Is Lyon County, MN good for real estate investing?

Lyon County has an investment score of 73/100, rated as "Buy". The county ranks #88 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

What is the median home price in Lyon?

The median home price in Lyon County is $227,567. This ranks #490 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Lyon?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Lyon County would generate positive cash flow of $0/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Lyon County

MinnesotaPopulation: 25,352

/100

Buy

#88 of 1,000 counties

#19 in Minnesota (87 counties)

Analysis by RentalCalcs ResearchIndependent data + algorithm-driven scoring

Updated July 28, 2026Sources: Zillow ZHVI, Zillow ZORI, US Census ACS, Tax Foundation

Market Snapshot

$227,567

Median Home Price

1% below national median

$13,750/mo

Est. Rent

Based on regional data

6.04%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Estimated from price data

+$0

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Price History

Median Home Price

Median Rent

Historical data from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

73/100

Cash Flow(30%)

0/100

Rent data not available for cash flow calculation.

Appreciation(25%)

85/100

Based on 8.2% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

81/100

Based on price relative to estimated local incomes.

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

+Strong price appreciation (+8.2% YoY)
+Affordable relative to local incomes

Challenges

-Negative leverage (cap rate 0.0% < mortgage rate 6.9%)
-Limited rent data (estimates used)

Economic Indicators

Population

25,352

Median Income

—

Data pending

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

—

Data pending

Who this market fits

Best for

+Appreciation buyers: YoY growth is meaningfully above the long-run average

Skip if

−You can't tolerate negative leverage (cap rate below mortgage rate today)

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
RockMN	74	$260,804	Est. pending	—	Buy	View
CurrentLyonMN	73	$227,567	Est. pending	—	Buy
SwiftMN	73	$188,268	Est. pending	—	Buy	View
Lake of the WoodsMN	73	$209,243	Est. pending	—	Buy	View
Saint LouisMN	73	$241,512	$1,575	7.82%	Buy	View
StevensMN	72	$204,884	Est. pending	—	Buy	View

The Bottom Line

BuyLyon offers solid investment potential with roughly break-even cash flow at typical financing.

Lyon County in Minnesota scores 73/100, ranking #88 of 1,000 US counties (top 11%). At 20% down and current rates, a median-priced rental roughly breaks even on cash flow. The deal works on appreciation or with better terms, not on month-one cash flow.

Monthly Cash Flow

+$0/mo

Cap Rate

0.0%

Cash-on-Cash

0.0%