Is Berks County, PA good for real estate investing?

Berks County has an investment score of 62/100, rated as "Buy". The county ranks #316 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

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

The rent-to-price ratio in Berks County is 5.77% annually, which ranks in the 44th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in Berks?

The median home price in Berks County is $315,430. This ranks #744 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Berks?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Berks County would generate negative cash flow of $668/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Berks County

PennsylvaniaPopulation: 428,483

/100

Hold

#316 of 1,000 counties

#39 in Pennsylvania (67 counties)

Analysis by RentalCalcs ResearchIndependent data + algorithm-driven scoring

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

Market Snapshot

$315,430

Median Home Price

38% above national median

$1,517/mo

Median Rent

5% above national median

5.77%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 56% nationally

-$668

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Scenario comparison

Same $1,517/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	$236,573	-$254/mo	5.0%	-5.6%
Median typical MLS deal	$315,430	-$668/mo	3.8%	-11.1%
125% of median newer / premium	$394,288	-$1,081/mo	3.0%	-14.3%

Price History

Median Home Price

Median Rent

Historical data from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$315,430

Down Payment (20%)$63,086

Loan Amount$252,344

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,517

Monthly P&I-$1,654

Est. Expenses (35%)-$531

Net Cash Flow-$668/mo

3.8%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-11.1%

Cash-on-Cash Return

5.77%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 3.8% 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.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

62/100

Cash Flow(30%)

57/100

Based on 5.77% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

80/100

Based on 3.1% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

62/100

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

+Complete rent data available

Challenges

-Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$668/mo)
-Negative leverage (cap rate 3.8% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population

428,483

Median Income

—

Data pending

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

—

Data pending

Who this market fits

Best for

+All-cash buyers: removing debt service flips the cap rate to actual yield

Skip if

−You need positive cash flow on day one at typical leverage
−You can't tolerate negative leverage (cap rate below mortgage rate today)

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
LehighPA	63	$350,229	$1,778	6.09%	Buy	View
CurrentBerksPA	62	$315,430	$1,517	5.77%	Buy
ClearfieldPA	62	$131,593	Est. pending	—	Buy	View
NorthamptonPA	62	$356,565	$1,749	5.89%	Buy	View
MonroePA	62	$304,344	$1,859	7.33%	Buy	View
DelawarePA	61	$353,606	$1,696	5.75%	Buy	View

The Bottom Line

HoldBerks scores well overall, but a typical leveraged buy-and-hold loses $668/mo at current rates. Consider house hacking, value-add, or all-cash; otherwise a worse score with positive cash flow may be the better deal.

Berks County in Pennsylvania scores 62/100, ranking #316 of 1,000 US counties (top 40%). At 20% down and current rates, a median-priced rental loses about $668/month; the 5.77% gross rent-to-price ratio doesn't survive debt service. The thesis here is appreciation, value-add, house hacking, or all-cash.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-668/mo

Cap Rate

3.8%

Cash-on-Cash

-11.1%