Side-by-side comparison of Gulfport, MS and Columbus, MS — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.
Cash flow: Columbus has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 6.81% compared to Gulfport's 5.72%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $220,000 in Gulfport vs $180,000 in Columbus, while rents come in at $1,420/mo and $1,340/mo respectively. For context, the national average cap rate is 3.81% and average price is $333K.
Growth & appreciation: Gulfport is growing faster at 0.5% annually vs Columbus's 0.2%. Gulfport leads on home value appreciation at 2% per year.
Costs & risk: Property taxes are 0.68% in Gulfport vs 0.66% in Columbus. Vacancy rates of 7% and 7.4% are mixed — Gulfport has the tighter rental market.
Entry point: Columbus offers a lower entry at $180K vs Gulfport's $220K — a difference of $40K. With a 20% down payment, that's $36K vs $44K. Columbus combines the lower price with a higher cap rate — a compelling combination.
Bottom line: Columbus edges out Gulfport on most key metrics. With a 6.81% cap rate, it offers solid cash flow potential. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Gulfport or Columbus.