Is Salem City, VA good for real estate investing?

Salem City has an investment score of 66/100, rated as "Buy". The county ranks #233 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

What is the rent-to-price ratio in Salem City?

The rent-to-price ratio in Salem City is 6.22% annually, which ranks in the 55th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in Salem City?

The median home price in Salem City is $295,104. This ranks #691 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Salem City?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Salem City would generate negative cash flow of $552/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Salem City

VirginiaPopulation: 25,372

/100

Hold

#233 of 1,000 counties

#28 in Virginia (133 counties)

Analysis by RentalCalcs ResearchIndependent data + algorithm-driven scoring

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

Market Snapshot

$295,104

Median Home Price

29% above national median

$1,531/mo

Median Rent

6% above national median

6.22%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 45% nationally

-$552

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Scenario comparison

Same $1,531/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	$221,328	-$165/mo	5.4%	-3.9%
Median typical MLS deal	$295,104	-$552/mo	4.0%	-9.8%
125% of median newer / premium	$368,880	-$939/mo	3.2%	-13.3%

Price History

Median Home Price

Median Rent

Historical data from Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$295,104

Down Payment (20%)$59,021

Loan Amount$236,083

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$1,531

Monthly P&I-$1,547

Est. Expenses (35%)-$536

Net Cash Flow-$552/mo

4.0%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-9.8%

Cash-on-Cash Return

6.22%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 4.0% 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

66/100

Cash Flow(30%)

62/100

Based on 6.22% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

84/100

Based on 4.3% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

67/100

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 (-$552/mo)
-Negative leverage (cap rate 4.0% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population

25,372

Median Income

—

Data pending

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

—

Data pending

Who this market fits

Best for

+Patient holders willing to accept negative carry for equity gains
+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
DinwiddieVA	69	$295,196	Est. pending	—	Buy	View
Roanoke CityVA	67	$215,833	$1,271	7.06%	Buy	View
CurrentSalem CityVA	66	$295,104	$1,531	6.22%	Buy
RoanokeVA	64	$325,167	$1,582	5.84%	Buy	View
Prince GeorgeVA	63	$346,630	$1,848	6.40%	Buy	View
RockbridgeVA	63	$316,023	Est. pending	—	Buy	View

The Bottom Line

HoldSalem City scores well overall, but a typical leveraged buy-and-hold loses $552/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.

Salem City in Virginia scores 66/100, ranking #233 of 1,000 US counties (top 30%). At 20% down and current rates, a median-priced rental loses about $552/month; the 6.22% 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

$-552/mo

Cap Rate

4.0%

Cash-on-Cash

-9.8%