Real Estate Investing in Machesney Park, Illinois (61115)

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

Winnebago County • Population: 22,424 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 61115 (Machesney Park, IL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GREAT FIT
Grade A (91/100)

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

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

Rare combination of both appreciation and cash flow. These markets don't last long — worth serious consideration.

⚠️ Risks to Know
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Machesney Park, IL (61115)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $211,232
Avg Monthly Rent $1,469
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $70,500
% Renters 19.7%

Market Analysis: 61115 Machesney Park

ZIP 61115 inside Winnebago County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $211K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

The investment case in 61115 is durable only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $211K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Put differently, 61115 offers a low basis, the region around Machesney Park has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

Demographically, 61115 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

appears 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 Machesney Park:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 81/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+12.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,469/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This area shows favorable conditions for homebuyers. Solid fundamentals with reasonable affordability.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Rockford, IL Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
19 days
Average time to sell
Fast
11.2%
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 Rockford, IL metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 61115

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
7.6% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+10.9% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$64,156/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $128,313 $1,350 7.6% +10.9% $64,156
3BR $201,037 $1,790 6.4% +10.2% $67,012
4BR $269,775 $1,830 4.9% +9.9% $67,444

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$222K$191K$161K$130K$100K$69KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,489$1,446$1,404$1,361$1,319$1,277Aug 2025Jan 2026Jun 2026

📊 How Does 61115 Compare?

Metric 61115 Machesney Park Rockford, IL Illinois
Home Value $211,232 $211,232 N/A $279,761
5-Year CAGR 9.1% 9.1% N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $1,469 $1,469 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.4% 5.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 61115? Click to expand

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

📊 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 61115 (Machesney Park, IL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.4%
Fair
5yr Growth
+9.1%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Rockford, IL metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
32%
Days Pending
0/2
19 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $211,232
Monthly Rent $1,469
Price-to-Rent 12.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.4%
Cap Rate 5.4%
5-Year IRR 14.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +12.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +9.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +9.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +8.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.4%). 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
6.2%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+9.1%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 61115

Population: 22,424

💰 Median Household Income
$70,500
This area
$70,500
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
19.7%
This area
19.7%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.1%
This area
4.1%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
16.9%
This area
16.9%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.5 years
This area
40.5 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.2%
This area
6.2%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 86.2%
Other/Mixed 7.5%
Hispanic/Latino 4.3%
Black/African American 3.9%
Asian 2.2%
👶 Under 18
21.7%
This area
21.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.5%
This area
16.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.0%
This area
6.0%
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 61115

B Avg School Grade
9 Schools
14.9:1 Avg Class Size
$20,135 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Donald C Parker Early Educ Center

📚 Pre-K – K Elementary
👥
562 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$20,135 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Machesney Elem School

📚 01 – 06 School
👥
307 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$20,135 Per Student
A Very Good

Olson Park Elem School

📚 01 – 06 School
👥
356 Students
👨‍🏫
16.8:1 Class Size
💰
$20,135 Per Student
A Very Good

Marquette Elem School

📚 01 – 03 Elementary
👥
266 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$20,135 Per Student
A Very Good

Ralston Elem School

📚 01 – 06 School
👥
294 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$20,135 Per Student
A Very Good

Harlem High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,947 Students
👨‍🏫
14.1:1 Class Size
💰
$20,135 Per Student
C Below Average

Summit Academy ALOP

📚 09 – 12 High School Limited Data
C Below Average

Summit Academy RSSP

📚 06 – 12 High School Limited Data
C Below Average

Summit Academy TAOEP

📚 06 – 12 High School Limited Data

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Harlem Middle School

📚 07 – 08 Middle
📍 735 Windsor Rd, Loves Park
👥
951 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
💰
$20,135 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Loves Park Elem School

📚 01 – 06 School
📍 344 Grand Ave, Loves Park
👥
369 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$20,135 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Rock Cut Elem School

📚 01 – 06 School
📍 7944 Forest Hills Rd, Loves Park
👥
419 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$20,135 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Windsor Elem School

📚 01 – 06 School
📍 935 Windsor Rd, Loves Park
👥
373 Students
👨‍🏫
13.0:1 Class Size
💰
$20,135 Per Student
A Very Good

Maple Elem School

📚 01 – 06 School
📍 1405 Maple Ave, Loves Park
👥
410 Students
👨‍🏫
16.9:1 Class Size
💰
$20,135 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 3,649 Off-Campus Students
D
Saint Anthony College of Nursing
228 students · 4.1 mi
C
Rock Valley College
5,480 students · 4.4 mi
C
Rockford University
1,249 students · 6.4 mi
C
Rasmussen University-Illinois
1,332 students · 6.8 mi
D
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Rockford
173 students · 7.0 mi
C
Educators of Beauty College of Cosmetology-Rockford
101 students · 7.0 mi
D
Stautzenberger College-Rockford Career College
733 students · 7.4 mi
C
First Class Cosmetology School
104 students · 9.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,649 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Machesney Park in IL worth investing in?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Machesney Park, IL ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $211K and rents of $1,469/mo drive the underlying numbers.

Is IL a landlord-friendly state?

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

Are rents high in Machesney Park, IL?

The typical rental in Machesney Park, IL commands about $1,469/mo monthly. That rent profile measured cash flow against the $211K purchase basis.

Are there empty rentals in Machesney Park, IL?

Rental vacancy in Machesney Park, IL is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

Is it easy to find good tenants in Machesney Park, IL?

Machesney Park, IL draws a consistent base of working renters. Demand at the $1,469/mo rent level is reasonable for standard single-family and small multi rentals.

You know 61115 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 61115 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 61115 ranks in Rockford, IL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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