Yield + employment

Where gross yield survives a positive jobs screen

Which US metro gross yields remain highest after requiring positive year-over-year employment?

A low purchase price can make gross yield look unusually strong. This screen joins current Zillow rent and home-value measures with the available BLS metro employment series before a market reaches the table.

Starting universe
696
metros with all required fields
Passed the jobs rule
360
strictly positive employment change
Median surviving yield
5.8%
gross, before property expenses
Highest surviving yield
11.5%
Kingsville, TX
What the join changes

A shorter yield list, not a list of winners

The complete input universe contains 696 metros. Requiring employment growth to be above zero leaves 360. That removes 336 markets before yield is ranked. The rule is intentionally simple: it prevents a high gross-yield figure from standing alone when the available labor signal is flat or contracting, but it does not turn a positive reading into a forecast.

Kingsville, TX sits at the top of the surviving screen with a 11.5% gross yield and 1.4% year-over-year employment growth. The median survivor is 5.8% yield with 0.7%employment growth. Those are market-level ratios: taxes, insurance, repairs, vacancy, management and financing have not yet entered the calculation.

The employment rule is a brake on a one-number yield story. It is not evidence that the remaining markets—or their individual properties—will outperform.

The market with the strongest employment reading in the surviving set is North Platte, NE at 4.9%. It does not lead the yield ranking. That separation is useful: the two measures impose a trade-off rather than collapsing into a synthetic “best market” label. A reader can therefore decide whether to begin with income potential or labor momentum, then inspect supply, migration and climate evidence on the linked market page.

Every dot cleared the employment rule

Gross yield after the positive-jobs screen

Higher is more gross yield; farther right is faster current employment growth.

