[6] | 95th lowest |
| Educational attainment | 11.1%[7] | 622nd highest |
Frackville (zip code 17931) is the best residential real estate investment market in Pennsylvania. It has the 84th highest property value appreciation among markets we evaluated, with a 58.55% appreciation of the typical property over the last five years.
Frackville is the 22nd most affordable market among the 2,528 Pennsylvania markets we evaluated, with an affordability ratio of 1.8.
2. Tamaqua
The 18252 zip code in Tamaqua is Pennsylvania's second-best residential real estate investment market.
🔎 Key data about Tamaqua
| Data point | Value | Rank in state (of 2,528 markets) |
|---|---|---|
| Zip code | 18252 | N/A |
| InvestScore | 98.1 | 2nd highest |
| Typical property value | $127,484[8] | 57th lowest |
| Five-year appreciation | 83.29%[9] | 18th highest |
| Household income | $65,856[10] | 415th highest |
| Affordability ratio | 1.9 | 30th most affordable |
| Five-year population growth | 7.9%[11] | 102nd highest |
| Unemployment rate | 5.5%[12] | 417th lowest |
| Property taxes | $2,487[13] | 198th lowest |
| Educational attainment | 16.9%[14] | 561st highest |
The 18252 zip code in Tamaqua features a typical property value of $127,484, the 57th lowest in the state.
Property values have appreciated 83.29% over the past five years, the 18th highest increase among evaluated markets in the state. Tamaqua homes have an affordability ratio of 1.9, the 30th most affordable in the state.
3. Ford City
The 16226 zip code in Ford City comes in at No. 3 in our ranking of residential real estate investment markets in Pennsylvania.
🔎 Key data about Ford City
| Data point | Value | Rank in state (of 2,528 markets) |
|---|---|---|
| Zip code | 16226 | N/A |
| InvestScore | 97.7 | 3rd highest |
| Typical property value | $133,781[15] | 68th lowest |
| Five-year appreciation | 54.93%[16] | 111th highest |
| Household income | $58,286[17] | 503rd highest |
| Affordability ratio | 2.3 | 49th most affordable |
| Five-year population growth | 5.9%[18] | 151st highest |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8%[19] | 202nd lowest |
| Property taxes | $2,114[20] | 124th lowest |
| Educational attainment | 22.9%[21] | 430th highest |
With a typical property value of $133,781, Ford City's 16226 zip code features the 68th lowest property values in the state.
Ford City homes have an affordability ratio of 2.3, the 49th most affordable among the markets we evaluated.
4. Jermyn
The 18433 zip code in Jermyn ranks No. 4 among Pennsylvania's residential real estate investment markets.
🔎 Key data about Jermyn
| Data point | Value | Rank in state (of 2,528 markets) |
|---|---|---|
| Zip code | 18433 | N/A |
| InvestScore | 95.8 | 4th highest |
| Typical property value | $196,792[22] | 186th lowest |
| Five-year appreciation | 56.50%[23] | 94th highest |
| Household income | $77,500[24] | 94th highest |
| Affordability ratio | 2.5 | 91st most affordable |
| Five-year population growth | 7.4%[25] | 109th highest |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2%[26] | 257th lowest |
| Property taxes | $2,610[27] | 223rd lowest |
| Educational attainment | 31.1%[28] | 291st highest |
Property values in Jermyn's 18433 zip code have seen the 94th highest increase among evaluated markets in the state, with an appreciation of 56.50% over the past five years.
Jermyn's affordability ratio of 2.5 makes it the 91st most affordable among the 2,528 markets we evaluated.
5. Carbondale
The 18407 zip code in Carbondale rounds out our top five residential real estate investment markets in Pennsylvania.
🔎 Key data about Carbondale
| Data point | Value | Rank in state (of 2,528 markets) |
|---|---|---|
| Zip code | 18407 | N/A |
| InvestScore | 94.8 | 5th highest |
| Typical property value | $146,088[29] | 96th lowest |
| Five-year appreciation | 53.68%[30] | 125th highest |
| Household income | $59,084[31] | 125th highest |
| Affordability ratio | 2.5 | 71st most affordable |
| Five-year population growth | 9.5%[32] | 81st highest |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3%[33] | 273rd lowest |
| Property taxes | $2,413[34] | 185th lowest |
| Educational attainment | 26.6%[35] | 367th highest |
Property values in Carbondale's 18407 zip code rose 53.68% over the last five years, ranking the city 125th highest among evaluated markets in Pennsylvania.
Carbondale homes have an affordability ratio of 2.5, the 71st most affordable among the markets we evaluated.
How we rank residential real estate markets in Pennsylvania
We evaluated 2,528 markets on eight metrics, and then assigned an InvestScore based on their weighted and combined rankings. Each market corresponds to a specific zip code in Pennsylvania.
What is InvestScore?
InvestScore is a score on a scale of 0 (worst in state) to 100 (best in state) that estimates the residential real estate investment potential of a given market. It takes into account a suite of key data points for each city.
- Typical property value: This measures the typical home value in this zip code, according to the Zillow Home Value Index. It reflects the typical value for homes in the 35th to 65th percentile range, including all homes, with the numbers smoothed and seasonally adjusted. We prefer lower property values, which indicate both more room for growth and a greater ease of purchase. We assign a weight of 20% to typical property values.
- Property value appreciation: This measures how much property values have increased in the area over the past five years, according to the Zillow Home Value Index. We prefer a higher appreciation, as it indicates better returns on housing. However, past performance isn't indicative of future results. We assign a weight of 20% to property value appreciation.
- Median household income: This is the inflation-adjusted median household income in the zip code, according to U.S. Census American Community Survey data. We prefer a higher household income, as it indicates local residents have more income to spend on housing. We assign a weight of 10% to median household income. We assign a weight of 10% to median household income.
- Affordability ratio: This is the ratio of the typical home value to the median household income in the area. A lower ratio is better because it means more households can afford a home, which indicates higher demand. We assign a weight of 15% to the affordability ratio.
- Population growth: This is how much the area's population has grown over the past five years, according to U.S. Census estimates. Higher is better, as it indicates residents are moving into the area at a rapid clip. We assign a weight of 10% to population growth.
- Unemployment rate: This is the unemployment rate in the area, according to U.S. Census data. We prefer a lower rate, as it indicates the availability of steady employment in the area, meaning residents will find it much easier to afford homes. We assign a weight of 15% to unemployment rate.
- Property tax: This is the median real estate property tax paid in the area, according to U.S. Census estimates. We assign a weight of 10% to property tax.
- Educational attainment: This is the percentage of residents in the area that have obtained a bachelor's degree or better, according to U.S. Census estimates. We prefer a higher rate because it indicates local residents who have higher earning potential and thus should be able to afford homes. We assign a weight of 15% to educational attainment.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article isn't intended as, and shall not be understood or constituted as, financial advice. The information in this article isn't a substitute for financial advice from an investment professional or real estate agent who is aware of the facts and circumstances of your financial situation or the specifics of any individual property.
