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DeRidder vs Fort Polk South for Rental Property Investing

Side-by-side comparison of DeRidder, LA and Fort Polk South, LA — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.

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Fort Polk South wins 3–0 across key metrics
Fort Polk South leads on cash flow (7.27% vs 4.43% cap rate) · DeRidder leads on population growth
Metric
DeRidder, LA
Fort Polk South, LA
Est. Cap Rate
4.43%
7.27%
Median Home Price
$190,000
$160,000
Median Monthly Rent
$980
$1,230
1% Rule
0.52%
0.77%
GRM
16.2x
10.8x
Price / Income
4.2x
3.5x
Property Tax Rate
0.54%
0.54%
Vacancy Rate
6.7%
6.7%
Population Growth
0.3% / yr
0.3% / yr
Annual Appreciation
2.1%
2.1%
Population
50,000
50,000
Median Income
$45,760
$45,760

DeRidder vs Fort Polk South: Which Is Better for Investors?

Cash flow: Fort Polk South has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 7.27% compared to DeRidder's 4.43%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $190,000 in DeRidder vs $160,000 in Fort Polk South, while rents come in at $980/mo and $1,230/mo respectively. For context, the national average cap rate is 3.81% and average price is $333K.

Growth & appreciation: DeRidder is growing faster at 0.3% annually vs Fort Polk South's 0.3%. DeRidder leads on home value appreciation at 2.1% per year.

Costs & risk: Property taxes are 0.54% in DeRidder vs 0.54% in Fort Polk South. Vacancy rates of 6.7% and 6.7% are mixed — Fort Polk South has the tighter rental market.

Entry point: Fort Polk South offers a lower entry at $160K vs DeRidder's $190K — a difference of $30K. With a 20% down payment, that's $32K vs $38K. Fort Polk South combines the lower price with a higher cap rate — a compelling combination.

Bottom line: Fort Polk South edges out DeRidder on most key metrics. With a 7.27% cap rate, it offers solid cash flow potential. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in DeRidder or Fort Polk South.

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DeRidder, LA
4.43% cap rate · $190,000 median · $980/mo
Full analysis →
Fort Polk South, LA
7.27% cap rate · $160,000 median · $1,230/mo
Full analysis →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is DeRidder or Fort Polk South better for rental investing?
Fort Polk South wins 3–0 across our 7 key metrics. Fort Polk South's 7.27% cap rate and $160K median price give it the edge overall.
What is the cap rate difference between DeRidder and Fort Polk South?
DeRidder has a 4.43% cap rate vs Fort Polk South's 7.27% — a difference of 2.83 percentage points. This is a significant gap that meaningfully impacts cash flow. For context, the national average is 3.81%.
Which city has lower property taxes?
Fort Polk South has lower property taxes at 0.54% vs 0.54%. On a $175K property, that's a difference of approximately $162/year in tax expense — money that goes directly to (or from) your cash flow.
Which city is growing faster?
DeRidder is growing at 0.3% annually vs Fort Polk South's 0.3%. Both cities have slow growth — focus on the strongest neighborhoods. DeRidder's appreciation rate of 2.1% also leads on home value growth.

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