Gross yield and positive employment growth by metroScatter plot of every qualifying metro. The vertical axis is gross yield and the horizontal axis is year-over-year employment growth.0.0%1.3%2.6%3.8%5.1%2.6%4.9%7.3%9.6%12.0%Kingsville, TX: 11.5% yield, 1.4% employment growthAbilene, TX: 10.6% yield, 0.8% employment growthOpelousas, LA: 10.2% yield, 1.8% employment growthOzark, AL: 10.1% yield, 0.2% employment growthOgdensburg, NY: 9.3% yield, 0.1% employment growthPlainview, TX: 9.3% yield, 0.2% employment growthClewiston, FL: 9.2% yield, 2.3% employment growthMonroe, LA: 9.1% yield, 1.1% employment growthPaducah, KY: 9.0% yield, 0.6% employment growthEnterprise, AL: 9.0% yield, 1.1% employment growthPottsville, PA: 9.0% yield, 0.1% employment growthSomerset, KY: 8.9% yield, 1.5% employment growthCorning, NY: 8.8% yield, 0.0% employment growthShreveport, LA: 8.8% yield, 0.0% employment growthBorger, TX: 8.7% yield, 4.0% employment growthLaurel, MS: 8.7% yield, 0.8% employment growthSumter, SC: 8.6% yield, 0.3% employment growthDuBois, PA: 8.5% yield, 0.0% employment growthOneonta, NY: 8.4% yield, 1.0% employment growthSandusky, OH: 8.4% yield, 2.1% employment growthBurlington, IA: 8.3% yield, 1.4% employment growthKinston, NC: 8.3% yield, 0.3% employment growthDeRidder, LA: 8.3% yield, 0.6% employment growthClarksburg, WV: 8.3% yield, 0.1% employment growthBeaumont, TX: 8.3% yield, 0.3% employment growthGreenwood, SC: 8.3% yield, 2.2% employment growthPonca City, OK: 8.2% yield, 0.6% employment growthTexarkana, TX: 8.1% yield, 0.1% employment growthJacksonville, TX: 8.1% yield, 0.8% employment growthLafayette, LA: 8.1% yield, 0.4% employment growthMarion, OH: 8.1% yield, 0.1% employment growthJonesboro, AR: 8.0% yield, 1.0% employment growthBinghamton, NY: 7.9% yield, 1.3% employment growthLubbock, TX: 7.9% yield, 0.6% employment growthLaGrange, GA: 7.9% yield, 1.4% employment growthEl Paso, TX: 7.9% yield, 0.6% employment growthCortland, NY: 7.8% yield, 3.0% employment growthMorgantown, WV: 7.8% yield, 1.3% employment growthGulfport, MS: 7.8% yield, 0.4% employment growthNewberry, SC: 7.7% yield, 2.1% employment growthSaginaw, MI: 7.7% yield, 1.6% employment growthHuntington, WV: 7.7% yield, 0.4% employment growthCambridge, MD: 7.6% yield, 0.3% employment growthBatavia, NY: 7.6% yield, 0.9% employment growthChicago, IL: 7.6% yield, 0.1% employment growthSebring, FL: 7.6% yield, 0.3% employment growthOlean, NY: 7.6% yield, 1.5% employment growthCarlsbad, NM: 7.6% yield, 2.4% employment growthCorpus Christi, TX: 7.5% yield, 0.8% employment growthDothan, AL: 7.5% yield, 0.6% employment growthHomosassa Springs, FL: 7.5% yield, 0.6% employment growthBay City, MI: 7.5% yield, 0.3% employment growthLake Charles, LA: 7.5% yield, 1.3% employment growthMacon, GA: 7.4% yield, 0.5% employment growthWatertown, NY: 7.4% yield, 1.7% employment growthLakeland, FL: 7.4% yield, 1.3% employment growthRuston, LA: 7.4% yield, 2.6% employment growthJesup, GA: 7.4% yield, 1.2% employment growthLaredo, TX: 7.3% yield, 1.1% employment growthAuburn, NY: 7.3% yield, 1.3% employment growthStarkville, MS: 7.3% yield, 1.0% employment growthUnion City, TN: 7.3% yield, 0.9% employment growthOdessa, TX: 7.3% yield, 0.0% employment growthPalestine, TX: 7.3% yield, 2.1% employment growthDublin, GA: 7.2% yield, 2.2% employment growthAlbertville, AL: 7.2% yield, 0.5% employment growthColumbia, SC: 7.2% yield, 0.3% employment growthLima, OH: 7.2% yield, 0.1% employment growthEast Stroudsburg, PA: 7.2% yield, 0.9% employment growthSyracuse, NY: 7.1% yield, 1.2% employment