Scenario comparison
| Scenario | Purchase price | Monthly cash flow | Cap rate | Cash-on-cash |
|---|---|---|---|---|
75% of median value-add or distressed | $112,627 | +$165/mo | 8.4% | +7.6% |
Median typical MLS deal | $150,169 | -$43/mo | 6.3% | -1.5% |
125% of median newer / premium | $187,711 | -$251/mo | 5.0% | -7.0% |
Price History
Median Home Price
Median Rent
Historical data from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI
Quick Investment Calculator
Purchase
Monthly Cash Flow
* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.
Score Breakdown
Based on 9.70% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.
Based on 5.3% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.
Population data not available.
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 (9.70%)
- +Strong price appreciation (+5.3% YoY)
- +Affordable relative to local incomes
- +Complete rent data available
Challenges
- -Negative leverage (cap rate 6.3% < mortgage rate 7.4%)
Economic Indicators
Who this market fits
- +Appreciation buyers: YoY growth is meaningfully above the long-run average
- +Value-add operators who can buy below median and force rent up
- −You can't tolerate negative leverage (cap rate below mortgage rate today)
Compare to North Carolina counties with similar scores
Section 8 in Lenoir County: payment standards by ZIP, PHA waitlist status, and voucher counts are on VoucherMatch, the same HUD dataset with the tenant demand side attached.
The Bottom Line
Lenoir County in North Carolina scores 83/100, ranking #4 of 3,073 US counties (top 0%). At 20% down and current rates, a median-priced rental roughly breaks even on cash flow (9.70% gross rent-to-price ratio). The deal works on appreciation or with better terms, not on month-one cash flow.