Real Estate Investing in Kankakee, Illinois (60901)

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

Kankakee County • Population: 33,224 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 60901 (Kankakee, IL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (72/100)

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

📈 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
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 15.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Kankakee, IL (60901)?

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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 $165,209
Avg Monthly Rent $1,249
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $52,915
% Renters 40.2%

Market Analysis: 60901 Kankakee

This part of Kankakee County is not an easy win. The 60901 ZIP posts softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Rent of $1,249/mo on a $165K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 60901 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

On the rental side, 60901 offers a low basis, the region around Kankakee has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

The 60901 ZIP's population of 33,224 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that stands at the need for careful underwriting.

Strategy in 60901 is an operator game, not a passive one. In practical terms, entry prices of $165K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 Kankakee:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 79/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,249/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This area shows favorable conditions for homebuyers. Solid fundamentals with reasonable affordability.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Kankakee, IL Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
11.3%
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 Kankakee, IL metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 60901

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
7.4% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+9.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$47,502/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $121,077 $1,240 7.4% +9.7% $60,538
3BR $180,089 $1,630 6.5% +8.9% $60,030
4BR $212,651 $1,660 5.6% +8.6% $53,163
5BR $237,510 +8.0% $47,502

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$174K$153K$132K$111K$90K$69KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,294$1,246$1,198$1,150$1,102$1,054Sep 2024Aug 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 60901 Compare?

Metric 60901 Kankakee Kankakee, IL Illinois
Home Value $165,209 $159,924 N/A $279,761
5-Year CAGR 7.2% 7.2% N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $1,249 $1,137 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.9% 5.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 60901? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 40% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 60901 (Kankakee, IL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.9%
Fair
5yr Growth
+7.2%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Kankakee, IL metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
45%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $165,209
Monthly Rent $1,249
Price-to-Rent 11.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 9.1%
Cap Rate 5.9%
5-Year IRR 13.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +8.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.9%). 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
15.2%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.2%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 60901

Population: 33,224

💰 Median Household Income
$52,915
This area
$52,915
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
40.2%
This area
40.2%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.8%
This area
3.8%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
15.9%
This area
15.9%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.8 years
This area
37.8 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.2%
This area
15.2%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 58.4%
Black/African American 31.0%
Other/Mixed 9.8%
Hispanic/Latino 7.8%
Asian 0.7%
👶 Under 18
24.1%
This area
24.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.4%
This area
16.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
15.6%
This area
15.6%
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 60901

B+ Avg School Grade
14 Schools
18.5:1 Avg Class Size
$19,791 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Taft Primary School

📚 K – 03 Elementary
👥
301 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$20,159 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Steuben Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 03 Elementary
👥
214 Students
👨‍🏫
14.8:1 Class Size
💰
$20,159 Per Student
A Very Good

Kankakee Junior High School

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
502 Students
👨‍🏫
16.3:1 Class Size
💰
$20,159 Per Student
A Very Good

King Middle Grade School

📚 03 – 06 School
👥
351 Students
👨‍🏫
17.2:1 Class Size
💰
$20,159 Per Student
A Very Good

Lincoln Cltrl Ctr-Montessori Elem

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
445 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$20,159 Per Student
A Very Good

Edison Primary School

📚 K – 03 Elementary
👥
205 Students
👨‍🏫
16.3:1 Class Size
💰
$20,159 Per Student
A Very Good

Mark Twain Primary School

📚 Pre-K – 03 Elementary
👥
212 Students
👨‍🏫
17.8:1 Class Size
💰
$20,159 Per Student
A Very Good

Limestone Middle Sch

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
465 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,739 Per Student
A Very Good

John Kennedy Middle Grade School

📚 02 – 06 School
👥
515 Students
👨‍🏫
22.0:1 Class Size
💰
$20,159 Per Student
A Very Good

Kankakee High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,447 Students
👨‍🏫
17.2:1 Class Size
💰
$20,159 Per Student
C+ Average

Proegler School

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
463 Students
👨‍🏫
38.6:1 Class Size
💰
$20,159 Per Student
C+ Average

Avis Huff Student Support Service

📚 K – 12 K-12 Limited Data
💰
$20,159 Per Student
C Below Average

I Kan Regional Alternatve Att Ctr

📚 06 – 12 High School Limited Data
C Below Average

Salt School

📚 09 – 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

2 Nearby 605 Off-Campus Students
C
Kankakee Community College
2,404 students · 2.7 mi
C
Olivet Nazarene University
3,275 students · 3.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 605 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are home prices like in Kankakee, IL?

Median home price in Kankakee, IL is near $165K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been consistent and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Kankakee, IL?

IL ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Kankakee generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

What kind of tenants rent in Kankakee, IL?

Tenant quality in Kankakee, IL ranks as solid. Landlords generally report even-keeled occupancy at market rents of $1,249/mo.

What do landlords charge for rent in Kankakee, IL?

Rent in Kankakee, IL is around $1,249/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $165K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in Kankakee, IL?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Kankakee, IL reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

You know 60901 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 60901 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 60901 ranks in Kankakee, IL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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