growthAugusta, GA: 7.1% yield, 0.5% employment growthBattle Creek, MI: 7.0% yield, 0.7% employment growthSunbury, PA: 7.0% yield, 0.5% employment growthOcala, FL: 7.0% yield, 1.6% employment growthEagle Pass, TX: 7.0% yield, 2.1% employment growthMarion, IN: 7.0% yield, 0.7% employment growthTopeka, KS: 6.9% yield, 1.3% employment growthAmarillo, TX: 6.9% yield, 0.8% employment growthTerre Haute, IN: 6.9% yield, 0.5% employment growthJoplin, MO: 6.9% yield, 0.7% employment growthSedalia, MO: 6.9% yield, 1.1% employment growthMcAllen, TX: 6.9% yield, 1.1% employment growthWeirton, WV: 6.9% yield, 0.1% employment growthGreenville, NC: 6.9% yield, 1.6% employment growthAmsterdam, NY: 6.8% yield, 1.1% employment growthScranton, PA: 6.8% yield, 0.1% employment growthTahlequah, OK: 6.7% yield, 2.0% employment growthPensacola, FL: 6.7% yield, 0.7% employment growthTampa, FL: 6.7% yield, 0.1% employment growthSan Angelo, TX: 6.7% yield, 0.3% employment growthGaffney, SC: 6.7% yield, 0.7% employment growthPalm Bay, FL: 6.7% yield, 0.2% employment growthSalina, KS: 6.7% yield, 1.5% employment growthBirmingham, AL: 6.7% yield, 0.2% employment growthChampaign, IL: 6.6% yield, 0.6% employment growthWaco, TX: 6.6% yield, 0.7% employment growthOwensboro, KY: 6.6% yield, 0.1% employment growthWinston, NC: 6.6% yield, 0.8% employment growthLittle Rock, AR: 6.6% yield, 0.2% employment growthGainesville, FL: 6.6% yield, 0.4% employment growthLongview, TX: 6.6% yield, 0.2% employment growthKingsport, TN: 6.6% yield, 1.2% employment growthFlint, MI: 6.6% yield, 0.5% employment growthMilledgeville, GA: 6.5% yield, 2.3% employment growthRochester, NY: 6.5% yield, 0.4% employment growthDeltona, FL: 6.5% yield, 0.5% employment growthVictoria, TX: 6.5% yield, 0.4% employment growthGainesville, TX: 6.5% yield, 1.4% employment growthHanford, CA: 6.5% yield, 0.9% employment growthAtlantic City, NJ: 6.5% yield, 1.6% employment growthHutchinson, KS: 6.5% yield, 0.6% employment growthSpartanburg, SC: 6.4% yield, 0.7% employment growthDanville, KY: 6.4% yield, 0.7% employment growthHot Springs, AR: 6.4% yield, 0.6% employment growthClearlake, CA: 6.4% yield, 0.6% employment growthHouston, TX: 6.4% yield, 0.6% employment growthJamestown, NY: 6.4% yield, 0.2% employment growthCorsicana, TX: 6.4% yield, 1.2% employment growthCedartown, GA: 6.4% yield, 0.6% employment growthTulsa, OK: 6.4% yield, 0.1% employment growthWichita, KS: 6.4% yield, 0.2% employment growthKilleen, TX: 6.4% yield, 0.2% employment growthIthaca, NY: 6.4% yield, 0.2% employment growthStatesboro, GA: 6.3% yield, 0.7% employment growthGreensboro, NC: 6.3% yield, 0.5% employment growthNorth Port, FL: 6.3% yield, 1.2% employment growthTallahassee, FL: 6.3% yield, 0.2% employment growthBeeville, TX: 6.3% yield, 1.0% employment growthMeadville, PA: 6.3% yield, 0.4% employment growthSavannah, GA: 6.3% yield, 0.8% employment growthTyler, TX: 6.3% yield, 1.5% employment growthBranson, MO: 6.3% yield, 0.9% employment growthBatesville, AR: 6.2% yield, 2.9% employment growthSeneca, SC: 6.2% yield, 2.8% employment growthAthens, OH: 6.2% yield, 1.0% employment growthCookeville, TN: 6.2% yield, 0.8% employment growthBeatrice, NE: 6.2% yield, 1.6% employment growthFort Madison, IA: 6.2% yield, 0.1% employment growthFlorence, AL: 6.1% yield, 0.0% employment growthOxford, MS: 6.1% yield, 2.9% employment growthHarrisonburg, VA: 6.1% yield, 0.8% employment growthSulphur Springs, TX: 6.1% yield, 2.3% employment growthSearcy, AR: 6.1% yield, 0.9% employment growthOrlando, FL: 6.1% yield, 0.7% employment growthMountain Home, AR: 