Real Estate Investing in Chicago, Illinois (60601)

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

Cook County • Population: 16,292 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 60601 (Chicago, IL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (54/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

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

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 14.6% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Flat appreciation: Values have barely moved over 5 years (1.2% CAGR).

What’s happening in Chicago, IL (60601)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $410,666
Avg Monthly Rent $3,044
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $121,294
% Renters 69.5%

Market Analysis: 60601 Chicago

ZIP 60601 in Chicago, IL carries a robust set of headwinds. Home values near $411K and rents of $3,044/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $411K asset, 60601 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Within IL, ZIP 60601 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Cook County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and notable enough to shape underwriting.

Employment concentration in 60601 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Strategically, 60601 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Chicago:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
14/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+16.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $3,044/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 60601

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
4.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
1BR
+0.2% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$294,335/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $353,610 $2,370 4.8% +0.2% $353,610
2BR $588,670 $2,670 3.3% -1.4% $294,335
3BR $1,375,352 $3,440 1.8% -1.3% $458,451

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$443K$415K$388K$360K$333K$305KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$3,123$2,895$2,666$2,437$2,209$1,980Jul 2016Jul 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 60601 Compare?

Metric 60601 Chicago Illinois
Home Value $410,666 $345,093 $279,761
5-Year CAGR 1.2% 2.6% 6.6%
Avg Rent $3,044 $2,056 -
Cap Rate 5.8% 5.1% -
💡 Why Invest in 60601? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

70% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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 60601 (Chicago, 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
5.8%
Fair
5yr Growth
+1.2%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $410,666
Monthly Rent $3,044
Price-to-Rent 11.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.9%
Cap Rate 5.8%
5-Year IRR 7.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +16.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +1.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR -0.5% ▼

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -0.9% ▼
3-Year CAGR +2.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.3% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.8%). 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
14.6%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+1.2%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 60601

Population: 16,292

💰 Median Household Income
$121,294
This area
$121,294
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
69.5%
This area
69.5%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.0%
This area
2.0%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
86.6%
This area
86.6%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
31.8 years
This area
31.8 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.6%
This area
14.6%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 57.1%
Asian 27.0%
Other/Mixed 9.4%
Black/African American 6.6%
Hispanic/Latino 5.5%
👶 Under 18
7.0%
This area
7.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
12.5%
This area
12.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
1.7%
This area
1.7%
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 60601

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Dunbar Vocational Career Acad HS

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 3000 S King Dr, Chicago
👥
397 Students
👨‍🏫
10.7:1 Class Size
💰
$25,599 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Newberry Elem Math & Science Acad

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 700 W Willow St, Chicago
👥
327 Students
👨‍🏫
10.6:1 Class Size
💰
$25,599 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Ogden Int High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 1250 W Erie St, Chicago
👥
512 Students
👨‍🏫
4.7:1 Class Size
💰
$25,599 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Otis Elem School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 525 N Armour St, Chicago
👥
365 Students
👨‍🏫
10.4:1 Class Size
💰
$25,599 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Pershing Elem Humanities Magnet

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
📍 3200 S Calumet Ave, Chicago
👥
396 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$25,599 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

8 Nearby 1,488 Off-Campus Students
C
Pacific College of Health and Science
279 students · 0.2 mi
C
Taylor Business Institute
172 students · 0.2 mi
D
Meadville Theological School of Lombard College
69 students · 0.2 mi
D
City Colleges of Chicago-District Office
0 students · 0.2 mi
C
City Colleges of Chicago-Harold Washington College
5,859 students · 0.2 mi
C
MDT College of Health Sciences
335 students · 0.3 mi
F
Generations College
317 students · 0.3 mi
C+
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
3,401 students · 0.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,488 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the typical home price in Chicago, IL?

In Chicago, IL the median home value sits at $411K. Against the broader IL market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

Is IL a landlord-friendly state?

Landlord-friendliness in Chicago, IL is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

Does house hacking make sense in Chicago, IL?

House hacking in Chicago, IL is reasonable to execute. Prices around $411K and rents of $3,044/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in Chicago, IL?

Occupancy in Chicago, IL runs steady with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $3,044/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

Are rents high in Chicago, IL?

Rents in Chicago, IL run near $3,044/mo. Compared with median home prices of $411K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

You know 60601 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 60601 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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