Real Estate Investing in Lee, Illinois (60553)

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

Lee County • Population: 681 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 60553 (Lee, IL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (63/100)

Mixed — values have been flat. OK for long-horizon buyers, less attractive if you may need to sell soon.

📈 For Investors
WEAK
2.0 / 5 (33/100)

Structural challenges here. The numbers may look cheap but operational risk is high. Only for experienced, hands-on investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Lee, IL (60553)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
2.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

0.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $287,530
Avg Monthly Rent $1,233
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $100,000
% Renters 15.3%

Market Analysis: 60553 Lee

The 60553 ZIP covers a section of Lee that demands careful diligence. Prices near $288K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 60553 sits at the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Statewide comparisons place 60553 among IL's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

A durable renter share of 15% in 60553 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. durable returns are possible in 60553, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Lee:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 73/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+12.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,233/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Dixon, IL Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
11.4%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Dixon, IL metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$293K$277K$262K$246K$230K$215KFeb 2022May 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 60553 Compare?

Metric 60553 Lee Dixon, IL Illinois
Home Value $287,530 $277,028 N/A $279,761
5-Year CAGR N/A 6.5% N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $1,233 $1,184 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.3% 3.3% - -
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 60553 (Lee, IL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 60553 (Lee, IL)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Fair
Cap Rate
3.3%
Low

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Dixon, IL metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
46%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $287,530
Monthly Rent $1,233
Price-to-Rent 19.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.2%
Cap Rate 3.3%
5-Year IRR 12.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +12.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +8.6% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.3%). 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)
N/A
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 60553

Population: 681

💰 Median Household Income
$100,000
This area
$100,000
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
15.3%
This area
15.3%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.1%
This area
2.1%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
29.9%
This area
29.9%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.3 years
This area
41.3 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 98.2%
Other/Mixed 1.0%
Black/African American 0.6%
Asian 0.3%
👶 Under 18
23.7%
This area
23.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
14.7%
This area
14.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.8%
This area
2.8%
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 60553

A Avg School Grade
1 Schools
5.1:1 Avg Class Size
$20,727 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Steward Elementary School

📚 K – 08 School
👥
56 Students
👨‍🏫
5.1:1 Class Size
💰
$20,727 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

1 Nearby 771 Off-Campus Students
C
Kishwaukee College
2,807 students · 11.0 mi

Investor Insight: With 771 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What price range are homes in Lee, IL?

Median home price in Lee, IL is near $288K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been even-keeled and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

What kind of tenants rent in Lee, IL?

Tenant quality in Lee, IL ranks as solid. Landlords generally report steady occupancy at market rents of $1,233/mo.

How strong are rents in Lee, IL?

The typical rental in Lee, IL commands about $1,233/mo monthly. That rent profile steady cash flow against the $288K purchase basis.

Should investors consider Lee, IL?

The 2.0/5 investability rating in Lee, IL reflects its $288K prices and $1,233/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within IL.

What type of investing works in Lee, IL?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Lee, IL best. The market produces even-keeled results for that approach at the $288K price point.

You know 60553 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 60553 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.

Compare Plans

How 60553 ranks in Dixon, IL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 60553 (Lee)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 60553 (Lee, IL).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.