Real Estate Investing in Lyndon, Illinois (61261)

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

Whiteside County • Population: 691 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 61261 (Lyndon, IL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (57/100)

Mixed — values have been flat. OK for long-horizon buyers, less attractive if you may need to sell soon.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (57/100)

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
  • High vacancy: 24.3% of homes vacant — above national norms.

• Limited market data — this is a very small market; averages are built from few observations and can swing widely. • Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Lyndon, IL (61261)?

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

0.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $124,360
Avg Monthly Rent $1,161
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $50,441
% Renters 20.7%

Market Analysis: 61261 Lyndon

ZIP 61261 inside Whiteside County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $124K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

In practical terms, the numbers look inviting — $124K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 61261 is substantial and deserves full respect.

In the broader IL picture, 61261 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

The demographic picture in 61261 includes headwinds that any investor should price in. Income distribution skews lower than Lyndon averages, and tenant stability requires active management.

tilts toward 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 Lyndon:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 78/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+22.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,161/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
Sterling, IL Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
9.0%
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 Sterling, IL metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$126K$121K$115K$110K$105K$99KNov 2023Mar 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 61261 Compare?

Metric 61261 Lyndon Sterling, IL Illinois
Home Value $124,360 $124,360 N/A $279,761
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $1,161 $1,161 N/A -
Cap Rate 7.3% 7.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 61261? 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.
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 61261 (Lyndon, IL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 61261 (Lyndon, IL)?

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

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
7.3%
Good

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Sterling, IL metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
49%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $124,360
Monthly Rent $1,161
Price-to-Rent 8.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 11.2%
Cap Rate 7.3%
5-Year IRR 29.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +22.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Neutral Leverage Cap Rate: 7.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage is roughly neutral here.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) is close to the estimated cap rate (7.3%). Financing this market at current rates produces a cash-on-cash return near the cap rate. Appreciation and tax benefits may still support the investment.

⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
24.3%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
N/A
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 61261

Population: 691

💰 Median Household Income
$50,441
This area
$50,441
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
20.7%
This area
20.7%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.6%
This area
4.6%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
11.7%
This area
11.7%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
49.1 years
This area
49.1 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
24.3%
This area
24.3%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 93.3%
Other/Mixed 5.7%
Hispanic/Latino 5.1%
Black/African American 0.8%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
15.5%
This area
15.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
25.2%
This area
25.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.0%
This area
2.0%
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

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

2 Nearby
C
Morrison Institute of Technology
54 students · 5.5 mi
C
Educators of Beauty College of Cosmetology-Sterling
57 students · 12.0 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Lyndon, IL carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect stable absorption at market rents of $1,161/mo.

Is house hacking profitable in Lyndon, IL?

The house hack math a challenging in Lyndon, IL. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $1,161/mo rents and $124K home values.

What is the average monthly rent in Lyndon, IL?

Average rent in Lyndon, IL is approximately $1,161/mo per month. Against $124K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

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

The median home value in Lyndon, IL is roughly $124K. That puts it reasonable relative to the IL statewide average.

Is Lyndon, IL a good place for real estate investing?

Lyndon, IL rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $124K and rents near $1,161/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

You know 61261 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 61261 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 61261 ranks in Sterling, IL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 61261 (Lyndon)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 61261 (Lyndon, IL).

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