6.1% yield, 2.4% employment growthState College, PA: 6.1% yield, 2.3% employment growthBrunswick, GA: 6.1% yield, 1.6% employment growthZanesville, OH: 6.1% yield, 0.0% employment growthCincinnati, OH: 6.1% yield, 0.2% employment growthSan Antonio, TX: 6.1% yield, 0.1% employment growthAllentown, PA: 6.0% yield, 1.1% employment growthIndiana, PA: 6.0% yield, 0.8% employment growthLas Cruces, NM: 6.0% yield, 1.9% employment growthLewisburg, TN: 6.0% yield, 0.6% employment growthWinchester, VA: 6.0% yield, 0.3% employment growthMyrtle Beach, SC: 6.0% yield, 1.6% employment growthVisalia, CA: 6.0% yield, 0.6% employment growthRichmond, IN: 6.0% yield, 0.3% employment growthKapaa, HI: 6.0% yield, 0.7% employment growthNorth Platte, NE: 6.0% yield, 4.9% employment growthFresno, CA: 6.0% yield, 0.9% employment growthGreenville, SC: 5.9% yield, 1.4% employment growthBuffalo, NY: 5.9% yield, 0.6% employment growthHartford, CT: 5.9% yield, 0.3% employment growthFremont, NE: 5.9% yield, 1.1% employment growthPanama City, FL: 5.9% yield, 0.2% employment growthHilo, HI: 5.9% yield, 0.6% employment growthRochester, MN: 5.9% yield, 0.4% employment growthDecatur, AL: 5.9% yield, 1.0% employment growthFort Wayne, IN: 5.9% yield, 0.7% employment growthMidland, TX: 5.9% yield, 0.3% employment growthKerrville, TX: 5.9% yield, 0.9% employment growthPhiladelphia, PA: 5.9% yield, 0.3% employment growthAuburn, AL: 5.9% yield, 1.8% employment growthRed Bluff, CA: 5.9% yield, 0.7% employment growthNogales, AZ: 5.8% yield, 1.1% employment growthNew York, NY: 5.8% yield, 0.1% employment growthBakersfield, CA: 5.8% yield, 1.6% employment growthJuneau, AK: 5.8% yield, 1.6% employment growthNiles, MI: 5.8% yield, 0.5% employment growthAtlanta, GA: 5.8% yield, 0.2% employment growthCambridge, OH: 5.8% yield, 0.7% employment growthErie, PA: 5.8% yield, 0.1% employment growthMerced, CA: 5.8% yield, 3.5% employment growthBowling Green, KY: 5.8% yield, 0.8% employment growthAnn Arbor, MI: 5.8% yield, 0.1% employment growthJamestown, ND: 5.8% yield, 1.5% employment growthSt. Joseph, MO: 5.8% yield, 1.0% employment growthReading, PA: 5.8% yield, 0.2% employment growthNorfolk, NE: 5.7% yield, 0.7% employment growthAberdeen, WA: 5.7% yield, 1.8% employment growthRussellville, AR: 5.7% yield, 0.2% employment growthKnoxville, TN: 5.7% yield, 0.9% employment growthGloversville, NY: 5.7% yield, 0.4% employment growthAthens, TX: 5.7% yield, 1.8% employment growthCharleston, SC: 5.7% yield, 0.5% employment growthCrossville, TN: 5.7% yield, 0.4% employment growthKearney, NE: 5.7% yield, 0.4% employment growthMuskegon, MI: 5.6% yield, 1.0% employment growthLexington, KY: 5.6% yield, 0.7% employment growthKansas City, MO: 5.6% yield, 0.5% employment growthTullahoma, TN: 5.6% yield, 0.3% employment growthCollege Station, TX: 5.6% yield, 0.9% employment growthEaston, MD: 5.6% yield, 0.7% employment growthRoanoke, VA: 5.6% yield, 0.3% employment growthYuba City, CA: 5.6% yield, 2.1% employment growthFarmington, NM: 5.5% yield, 1.5% employment growthOmaha, NE: 5.5% yield, 0.5% employment growthStockton, CA: 5.5% yield, 1.8% employment growthSpringfield, MO: 5.5% yield, 0.6% employment growthPinehurst, NC: 5.5% yield, 1.8% employment growthSherman, TX: 5.5% yield, 1.7% employment growthAndrews, TX: 5.5% yield, 1.4% employment growthEl Centro, CA: 5.5% yield, 0.9% employment growthTraverse City, MI: 5.5% yield, 2.5% employment growthKingston, NY: 5.5% yield, 1.3% employment growthHermiston, OR: 5.5% yield, 0.9% employment growthLynchburg, VA: 5.5% yield, 0.5% employment growthDallas, TX: 