Is Lauderdale County, MS good for real estate investing?

Lauderdale County has an investment score of 78/100, rated as "Strong Buy". The county ranks #14 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

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

The rent-to-price ratio in Lauderdale County is 12.20% annually, which ranks in the 99th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in Lauderdale?

The median home price in Lauderdale County is $125,825. This ranks #86 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Lauderdale?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Lauderdale County would generate positive cash flow of $172/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Lauderdale County

MississippiPopulation: 72,741

/100

Strong Buy

#14 of 1,000 counties

#1 in Mississippi (80 counties)

Analysis by RentalCalcs ResearchIndependent data + algorithm-driven scoring

Updated August 31, 2026Sources: Zillow ZHVI, Zillow ZORI, US Census ACS, Tax Foundation

Market Snapshot

$125,825

Median Home Price

45% below national median

$1,279/mo

Median Rent

12% below national median

12.20%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 1% nationally

+$172

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Scenario comparison

Same $1,279/mo rent assumption, 20% down, 6.85% rate. What changes is the acquisition price.

Scenario	Purchase price	Monthly cash flow	Cap rate	Cash-on-cash
75% of median value-add or distressed	$94,368	+$337/mo	10.6%	+18.6%
Median typical MLS deal	$125,825	+$172/mo	7.9%	+7.1%
125% of median newer / premium	$157,281	+$7/mo	6.3%	+0.2%

Price History

Median Home Price

Median Rent

Historical data from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$125,825

Down Payment (20%)$25,165

Loan Amount$100,660

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,279

Monthly P&I-$660

Est. Expenses (35%)-$448

Net Cash Flow+$172/mo

7.9%

Cap Rate (all cash)

7.1%

Cash-on-Cash Return

12.20%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

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

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Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

78/100

Cash Flow(30%)

100/100

Based on 12.20% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

62/100

Based on 1.2% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

100/100

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

+Above-average rent-to-price ratio (12.20%)
+Positive cash flow potential (+$172/mo)
+Affordable relative to local incomes
+Complete rent data available

Challenges

No significant challenges identified based on current data.

Economic Indicators

Population

72,741

Median Income

—

Data pending

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

—

Data pending

Who this market fits

Best for

+Cash-flow buyers: the deal pencils at typical financing
+First-time investors looking for lower-risk markets

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
CurrentLauderdaleMS	78	$125,825	$1,279	12.20%	Strong Buy
ScottMS	76	$123,939	Est. pending	—	Strong Buy	View
HindsMS	76	$125,430	$1,343	12.85%	Strong Buy	View
HolmesMS	76	$84,259	Est. pending	—	Strong Buy	View
LeeMS	75	$196,256	$1,270	7.77%	Strong Buy	View
MonroeMS	73	$160,564	Est. pending	—	Buy	View

The Bottom Line

Strong BuyLauderdale is a strong buy market with excellent fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

Lauderdale County in Mississippi scores 78/100, ranking #14 of 1,000 US counties (top 2%). At 20% down and current rates, a median-priced rental clears about $172/month in cash flow, backed by a 12.20% gross rent-to-price ratio.

Monthly Cash Flow

+$172/mo

Cap Rate

7.9%

Cash-on-Cash

7.1%