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Pottsville vs Somerset for Rental Property Investing

Side-by-side comparison of Pottsville, PA and Somerset, PA — cap rates, rent, prices, and investment metrics.

Pottsville wins 3–0 across key metrics
Pottsville leads on cash flow (6.26% vs 3.19% cap rate)
Metric
Pottsville, PA
Somerset, PA
Est. Cap Rate
6.26%
3.19%
Median Home Price
$155,000
$170,000
Median Monthly Rent
$1,160
$810
1% Rule
0.75%
0.48%
GRM
11.1x
17.5x
Price / Income
3.2x
3.6x
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

Pottsville vs Somerset: Which Is Better for Investors?

Cash flow: Pottsville has the edge with an estimated cap rate of 6.26% compared to Somerset's 3.19%. Neither city passes the 1% rule outright, so deal sourcing and value-add strategies become more important. Median home prices are $155,000 in Pottsville vs $170,000 in Somerset, while rents come in at $1,160/mo and $810/mo respectively. For context, the national average cap rate is 3.81% and average price is $333K.

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

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

Entry point: Pottsville offers a lower entry at $155K vs Somerset's $170K — a difference of $15K. With a 20% down payment, that's $31K vs $34K. Pottsville combines the lower price with a higher cap rate — a compelling combination.

Bottom line: Pottsville edges out Somerset on most key metrics. With a 6.26% cap rate, it offers solid cash flow potential. Use our free calculators to model specific deals in Pottsville or Somerset.

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Pottsville, PA
6.26% cap rate · $155,000 median · $1,160/mo
Full analysis →
Somerset, PA
3.19% cap rate · $170,000 median · $810/mo
Full analysis →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pottsville or Somerset better for rental investing?
Pottsville wins 3–0 across our 7 key metrics (cap rate, 1% rule, GRM, taxes, vacancy, growth, appreciation). Pottsville's 6.26% cap rate and $155K median price offer both higher returns and a lower entry point.
What is the cap rate difference between Pottsville and Somerset?
Pottsville has a 6.26% cap rate vs Somerset's 3.19% — a difference of 3.07 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?
Somerset has lower property taxes at 1.38% vs 1.38%. On a $163K property, that's a difference of approximately $207/year in tax expense — money that goes directly to (or from) your cash flow.
Which city is growing faster?
Pottsville is growing at 0.2% annually vs Somerset's 0.2%. Both cities have slow growth — focus on the strongest neighborhoods. Pottsville's appreciation rate of 2.3% also leads on home value growth.

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