Real Estate Investing in Freeport, Illinois (61032)

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

Stephenson County • Population: 29,072 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 61032 (Freeport, IL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GREAT FIT
Grade A (86/100)

Strong fundamentals — affordable, appreciating, and stable. A confident pick for primary residence.

📈 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
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.6% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Freeport, IL (61032)?

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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 $129,770
Avg Monthly Rent $970
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $49,346
% Renters 37.3%

Market Analysis: 61032 Freeport

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Freeport's 61032 ZIP comes in at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $130K pricing implies.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $130K asset, 61032 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Regionally, 61032 sits on the difficult end of the IL spectrum. The a solid fit for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Resident income in 61032 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

looks to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Freeport:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 79/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+10.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $970/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
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
🏠

Property Strategy for 61032

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
6.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+10.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$49,079/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $106,053 $920 6.2% +10.3% $53,026
3BR $160,121 $1,130 5.1% +9.9% $53,374
4BR $206,361 $1,350 4.7% +9.3% $51,590
5BR $245,394 $49,079

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$137K$118K$99K$80K$62K$43KJun 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,042$986$929$872$816$759Aug 2025Feb 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 61032 Compare?

Metric 61032 Freeport Freeport, IL Illinois
Home Value $129,770 $129,770 N/A $279,761
5-Year CAGR 7.8% 7.8% N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $970 $970 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.8% 5.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 61032? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 37% 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 61032 (Freeport, IL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.8%
Fair
5yr Growth
+7.8%
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 $129,770
Monthly Rent $970
Price-to-Rent 11.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 9.0%
Cap Rate 5.8%
5-Year IRR 13.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +10.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +8.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
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
8.6%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.8%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 61032

Population: 29,072

💰 Median Household Income
$49,346
This area
$49,346
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
37.3%
This area
37.3%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.7%
This area
3.7%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
19.0%
This area
19.0%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
45.6 years
This area
45.6 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.6%
This area
8.6%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 76.9%
Black/African American 12.5%
Other/Mixed 9.3%
Hispanic/Latino 2.8%
Asian 1.3%
👶 Under 18
19.9%
This area
19.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
23.9%
This area
23.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
12.9%
This area
12.9%
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

🎓 Schools in 61032

B+ Avg School Grade
11 Schools
13.0:1 Avg Class Size
$21,914 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Blackhawk Elem School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
280 Students
👨‍🏫
12.0:1 Class Size
💰
$21,914 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Center Elem School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
223 Students
👨‍🏫
10.1:1 Class Size
💰
$21,914 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Carl Sandburg Middle Sch

📚 05 – 06 School
👥
437 Students
👨‍🏫
12.9:1 Class Size
💰
$21,914 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Freeport Middle School

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
479 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$21,914 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Jones-Farrar Intl Baccalaureate

📚 K – 06 School
👥
337 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$21,914 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Lincoln-Douglas Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
320 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$21,914 Per Student
A Very Good

Empire Elem School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
407 Students
👨‍🏫
17.7:1 Class Size
💰
$21,914 Per Student
A Very Good

Freeport High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,155 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$21,914 Per Student
C Below Average

Career & Tech Educ Consortium

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
C Below Average

Freeport Alternative High Sch

📚 06 – 12 High School Limited Data
C Below Average

RAP Freeport

📚 06 – 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

1 Nearby 347 Off-Campus Students
C+
Highland Community College
1,369 students · 2.9 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Freeport in IL worth investing in?

Freeport, IL rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $130K and rents near $970/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Freeport, IL?

Expect elevated vacancy in Freeport, IL. Rents at $970/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

How much rent can I charge in Freeport, IL?

Rental rates in Freeport, IL average $970/mo. Tenant demand and $130K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

Does house hacking work in Freeport, IL?

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

Are landlord laws favorable in Freeport, IL?

For rental operators, Freeport, IL rates as landlord-friendly. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

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How 61032 ranks in Freeport, IL

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Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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