Real Estate Investing in Elwood, Illinois (60421)

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

Will County • Population: 3,786 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 60421 (Elwood, IL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (71/100)

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

📈 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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Elwood, IL (60421)?

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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 $326,984
Avg Monthly Rent $1,242
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $100,956
% Renters 10.2%

Market Analysis: 60421 Elwood

On the rental side, ZIP 60421 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $327K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

The 60421 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

The gap between 60421 and stronger Elwood ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Employment concentration in 60421 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 60421 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Elwood:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 72/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,242/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 60421

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
4.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+7.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$88,671/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
3BR $308,697 $1,780 4.2% +7.8% $102,899
4BR $354,683 $2,060 4.2% +7.0% $88,671

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$340K$301K$262K$223K$184K$145KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 60421 Compare?

Metric 60421 Elwood Illinois
Home Value $326,984 $326,984 $279,761
5-Year CAGR 5.8% 5.8% 6.6%
Avg Rent $1,242 $1,242 -
Cap Rate 3.0% 3.0% -
💡 Why Invest in 60421? 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 60421 (Elwood, IL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Will County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

HSR Property Services, LLC is a full-service property management firm in Tinley Park, IL, specializing in Condominium, Townhome & Single Family Homeowner Associations, Apartment Rentals, Affordable & summary from their website

HOASmall multifamilyCommercial
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free
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
3.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.8%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $326,984
Monthly Rent $1,242
Price-to-Rent 21.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.6%
Cap Rate 3.0%
5-Year IRR 8.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

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

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.0%). 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
6.5%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.8%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 60421

Population: 3,786

💰 Median Household Income
$100,956
This area
$100,956
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
10.2%
This area
10.2%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.3%
This area
1.3%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
17.2%
This area
17.2%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
44.7 years
This area
44.7 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.5%
This area
6.5%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 88.9%
Other/Mixed 6.7%
Hispanic/Latino 6.5%
Black/African American 3.7%
Asian 0.6%
👶 Under 18
13.9%
This area
13.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.0%
This area
17.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.7%
This area
4.7%
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 60421

C+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
9.1:1 Avg Class Size
$19,705 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Elwood C C School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
286 Students
👨‍🏫
9.1:1 Class Size
💰
$19,705 Per Student
C Below Average

SOWIC-Comm & Adaptv Bhrv-Elwood

📚 Grade M Elementary Limited Data
C Below Average

SOWIC-Early Childhood Channahon

📚 Grade M Elementary 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

6 Nearby 1,390 Off-Campus Students
C
Joliet Junior College
9,863 students · 7.9 mi
D
Larry's Barber College-Joliet
22 students · 8.0 mi
C+
Professional's Choice Hair Design Academy
58 students · 8.5 mi
C
University of St Francis
3,185 students · 8.6 mi
C
Capri Beauty College
84 students · 10.9 mi
C+
Lewis University
6,636 students · 13.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,390 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong is Elwood, IL for real estate investors?

Elwood, IL scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $327K and rents near $1,242/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

How landlord-friendly is Elwood, IL?

The landlord environment in Elwood, IL is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

Is Elwood, IL better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

For Elwood, IL, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

How deep is the rental pool in Elwood, IL?

The tenant pool in Elwood, IL is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $1,242/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Elwood, IL?

Elwood, IL vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

You know 60421 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 60421 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 60421 ranks in Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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