Real Estate Investing in Rock City, Illinois (61070)

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

Stephenson County • Population: 1,325 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 61070 (Rock City, IL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (73/100)

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
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 14.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.

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

What’s happening in Rock City, IL (61070)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $227,503
Avg Monthly Rent $1,134
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $86,429
% Renters 6.0%

Market Analysis: 61070 Rock City

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Rock City's 61070 ZIP sits at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $228K pricing implies.

The 61070 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

ZIP 61070's metrics run below Stephenson County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

The demographic picture in 61070 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Rock City averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

Strategy in 61070 is an operator game, not a passive one. Turning to rents, entry prices of $228K 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 Rock City:

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 2.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+12.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,134/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
Freeport, IL Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
11.5%
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 Freeport, IL metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$234K$215K$195K$175K$156K$136KFeb 2021Nov 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 61070 Compare?

Metric 61070 Rock City Freeport, IL Illinois
Home Value $227,503 $227,503 N/A $279,761
5-Year CAGR 8.7% 8.7% N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $1,134 $1,134 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.9% 3.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 61070? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 61070 (Rock City, IL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+8.7%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Freeport, IL metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
54%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $227,503
Monthly Rent $1,134
Price-to-Rent 16.7:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.0%
Cap Rate 3.9%
5-Year IRR 12.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +12.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +8.7% ▲
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: 3.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.9%). 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.

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⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
14.2%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+8.7%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 61070

Population: 1,325

💰 Median Household Income
$86,429
This area
$86,429
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
6.0%
This area
6.0%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.0%
This area
2.0%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
28.2%
This area
28.2%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
52.7 years
This area
52.7 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
14.2%
This area
14.2%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.2%
Other/Mixed 4.4%
Hispanic/Latino 3.3%
Asian 0.4%
👶 Under 18
18.7%
This area
18.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
29.3%
This area
29.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.9%
This area
5.9%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

1 Nearby 347 Off-Campus Students
C+
Highland Community College
1,369 students · 13.8 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How should investors approach Rock City, IL?

In Rock City, IL the durable play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $228K prices and $1,134/mo rents suits that approach.

Where do home prices stand in Rock City, IL?

Rock City, IL median home values land near $228K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,134/mo-per-month rentals.

What kind of market is Rock City, IL for investors?

Our data puts Rock City, IL at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $228K and rents around $1,134/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

Is Rock City, IL landlord-friendly?

IL law landlord-friendly for landlords, and Rock City inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

Are there empty rentals in Rock City, IL?

Vacancy in Rock City, IL is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $1,134/mo.

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How 61070 ranks in Freeport, IL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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