Real Estate Investing in Cambridge, Illinois (61238)

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

Henry • Population: 2,705 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 61238 (Cambridge, 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 cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

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

What’s happening in Cambridge, IL (61238)?

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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 $167,179
Avg Monthly Rent $1,125
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $74,737
% Renters 10.7%

Market Analysis: 61238 Cambridge

This part of Henry is not an easy win. The 61238 ZIP shows softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 61238 records the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

The gap between 61238 and stronger Cambridge ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

The demographic picture in 61238 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Cambridge averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

New investors are better served looking at Cambridge's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 61238. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Cambridge:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 73/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,125/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$174K$158K$142K$126K$110K$94KFeb 2009Nov 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 61238 Compare?

Metric 61238 Cambridge Illinois
Home Value $167,179 $167,179 $279,761
5-Year CAGR 4.4% 4.4% 6.6%
Avg Rent $1,125 $1,125 -
Cap Rate 5.3% 5.3% -
💡 Why Invest in 61238? 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 61238 (Cambridge, IL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.3%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.4%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $167,179
Monthly Rent $1,125
Price-to-Rent 12.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.1%
Cap Rate 5.3%
5-Year IRR 9.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.3%). 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
6.8%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 61238

Population: 2,705

💰 Median Household Income
$74,737
This area
$74,737
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
10.7%
This area
10.7%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.6%
This area
2.6%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
20.1%
This area
20.1%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.9 years
This area
40.9 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.8%
This area
6.8%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.0%
Other/Mixed 2.4%
Black/African American 2.2%
Hispanic/Latino 0.6%
Asian 0.5%
👶 Under 18
21.5%
This area
21.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.0%
This area
16.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.9%
This area
2.9%
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 61238

A Avg School Grade
2 Schools
12.6:1 Avg Class Size
$16,199 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Cambridge Jr/Sr High School

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
235 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$16,199 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Cambridge Comm Grade School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
236 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$16,199 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do landlords charge for rent in Cambridge, IL?

Expect rents around $1,125/mo per month in Cambridge, IL. With home values at $167K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

Is rental property easy to operate in Cambridge, IL?

The landlord environment in Cambridge, IL is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

How much should I expect to pay for a home in Cambridge, IL?

Typical homes in Cambridge, IL go for around $167K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% predictable price movement.

How should investors approach Cambridge, IL?

Most investors in Cambridge, IL run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 3.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

What is the renter demographic in Cambridge, IL?

Tenant quality in Cambridge, IL ranks as solid. Landlords generally report stable occupancy at market rents of $1,125/mo.

You know 61238 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 61238 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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