5.5% yield, 0.8% employment growthBrenham, TX: 5.5% yield, 1.3% employment growthColumbus, OH: 5.5% yield, 0.6% employment growthGreeneville, TN: 5.5% yield, 0.1% employment growthClarksville, TN: 5.5% yield, 0.2% employment growthNorwich, CT: 5.4% yield, 0.8% employment growthDaphne, AL: 5.4% yield, 2.3% employment growthIowa City, IA: 5.4% yield, 0.1% employment growthBay City, TX: 5.4% yield, 3.9% employment growthFrankfort, KY: 5.4% yield, 2.5% employment growthThe Villages, FL: 5.4% yield, 2.8% employment growthChambersburg, PA: 5.4% yield, 0.9% employment growthCrestview, FL: 5.4% yield, 0.4% employment growthLewiston, ME: 5.4% yield, 0.3% employment growthCharlotte, NC: 5.4% yield, 1.1% employment growthAthens, GA: 5.3% yield, 2.3% employment growthWilliamsport, PA: 5.3% yield, 0.8% employment growthPayson, AZ: 5.3% yield, 0.6% employment growthAlbany, NY: 5.3% yield, 0.8% employment growthRichmond, VA: 5.3% yield, 0.2% employment growthMarshalltown, IA: 5.3% yield, 0.8% employment growthYork, PA: 5.3% yield, 0.1% employment growthHudson, NY: 5.3% yield, 0.0% employment growthKeene, NH: 5.3% yield, 0.1% employment growthBellefontaine, OH: 5.3% yield, 0.1% employment growthLincoln, NE: 5.3% yield, 0.6% employment growthRedding, CA: 5.3% yield, 2.1% employment growthMinneapolis, MN: 5.2% yield, 0.2% employment growthModesto, CA: 5.2% yield, 0.7% employment growthHuntsville, AL: 5.2% yield, 1.0% employment growthRiverside, CA: 5.2% yield, 0.5% employment growthColumbia, MO: 5.2% yield, 1.2% employment growthFayetteville, AR: 5.2% yield, 2.5% employment growthNew Castle, IN: 5.2% yield, 1.2% employment growthRichmond, KY: 5.2% yield, 1.1% employment growthCharlottesville, VA: 5.1% yield, 0.9% employment growthBurley, ID: 5.1% yield, 0.1% employment growthPortland, ME: 5.1% yield, 0.3% employment growthGainesville, GA: 5.1% yield, 0.3% employment growthWilmington, OH: 5.1% yield, 1.4% employment growthElkhart, IN: 5.1% yield, 0.9% employment growthCrawfordsville, IN: 5.1% yield, 1.1% employment growthLebanon, PA: 5.1% yield, 1.4% employment growthVallejo, CA: 5.0% yield, 0.5% employment growthMontrose, CO: 5.0% yield, 0.7% employment growthAthens, TN: 5.0% yield, 0.4% employment growthMinot, ND: 5.0% yield, 0.2% employment growthShelton, WA: 5.0% yield, 1.0% employment growthDyersburg, TN: 5.0% yield, 0.3% employment growthMedford, OR: 5.0% yield, 0.1% employment growthSevierville, TN: 5.0% yield, 0.2% employment growthOntario, OR: 5.0% yield, 0.5% employment growthBridgeport, CT: 4.9% yield, 0.4% employment growthCape Girardeau, MO: 4.9% yield, 0.2% employment growthTwin Falls, ID: 4.9% yield, 1.1% employment growthWahpeton, ND: 4.9% yield, 0.3% employment growthGrand Forks, ND: 4.9% yield, 0.3% employment growthLas Vegas, NV: 4.9% yield, 1.9% employment growthHuntington, IN: 4.9% yield, 1.1% employment growthYakima, WA: 4.9% yield, 0.2% employment growthElko, NV: 4.9% yield, 1.6% employment growthRoseburg, OR: 4.9% yield, 0.3% employment growthKlamath Falls, OR: 4.8% yield, 0.1% employment growthKill Devil Hills, NC: 4.8% yield, 0.5% employment growthMcMinnville, TN: 4.8% yield, 1.2% employment growthThe Dalles, OR: 4.8% yield, 1.1% employment growthSelinsgrove, PA: 4.8% yield, 0.2% employment growthNashville, TN: 4.8% yield, 0.6% employment growthDickinson, ND: 4.7% yield, 1.6% employment growthLa Grande, OR: 4.7% yield, 1.0% employment growthSacramento, CA: 4.7% yield, 0.7% employment growthFond du Lac, WI: 4.7% yield, 0.6% employment growthVernal, UT: 4.7% yield, 0.9% employment growthAsheville, NC: 4.7% yield, 0.9% employment growthOlympia, WA: 