Real Estate Investing in Des Plaines, Illinois (60018)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Cook County • Population: 29,302 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 60018 (Des Plaines, IL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (72/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

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

⚠️ Risks to Know
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Des Plaines, IL (60018)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $399,207
Avg Monthly Rent $2,252
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $75,528
% Renters 27.4%

Market Analysis: 60018 Des Plaines

Meanwhile, ZIP 60018 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $399K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Rent of $2,252/mo on a $399K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 60018 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Within IL, ZIP 60018 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Cook County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and healthy enough to shape underwriting.

Resident income in 60018 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

seems to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Des Plaines:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 5.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+10.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,252/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
🏠

Property Strategy for 60018

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
6.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+8.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$111,575/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $145,939 $1,300 6.4% +7.7% $145,939
2BR $287,469 $1,460 3.7% +8.0% $143,735
3BR $360,428 $1,880 3.8% +7.1% $120,143
4BR $446,299 $2,170 3.5% +6.5% $111,575
5BR $579,683 +6.5% $115,937

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$418K$364K$310K$256K$202K$148KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,284$2,192$2,100$2,009$1,917$1,825Jun 2025Jan 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 60018 Compare?

Metric 60018 Des Plaines Illinois
Home Value $399,207 $370,645 $279,761
5-Year CAGR 6.5% 6.5% 6.6%
Avg Rent $2,252 $2,161 -
Cap Rate 4.4% 4.6% -
💡 Why Invest in 60018? 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 60018 (Des Plaines, IL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Cook County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

American Property Management of Illinois, Inc. (Associa) provides comprehensive HOA and condominium management services in Chicago and surrounding areas. summary from their website

HOA
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Blackhawk Realty Management, LLC provides professional property management and real estate services for its multifamily apartment portfolio, founded in 2004. summary from their website

Small multifamily
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Buckingham Property Management, Inc. offers apartment rentals and management services. summary from their website

Small multifamily
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.4%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.5%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $399,207
Monthly Rent $2,252
Price-to-Rent 14.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.8%
Cap Rate 4.4%
5-Year IRR 10.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +10.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.4%). 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
5.0%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.5%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 60018

Population: 29,302

💰 Median Household Income
$75,528
This area
$75,528
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
27.4%
This area
27.4%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.9%
This area
2.9%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
25.7%
This area
25.7%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.1 years
This area
41.1 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.0%
This area
5.0%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 61.9%
Other/Mixed 26.2%
Hispanic/Latino 22.3%
Asian 9.8%
Black/African American 2.1%
👶 Under 18
22.3%
This area
22.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.1%
This area
16.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.5%
This area
9.5%
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 60018

B+ Avg School Grade
12 Schools
10.7:1 Avg Class Size
$29,593 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Forest Elem School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
657 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$27,205 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Friendship Jr High School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
616 Students
👨‍🏫
11.1:1 Class Size
💰
$27,394 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Devonshire School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
299 Students
👨‍🏫
10.5:1 Class Size
💰
$27,394 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Orchard Place Elem School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
253 Students
👨‍🏫
7.6:1 Class Size
💰
$27,205 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Plainfield Elem School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
285 Students
👨‍🏫
10.0:1 Class Size
💰
$27,205 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Rosemont Elem School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
210 Students
👨‍🏫
7.8:1 Class Size
💰
$39,301 Per Student
A+ Excellent

South Elem School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
233 Students
👨‍🏫
9.9:1 Class Size
💰
$27,205 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Iroquois Community School

📚 K – 08 School
👥
423 Students
👨‍🏫
12.1:1 Class Size
💰
$27,205 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Maine West High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,886 Students
👨‍🏫
15.6:1 Class Size
💰
$36,226 Per Student
C Below Average

NCISC ALOP

📚 06 – 12 High School Limited Data
C Below Average

North Cook Student Advocacy ALOP

📚 06 – 12 High School Limited Data
C Below Average

North Cook Young Adult Academy

📚 06 – 12 High School Limited Data
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.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

8 Nearby 5,491 Off-Campus Students
C
Illinois Media School
36 students · 3.1 mi
F
Americare Technical School
28 students · 3.2 mi
C
Oakton College
7,032 students · 4.6 mi
C
Cosmetology Concepts Niles
55 students · 4.8 mi
C+
Rosel School of Cosmetology
14 students · 4.8 mi
D
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Chicago NW
206 students · 4.9 mi
C
City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright College
7,789 students · 6.2 mi
C
Triton College
9,262 students · 6.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 5,491 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Des Plaines, IL a good place for real estate investing?

Des Plaines, IL records an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $399K and average rents around $2,252/mo. That combination puts it in the solid tier for investor interest.

What price range are homes in Des Plaines, IL?

The median home value in Des Plaines, IL is roughly $399K. That puts it reasonable relative to the IL statewide average.

Are rents high in Des Plaines, IL?

Des Plaines, IL rentals go for roughly $2,252/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $399K acquisition costs.

Is vacancy a concern in Des Plaines, IL?

Rental vacancy in Des Plaines, IL is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

Are landlord laws favorable in Des Plaines, IL?

Rental owners in Des Plaines, IL deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

You know 60018 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 60018 ranks in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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