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Meadville vs New Castle for Rental Property Investing

Side-by-side comparison of Meadville, PA and New Castle, PA — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.

New Castle wins 3–0 across key metrics
New Castle leads on cash flow (6.12% vs 3.02% cap rate) · Meadville leads on population growth
Metric
Meadville, PA
New Castle, PA
Est. Cap Rate
3.02%
6.12%
Median Home Price
$165,000
$155,000
Median Monthly Rent
$760
$1,140
1% Rule
0.46%
0.74%
GRM
18.1x
11.3x
Price / Income
3.5x
3.2x
Property Tax Rate
1.38%
1.38%
Vacancy Rate
6%
6%
Population Growth
0.2% / yr
0.2% / yr
Annual Appreciation
2.3%
2.3%
Population
50,000
50,000
Median Income
$47,800
$47,800

Meadville vs New Castle: Which Is Better for Investors?

Cash flow: New Castle has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 6.12% compared to Meadville's 3.02%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $165,000 in Meadville vs $155,000 in New Castle, while rents come in at $760/mo and $1,140/mo respectively. For context, the national average cap rate is 3.81% and average price is $333K.

Growth & appreciation: Meadville is growing faster at 0.2% annually vs New Castle's 0.2%. Meadville leads on home value appreciation at 2.3% per year.

Costs & risk: Property taxes are 1.38% in Meadville vs 1.38% in New Castle. Vacancy rates of 6% and 6% are mixed — New Castle has the tighter rental market.

Entry point: New Castle offers a lower entry at $155K vs Meadville's $165K — a difference of $10K. With a 20% down payment, that's $31K vs $33K. New Castle combines the lower price with a higher cap rate — a compelling combination.

Bottom line: New Castle edges out Meadville on most key metrics. With a 6.12% cap rate, it offers solid cash flow potential. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Meadville or New Castle.

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Meadville, PA
3.02% cap rate · $165,000 median · $760/mo
Full analysis →
New Castle, PA
6.12% cap rate · $155,000 median · $1,140/mo
Full analysis →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Meadville or New Castle better for rental investing?
New Castle wins 3–0 across our 7 key metrics. New Castle's 6.12% cap rate and $155K median price give it the edge overall.
What is the cap rate difference between Meadville and New Castle?
Meadville has a 3.02% cap rate vs New Castle's 6.12% — a difference of 3.10 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?
New Castle has lower property taxes at 1.38% vs 1.38%. On a $160K property, that's a difference of approximately $138/year in tax expense — money that goes directly to (or from) your cash flow.
Which city is growing faster?
Meadville is growing at 0.2% annually vs New Castle's 0.2%. Both cities have slow growth — focus on the strongest neighborhoods. Meadville's appreciation rate of 2.3% also leads on home value growth.

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