Real Estate Investing in Milton Freewater, Oregon (97813)

Umatilla County • Population: 1,366 • Data updated: June 2026

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Should you buy in 97813 (Milton Freewater, OR)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (56/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 12.1% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 25.3 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Milton Freewater, OR (97813)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $289,600
Avg Monthly Rent $954
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $69,474
% Renters 25.1%

Market Analysis: 97813 Milton Freewater

The 97813 ZIP in Milton Freewater, OR is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $290K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 97813 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

In the broader OR picture, 97813 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Resident income in 97813 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

The 97813 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.49% as of Jun 25 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Milton Freewater:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+3.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $954/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Hermiston-Pendleton, OR Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.7%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of June 20, 2026 — updated weekly from Hermiston-Pendleton, OR metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$303K$264K$225K$186K$147K$108KJan 2009Sep 2017May 2026

📊 How Does 97813 Compare?

Metric 97813 Milton Freewater Hermiston-Pendleton, OR Oregon
Home Value $289,600 $300,037 N/A $493,884
5-Year CAGR 6.7% 6.3% N/A 4.9%
Avg Rent $954 $972 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.6% 2.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 97813? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 97813 (Milton Freewater, OR). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.7%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $289,600
Monthly Rent $954
Price-to-Rent 25.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.0%
Cap Rate 2.6%
5-Year IRR 9.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +3.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.5%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.5%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.6%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
12.1%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.7%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Unfavorable

Demographics in 97813

Population: 1,366

💰 Median Household Income
$69,474
This area
$69,474
State
$71,325
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
25.1%
This area
25.1%
State
28.8%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.7%
This area
5.7%
State
-6.1%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
24.1%
This area
24.1%
State
13.8%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.2 years
This area
38.2 years
State
31.5 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
12.1%
This area
12.1%
State
17.2%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.4%
Other/Mixed 5.6%
Hispanic/Latino 3.6%
Black/African American 1.0%
👶 Under 18
16.3%
This area
16.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.0%
This area
15.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.5%
This area
3.5%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 97813

B+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
12.3:1 Avg Class Size
$15,902 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Weston-McEwen High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
208 Students
👨‍🏫
12.1:1 Class Size
💰
$15,902 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Athena Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 03 Elementary
👥
135 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$15,902 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are home prices like in Milton Freewater, OR?

The median home value in Milton Freewater, OR is roughly $290K. That puts it reasonable relative to the OR statewide average.

How deep is the rental pool in Milton Freewater, OR?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Milton Freewater, OR. The rental market absorbs $954/mo rents without meaningful friction.

How much do tenants pay in Milton Freewater, OR?

Rent in Milton Freewater, OR is around $954/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $290K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

What is it like being a landlord in Milton Freewater, OR?

OR ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Milton Freewater generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

Is Milton Freewater, OR a good place for real estate investing?

Milton Freewater, OR stands at an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $290K and average rents around $954/mo. That combination puts it in the resilient tier for investor interest.

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