Real Estate Investing in Rock Island, Illinois (61201)

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

Rock Island County • Population: 37,294 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 61201 (Rock Island, IL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (74/100)

Solid choice — stable market with a reasonable entry point and good rental backup if you ever need to move.

📈 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
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 10.3% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Rock Island, IL (61201)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $129,276
Avg Monthly Rent $911
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $55,613
% Renters 37.6%

Market Analysis: 61201 Rock Island

The 61201 ZIP in Rock Island, IL is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $129K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

The investment case in 61201 is robust only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $129K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Nearby ZIPs in Rock Island have seen price recovery that 61201 has not matched. Rock Island County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Resident income in 61201 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

The right play in 61201 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Island:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 79/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+4.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $911/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.
🏠

Property Strategy for 61201

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
9.3% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+5.6% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$39,555/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $70,643 $910 9.3% +1.9% $70,643
2BR $111,260 $1,120 7.2% +5.2% $55,630
3BR $151,646 $1,470 7.0% +5.6% $50,549
4BR $185,941 $1,780 6.9% +5.4% $46,485
5BR $197,775 +4.5% $39,555

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$133K$123K$112K$101K$91K$80KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,103$1,038$973$909$844$779Jun 2023Jan 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 61201 Compare?

Metric 61201 Rock Island Illinois
Home Value $129,276 $129,276 $279,761
5-Year CAGR 3.3% 3.3% 6.6%
Avg Rent $911 $911 -
Cap Rate 5.5% 5.5% -
💡 Why Invest in 61201? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 38% 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.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 61201 (Rock Island, IL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 61201 (Rock Island, IL)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.5%
Fair
5yr Growth
+3.3%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $129,276
Monthly Rent $911
Price-to-Rent 11.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.5%
Cap Rate 5.5%
5-Year IRR 8.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +4.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +3.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +3.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -6.3% ▼
3-Year CAGR +3.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.5%). 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
10.3%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+3.3%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 61201

Population: 37,294

💰 Median Household Income
$55,613
This area
$55,613
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
37.6%
This area
37.6%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.6%
This area
4.6%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
22.2%
This area
22.2%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
35.3 years
This area
35.3 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.3%
This area
10.3%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 68.0%
Black/African American 16.8%
Other/Mixed 10.8%
Hispanic/Latino 5.6%
Asian 4.4%
👶 Under 18
22.2%
This area
22.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.0%
This area
17.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
14.8%
This area
14.8%
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 61201

A Avg School Grade
13 Schools
16.7:1 Avg Class Size
$21,876 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Earl H Hanson Elem School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
228 Students
👨‍🏫
8.9:1 Class Size
💰
$21,876 Per Student
A+ Excellent

RICMS

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
438 Students
👨‍🏫
14.9:1 Class Size
💰
$21,876 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Rock Island Academy

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
508 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$21,876 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Frances Willard Elem School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
296 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 Class Size
💰
$21,876 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Longfellow Elem School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
250 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$21,876 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Ridgewood Elem School

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
👥
275 Students
👨‍🏫
12.7:1 Class Size
💰
$21,876 Per Student
A Very Good

Denkmann Elem School

📚 K – 06 School
👥
353 Students
👨‍🏫
16.1:1 Class Size
💰
$21,876 Per Student
A Very Good

Edison Jr High School

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
429 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$21,876 Per Student
A Very Good

Washington Jr High School

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
532 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$21,876 Per Student
A Very Good

Eugene Field Elem School

📚 K – 06 School
👥
460 Students
👨‍🏫
18.3:1 Class Size
💰
$21,876 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Rock Island High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,811 Students
👨‍🏫
17.8:1 Class Size
💰
$21,876 Per Student
B Good

Thurgood Marshall Learning Ctr

📚 06 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$21,876 Per Student
C+ Average

Horace Mann ELC

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
372 Students
👨‍🏫
41.3:1 Class Size
💰
$21,876 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 1,931 Off-Campus Students
C
Trinity College of Nursing & Health Sciences
76 students · 0.6 mi
C+
Augustana College
2,484 students · 2.1 mi
C+
Eastern Iowa Community College District
7,128 students · 3.1 mi
C
Palmer College of Chiropractic
2,219 students · 3.5 mi
C+
Saint Ambrose University
2,703 students · 4.3 mi
D
Ross College-Davenport
40 students · 5.5 mi
C
Orion Technical College
73 students · 6.2 mi
C
La James International College-Davenport
123 students · 6.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 1,931 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the investability score for Rock Island, IL?

Rock Island, IL posts an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $129K and average rents around $911/mo. That combination puts it in the solid tier for investor interest.

How deep is the rental pool in Rock Island, IL?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Rock Island, IL. The rental market absorbs $911/mo rents without meaningful friction.

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

Occupancy in Rock Island, IL runs reliable with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $911/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

Does house hacking make sense in Rock Island, IL?

House hacking in Rock Island, IL is reasonable to execute. Prices around $129K and rents of $911/mo solid owner-occupant economics.

What type of investing works in Rock Island, IL?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Rock Island, IL best. The market produces measured results for that approach at the $129K price point.

You know 61201 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 61201 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.

Compare Plans

How 61201 ranks in Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 61201 (Rock Island)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 61201 (Rock Island, IL).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.