4.7% yield, 0.1% employment growthLancaster, PA: 4.7% yield, 0.8% employment growthStevens Point, WI: 4.7% yield, 0.1% employment growthFredericksburg, TX: 4.7% yield, 0.7% employment growthAustin, TX: 4.7% yield, 1.4% employment growthPhoenix, AZ: 4.7% yield, 0.2% employment growthPahrump, NV: 4.6% yield, 2.2% employment growthRapid City, SD: 4.6% yield, 1.6% employment growthUrbana, OH: 4.6% yield, 0.7% employment growthRaleigh, NC: 4.6% yield, 2.1% employment growthWilmington, NC: 4.6% yield, 2.6% employment growthLaconia, NH: 4.6% yield, 0.7% employment growthKennewick, WA: 4.6% yield, 1.1% employment growthSioux Falls, SD: 4.6% yield, 0.3% employment growthBismarck, ND: 4.6% yield, 0.3% employment growthGettysburg, PA: 4.6% yield, 0.6% employment growthPort Angeles, WA: 4.6% yield, 0.3% employment growthParis, TN: 4.6% yield, 0.2% employment growthBoise City, ID: 4.5% yield, 1.0% employment growthLawrence, KS: 4.5% yield, 0.2% employment growthHilton Head Island, SC: 4.5% yield, 1.7% employment growthUkiah, CA: 4.4% yield, 0.4% employment growthGardnerville Ranchos, NV: 4.4% yield, 4.7% employment growthJefferson City, MO: 4.4% yield, 0.7% employment growthCarson City, NV: 4.4% yield, 1.0% employment growthSt. George, UT: 4.4% yield, 2.1% employment growthSpokane, WA: 4.4% yield, 0.1% employment growthMount Vernon, WA: 4.4% yield, 0.5% employment growthCedar City, UT: 4.3% yield, 1.8% employment growthSalem, OR: 4.3% yield, 1.4% employment growthKahului, HI: 4.3% yield, 1.2% employment growthEllensburg, WA: 4.3% yield, 0.8% employment growthWarrensburg, MO: 4.3% yield, 0.6% employment growthUrban Honolulu, HI: 4.3% yield, 0.1% employment growthGreeley, CO: 4.2% yield, 1.6% employment growthBarnstable Town, MA: 4.2% yield, 2.5% employment growthReno, NV: 4.2% yield, 1.9% employment growthFort Collins, CO: 4.2% yield, 0.3% employment growthRolla, MO: 4.1% yield, 1.9% employment growthSanta Fe, NM: 4.1% yield, 0.4% employment growthWenatchee, WA: 4.1% yield, 0.2% employment growthLa Crosse, WI: 4.1% yield, 0.2% employment growthSalinas, CA: 4.1% yield, 1.4% employment growthProvo, UT: 4.0% yield, 1.4% employment growthWatertown, SD: 4.0% yield, 0.1% employment growthSanta Rosa, CA: 4.0% yield, 0.5% employment growthGreen Bay, WI: 4.0% yield, 0.4% employment growthSanta Maria, CA: 4.0% yield, 0.3% employment growthBrookings, SD: 4.0% yield, 1.6% employment growthBeaver Dam, WI: 3.9% yield, 0.1% employment growthLongview, WA: 3.9% yield, 0.1% employment growthCentralia, WA: 3.9% yield, 1.2% employment growthNapa, CA: 3.8% yield, 0.7% employment growthSan Diego, CA: 3.8% yield, 0.3% employment growthOak Harbor, WA: 3.8% yield, 0.8% employment growthSpearfish, SD: 3.8% yield, 0.1% employment growthSanta Cruz, CA: 3.7% yield, 0.7% employment growthLogan, UT: 3.7% yield, 0.7% employment growthCoeur d'Alene, ID: 3.6% yield, 0.9% employment growthSandpoint, ID: 3.6% yield, 0.6% employment growthAstoria, OR: 3.6% yield, 0.8% employment growthHeber, UT: 3.6% yield, 0.7% employment growthKalispell, MT: 3.6% yield, 1.0% employment growthDurango, CO: 3.5% yield, 0.1% employment growthSan Francisco, CA: 3.5% yield, 0.1% employment growthSalt Lake City, UT: 3.5% yield, 1.3% employment growthStephenville, TX: 3.3% yield, 4.4% employment growthSan Jose, CA: 2.8% yield, 1.4% employment growthKingsville · 11.5%Abilene · 10.6%Opelousas · 10.2%Ozark · 10.1%Year-over-year employment change →Gross yield →
Metro medians and source periods are retained in the table and downloadable rows; this is a screen, not a property return forecast.
Decision table

