Is Wayne County, NC good for real estate investing?

Wayne County has an investment score of 73/100, rated as "Buy". The county ranks #0 nationally among 0 counties analyzed.

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

The rent-to-price ratio in Wayne County is 9.60% annually, which ranks in the 50th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in Wayne?

The median home price in Wayne County is $184,245. This ranks #0 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Wayne?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Wayne County would generate negative cash flow of $7/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Wayne County

North CarolinaPopulation: 117,480

/100

Buy

#0 of 0 counties

#2 in North Carolina (100 counties)

Analysis by RentalCalcs ResearchIndependent data + algorithm-driven scoring

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

Market Snapshot

$184,245

Median Home Price

0% below national median

$1,474/mo

Median Rent

0% below national median

9.60%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 50% nationally

-$7

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Scenario comparison

Same $1,474/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	$138,184	+$234/mo	8.3%	+8.8%
Median typical MLS deal	$184,245	-$7/mo	6.2%	-0.2%
125% of median newer / premium	$230,306	-$249/mo	5.0%	-5.6%

Price History

Median Home Price

Median Rent

Historical data from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$184,245

Down Payment (20%)$36,849

Loan Amount$147,396

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,474

Monthly P&I-$966

Est. Expenses (35%)-$516

Net Cash Flow-$7/mo

6.2%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-0.2%

Cash-on-Cash Return

9.60%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 6.2% 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.

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Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

73/100

Cash Flow(30%)

96/100

Based on 9.60% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

54/100

Based on 0.4% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

91/100

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

+Affordable relative to local incomes
+Complete rent data available

Challenges

-Negative leverage (cap rate 6.2% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population

117,480

Median Income

—

Data pending

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

—

Data pending

Who this market fits

Best for

+Value-add operators who can buy below median and force rent up

Skip if

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

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
NorthamptonNC	78	$115,952	Est. pending	—	Strong Buy	View
CurrentWayneNC	73	$184,245	$1,474	9.60%	Buy
PerquimansNC	68	$264,692	Est. pending	—	Buy	View
DavidsonNC	65	$264,061	$1,446	6.57%	Buy	View
CherokeeNC	62	$274,117	$1,625	7.11%	Buy	View
CumberlandNC	61	$227,591	$1,422	7.50%	Buy	View

The Bottom Line

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

Wayne County in North Carolina scores 73/100, ranking #0 of 0 US counties (top 50%). At 20% down and current rates, a median-priced rental roughly breaks even on cash flow (9.60% gross rent-to-price ratio). The deal works on appreciation or with better terms, not on month-one cash flow.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-7/mo

Cap Rate

6.2%

Cash-on-Cash

-0.2%