Real Estate Investing in Elgin, Illinois (60120)

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

Cook County • Population: 50,774 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 60120 (Elgin, IL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GREAT FIT
Grade A (85/100)

Strong fundamentals — affordable, appreciating, and stable. A confident pick for primary residence.

📈 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 Elgin, IL (60120)?

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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 $307,100
Avg Monthly Rent $1,624
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $78,360
% Renters 34.6%

Market Analysis: 60120 Elgin

Investors eyeing 60120 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $307K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

The investment case in 60120 is solid only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $307K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Within IL, ZIP 60120 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Cook County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and substantial enough to shape underwriting.

Employment concentration in 60120 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

New investors are better served looking at Elgin's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 60120. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Elgin:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 77/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
14/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,624/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 60120

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
5.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+10.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$70,658/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $178,221 $1,460 5.9% +10.5% $178,221
2BR $244,122 $1,640 4.8% +9.8% $122,061
3BR $298,893 $2,110 5.1% +8.1% $99,631
4BR $344,095 $2,440 5.1% +8.0% $86,024
5BR $353,291 +8.0% $70,658

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$324K$275K$227K$179K$130K$82KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,691$1,633$1,576$1,518$1,460$1,403Apr 2023Dec 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 60120 Compare?

Metric 60120 Elgin Illinois
Home Value $307,100 $378,768 $279,761
5-Year CAGR 7.2% 7.0% 6.6%
Avg Rent $1,624 $1,855 -
Cap Rate 4.1% 3.9% -
💡 Why Invest in 60120? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 60120 (Elgin, 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
4.1%
Fair
5yr Growth
+7.2%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $307,100
Monthly Rent $1,624
Price-to-Rent 15.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.3%
Cap Rate 4.1%
5-Year IRR 11.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -1.7% ▼
3-Year CAGR +3.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.1%). 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
3.4%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.2%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 60120

Population: 50,774

💰 Median Household Income
$78,360
This area
$78,360
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
34.6%
This area
34.6%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.0%
This area
5.0%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
20.5%
This area
20.5%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
32.8 years
This area
32.8 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.4%
This area
3.4%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Other/Mixed 45.9%
White 44.6%
Hispanic/Latino 40.5%
Asian 5.0%
Black/African American 4.5%
👶 Under 18
27.9%
This area
27.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
9.4%
This area
9.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
10.4%
This area
10.4%
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 60120

B+ Avg School Grade
16 Schools
16.4:1 Avg Class Size
$20,015 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Ellis Middle School

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
505 Students
👨‍🏫
12.1:1 Class Size
💰
$20,015 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Larsen Middle School

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
546 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$20,015 Per Student
A Very Good

Channing Memorial Elem School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
521 Students
👨‍🏫
16.0:1 Class Size
💰
$20,015 Per Student
A Very Good

Coleman Elem School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
655 Students
👨‍🏫
17.2:1 Class Size
💰
$20,015 Per Student
A Very Good

McKinley Elem School

📚 K – 06 School
👥
402 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$20,015 Per Student
A Very Good

Ronald D O Neal

📚 K – 06 School
👥
447 Students
👨‍🏫
16.2:1 Class Size
💰
$20,015 Per Student
A Very Good

Hilltop Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
498 Students
👨‍🏫
18.1:1 Class Size
💰
$20,015 Per Student
A Very Good

Huff Elem School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
595 Students
👨‍🏫
19.9:1 Class Size
💰
$20,015 Per Student
A Very Good

Lords Park Elem School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
679 Students
👨‍🏫
18.6:1 Class Size
💰
$20,015 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Elgin High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
2,724 Students
👨‍🏫
16.8:1 Class Size
💰
$20,015 Per Student
B Good

Elgin Math and Science Acad Chtr

📚 K – 08 School Charter
👥
463 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
C+ Average

Central School Program

📚 07 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$20,015 Per Student
C+ Average

Dream Academy

📚 07 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$20,015 Per Student
C+ Average

Phoenix

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$20,015 Per Student
C Below Average

DREAM Academy

📚 07 – 12 High School Limited Data
C Below Average

New Beginnings Regnl Safe Sch Pgm

📚 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 4,404 Off-Campus Students
C
Ambria College of Nursing
195 students · 3.2 mi
C
Judson University
1,058 students · 3.4 mi
C+
Elgin Community College
9,614 students · 4.5 mi
C
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Elgin
154 students · 5.4 mi
C
G Skin & Beauty Institute
494 students · 8.2 mi
C+
William Rainey Harper College
13,069 students · 9.1 mi
C
Pivot Point Academy
113 students · 9.8 mi
C
Chamberlain University-Illinois
28,897 students · 11.7 mi

Investor Insight: With 4,404 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is rent in Elgin, IL?

Elgin, IL rentals go for roughly $1,624/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $307K acquisition costs.

How quickly do rentals get leased in Elgin, IL?

Elgin, IL carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect stable absorption at market rents of $1,624/mo.

How does Elgin, IL rate as a rental market?

Elgin, IL scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $307K and rents near $1,624/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

What is the median home value in Elgin, IL?

Expect median prices around $307K in Elgin, IL. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been steady.

How strong is tenant demand in Elgin, IL?

Elgin, IL draws a stable base of working renters. Demand at the $1,624/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

You know 60120 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 60120 ranks in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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