
Kirksville is a budget-friendly market in the Midwest with a small but investable metro of 50,000. At a 4.03% estimated cap rate, this is a moderate market where rents of $970/mo lag behind home prices. With a median home price of $180,000 and population is roughly stable, Kirksville offers opportunities for investors who source deals carefully.
Market data powered by Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI) · Updated Feb 2026
Kirksville's 0.5% rent-to-price ratio is well below the 1% rule. At median prices of $180,000, the $970/mo rent produces only $604/mo in NOI. Investors here need to target below-median properties or pursue value-add strategies to make the numbers work.
At current rates, a 20% down conventional loan ($36K at 7%) would result in approximately $-354/mo cash flow — negative at median prices. Larger down payments, seller financing, or buying 15–25% below median are strategies to turn the numbers positive.
Property taxes consume 19% of gross rent here — one of the highest ratios in our dataset. This significantly compresses margins and makes Kirksville a market where tax-conscious underwriting is essential. Every deal should be stress-tested with potential assessment increases.
All figures below are computed from Kirksville's real market medians. Use them as a baseline; override with property-specific numbers in the calculators.
At 1.25% effective rate on the $180,000 median price, the annual tax bill is $2,250 — that's above national average (+18% vs the national average of ~1.06%). Verify the actual assessed value before purchase; sale-triggered reassessments can push the bill higher than the seller's current statement.
If Kirksville continues appreciating at 2.5%/yr while rents grow at a conservative 3%/yr, cap rate holds roughly steady as price growth outpaces rent. Year-by-year projection at the median:
| Year | Est. Price | Est. Rent/Mo | Cap Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Today | $180K | $970 | 4.0% |
| Year 1 | $185K | $999 | 4.0% |
| Year 2 | $189K | $1,029 | 4.1% |
| Year 3 | $194K | $1,060 | 4.1% |
| Year 4 | $199K | $1,092 | 4.1% |
| Year 5 | $204K | $1,124 | 4.1% |
Same median-priced Kirksville property — different capital structures. All-cash maximizes cap rate. Leverage trades cash flow for higher cash-on-cash return when the spread between cap rate and borrowing cost is positive.
| Scenario | Cash Invested | Monthly Cash Flow | Annual CF | Cash-on-Cash |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All cash | $180K | $604 | $7,252 | 4.0% |
| 20% down conventional @ 7% | $41K | $-353 | $-4,240 | -10.2% |
| 25% down DSCR @ 8.5% | $52K | $-434 | $-5,206 | -10.0% |
Properties don't always trade at the median. Lower-priced units typically offer higher cap rates but harder operations; higher-priced properties tend to compress cap rates while attracting better tenants. All-cash assumptions below:
| Tier | Price | Rent/Mo | NOI/Yr | Cap Rate | Monthly CF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Below median (~75% price) | $135K | $825 | $5,495 | 4.1% | $458 |
| At median | $180K | $970 | $6,109 | 3.4% | $509 |
| Above median (~125% price) | $225K | $1,116 | $6,733 | 3.0% | $561 |
Cap rate is just one piece. Real estate returns come from four sources: cash flow, appreciation, principal paydown, and tax benefits. Assuming 20% down conventional financing at 7% and a 5-year hold at Kirksville's historical appreciation rate of 2.5%:
On a $36K down payment, that's a 36.8% total ROI over 5 years (not annualized). Tax benefits from depreciation are additional and depend on your personal tax bracket.
Automated checks against the underlying data — surface only the risks that actually apply to Kirksville, not generic boilerplate:
Pre-filled with Kirksville medians. Adjust to match a specific property.
Factor in financing to see your actual return on invested capital in Kirksville.
Kirksville, MO has a population of 50,000 and has been growing at 0.5% annually — roughly in line with national trends, meaning demand is stable but not exceptional. The median home price of $180,000 paired with median rents of $970/mo produces an estimated cap rate of 4.03%.
Property taxes at 1.25% fall within the national average range and shouldn't present unusual challenges. The vacancy rate of 6% is moderate and within normal parameters for a healthy rental market.
At a price-to-income ratio of 3.7x, homes cost about 3.7 times the local median income of $48,140. This relatively affordable ratio suggests a deep pool of renters who find buying out of reach, supporting rental demand. Home values have appreciated at roughly 2.5% annually. Steady appreciation means total returns will be primarily cash flow-driven — the more sustainable model for long-term wealth building.
Bottom line: Kirksville presents moderate opportunities. Cap rates near 4.03% mean deals need careful sourcing — look for value-add rehabs or emerging neighborhoods where rents are climbing.