The first 24 rows, with a path to the underlying market

360 total rows Download all rows
Highest gross yields among metros with positive year-over-year employment
RankMetroGross yieldJobs YoYHome valueRentNext step
1Kingsville, TXLAUS11.5%1.4%$149k$1,426Stress-test
2Abilene, TXCES10.6%0.8%$220k$1,935Stress-test
3Opelousas, LALAUS10.2%1.8%$133k$1,129Stress-test
4Ozark, ALLAUS10.1%0.2%$165k$1,383Stress-test
5Ogdensburg, NYLAUS9.3%0.1%$151k$1,173Stress-test
6Plainview, TXLAUS9.3%0.2%$122k$947Stress-test
7Clewiston, FLLAUS9.2%2.3%$275k$2,108Stress-test
8Monroe, LACES9.1%1.1%$168k$1,271Stress-test
9Paducah, KYCES9.0%0.6%$170k$1,273Stress-test
10Enterprise, ALLAUS9.0%1.1%$188k$1,400Stress-test
11Pottsville, PALAUS9.0%0.1%$170k$1,267Stress-test
12Somerset, KYLAUS8.9%1.5%$184k$1,360Stress-test
13Corning, NYLAUS8.8%0.0%$174k$1,277Stress-test
14Shreveport, LACES8.8%0.0%$186k$1,358Stress-test
15Borger, TXLAUS8.7%4.0%$126k$913Stress-test
16Laurel, MSLAUS8.7%0.8%$156k$1,133Stress-test
17Sumter, SCCES8.6%0.3%$209k$1,504Stress-test
18DuBois, PALAUS8.5%0.0%$145k$1,029Stress-test
19Oneonta, NYLAUS8.4%1.0%$221k$1,549Stress-test
20Sandusky, OHCES8.4%2.1%$243k$1,689Stress-test
21Burlington, IALAUS8.3%1.4%$146k$1,013Stress-test
22Kinston, NCLAUS8.3%0.3%$158k$1,095Stress-test
23DeRidder, LALAUS8.3%0.6%$187k$1,298Stress-test
24Clarksburg, WVLAUS8.3%0.1%$161k$1,113Stress-test

The visible table is intentionally limited for reading. The CSV contains every row that passes the printed inclusion rule.

Reproduce the screen

Inclusion first, interpretation second.

Start with every RentMarker metro that has direct Zillow ZHVI, Zillow ZORI, population and a named BLS employment series. Publish only rows whose year-over-year employment change is greater than zero; rank the surviving rows by gross yield, highest first.

Methodology version: v2

Method

  1. Gross yield is monthly Zillow ZORI multiplied by 12 and divided by Zillow ZHVI.
  2. The employment screen uses the metro's current named BLS series: CES where available, otherwise LAUS.
  3. No score, appreciation forecast, expense estimate or property-level assumption enters the ranking.

Counter-signals

  • Positive employment does not show whether growth is broad-based, durable or sufficient to absorb new supply.
  • Gross yield is before taxes, insurance, vacancy, maintenance, management and financing.
  • A small positive employment change clears the rule but should not be read as a strong labor-market call.

Limitations

  • ZORI and ZHVI describe metro-level typical asking rent and home value, not a specific property's rent or acquisition price.
  • CES and LAUS measure different labor concepts; the source used for each metro is retained in the download.
  • Release periods differ across sources, so the study is a current joined screen rather than a synchronized economic experiment.
Move from market to deal

Use the study to narrow the question—not to skip underwriting.

Open a market for its supply, affordability, migration and risk context. Compare a deliberate substitute, then bring a real property price, rent and expenses into the stress test.

Stress-test a dealOpen curated comparisons
Source vintages

Every input release used by this study

Release and retrieval dates stay visible so a reader can tell whether two measures describe the same moment.

acs populationCensus ACS 5-year — populationACS 2024 5-year · retrieved 2026-07-26bls cesBLS CES — payroll employmentCES SM current · retrieved 2026-07-26bls lausBLS LAUS — resident employmentLAUS current · retrieved 2026-07-26cbsa delineationOMB/BLS delineation — metro geographyOMB July 2023 delineation · retrieved 2026-07-30zillow zhviZillow ZHVI — metro home valuesMetro_zhvi_uc_sfrcondo_tier_0.33_0.67_sm_sa_month.csv · retrieved 2026-07-26zillow zoriZillow ZORI — metro market rentsMetro_zori_uc_sfrcondomfr_sm_sa_month.csv · retrieved 2026-07-26