Real Estate Investing in Lake in the Hills, Illinois (60156)

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

McHenry County • Population: 28,853 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 60156 (Lake in the Hills, 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 Lake in the Hills, IL (60156)?

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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 $383,133
Avg Monthly Rent $2,183
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $110,988
% Renters 13.9%

Market Analysis: 60156 Lake in the Hills

On the rental side, ZIP 60156 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $383K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

On the rental side, the numbers look inviting — $383K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 60156 is substantial and deserves full respect.

ZIP 60156's metrics run below McHenry County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Employment concentration in 60156 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

leans 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 Lake in the Hills:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 81/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,183/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This area shows favorable conditions for homebuyers. Solid fundamentals with reasonable affordability.
🏠

Property Strategy for 60156

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
6.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+9.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$93,785/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $249,804 $2,100 6.1% +9.6% $124,902
3BR $348,475 $2,700 5.6% +9.3% $116,158
4BR $419,133 $3,130 5.4% +9.0% $104,783
5BR $468,926 +8.1% $93,785

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$402K$348K$294K$240K$186K$133KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,398$2,339$2,281$2,222$2,164$2,105Mar 2025Nov 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 60156 Compare?

Metric 60156 Lake in the Hills Illinois
Home Value $383,133 $383,133 $279,761
5-Year CAGR 7.9% 7.9% 6.6%
Avg Rent $2,183 $2,183 -
Cap Rate 4.4% 4.4% -
💡 Why Invest in 60156? 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 60156 (Lake in the Hills, IL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.4%
Fair
5yr Growth
+7.9%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $383,133
Monthly Rent $2,183
Price-to-Rent 14.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.8%
Cap Rate 4.4%
5-Year IRR 12.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -2.0% ▼
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
1.9%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.9%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 60156

Population: 28,853

💰 Median Household Income
$110,988
This area
$110,988
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
13.9%
This area
13.9%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.2%
This area
4.2%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
39.1%
This area
39.1%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
35.9 years
This area
35.9 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
1.9%
This area
1.9%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 78.6%
Other/Mixed 11.5%
Hispanic/Latino 9.3%
Asian 7.0%
Black/African American 2.9%
👶 Under 18
27.1%
This area
27.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
9.5%
This area
9.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
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 60156

A Avg School Grade
6 Schools
15.1:1 Avg Class Size
$17,949 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Chesak Elementary School

📚 K – 02 Elementary
👥
665 Students
👨‍🏫
13.3:1 Class Size
💰
$17,184 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Lincoln Prairie Elem School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
468 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$19,479 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Martin Elementary School

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
764 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$17,184 Per Student
A Very Good

Lake in the Hills Elem School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
495 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$19,479 Per Student
A Very Good

Marlowe Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
1,237 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$17,184 Per Student
B+ Above Average

District 158 Early Childhood Ctr

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
262 Students
👨‍🏫
21.8:1 Class Size
💰
$17,184 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Prairie Grove Junior High School

📚 05 – 08 School
📍 3225 IL Route 176, Crystal Lake
👥
345 Students
👨‍🏫
10.3:1 Class Size
💰
$23,118 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Algonquin Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
📍 520 Longwood Dr, Algonquin
👥
396 Students
👨‍🏫
9.7:1 Class Size
💰
$19,479 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Eastview Elem School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 540 Longwood Dr, Algonquin
👥
384 Students
👨‍🏫
10.9:1 Class Size
💰
$19,479 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Glacier Ridge Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 1120 Village Rd, Crystal Lake
👥
391 Students
👨‍🏫
10.8:1 Class Size
💰
$17,843 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Prairie Grove Elem School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
📍 3223 IL Route 176, Crystal Lake
👥
533 Students
👨‍🏫
12.3:1 Class Size
💰
$23,118 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.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

7 Nearby 5,762 Off-Campus Students
D
First Institute of Travel, Inc.
274 students · 2.0 mi
C
McHenry County College
9,051 students · 4.8 mi
C
Cosmetology & Spa Academy
377 students · 4.9 mi
C
Judson University
1,058 students · 9.4 mi
C
Ambria College of Nursing
195 students · 10.6 mi
C
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Elgin
154 students · 11.4 mi
C+
Elgin Community College
9,614 students · 12.0 mi

Investor Insight: With 5,762 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Lake in the Hills, IL make sense for an investment property?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Lake in the Hills, IL ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $383K and rents of $2,183/mo drive the underlying numbers.

What is the typical rental rate in Lake in the Hills, IL?

The typical rental in Lake in the Hills, IL commands about $2,183/mo monthly. That rent profile even-keeled cash flow against the $383K purchase basis.

How deep is the rental pool in Lake in the Hills, IL?

The tenant pool in Lake in the Hills, IL is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $2,183/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

Do rentals sit vacant long in Lake in the Hills, IL?

Rental vacancy in Lake in the Hills, IL is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

Is house hacking profitable in Lake in the Hills, IL?

House hacking works a challenging in Lake in the Hills, IL. Rents of $2,183/mo against $383K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

You know 60156 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 60156 ranks in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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