Real Estate Investing in Morrison, Illinois (61270)

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

Whiteside County • Population: 7,067 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 61270 (Morrison, IL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (78/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 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: 10.2% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

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

What’s happening in Morrison, IL (61270)?

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

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $173,151
Avg Monthly Rent $954
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $82,054
% Renters 18.6%

Market Analysis: 61270 Morrison

The 61270 ZIP in Morrison, IL is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $173K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

For an experienced owner, 61270 can be a a strong candidate for hunting ground — but the discount at $173K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

ZIP 61270's metrics run below Whiteside County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Employment concentration in 61270 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

The 61270 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Morrison:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 77/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+10.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $954/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
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
🏠

Property Strategy for 61270

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+6.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$48,984/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $132,451 $1,060 5.8% +6.6% $66,226
3BR $181,075 $1,400 5.6% +6.6% $60,358
4BR $195,937 $1,400 5.1% +6.8% $48,984

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$179K$163K$147K$131K$114K$98KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 61270 Compare?

Metric 61270 Morrison Sterling, IL Illinois
Home Value $173,151 $173,151 N/A $279,761
5-Year CAGR 6.5% 6.5% N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $954 $954 N/A -
Cap Rate 4.3% 4.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 61270? 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 61270 (Morrison, IL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 61270 (Morrison, IL)?

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

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.3%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.5%
Strong

📉 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 $173,151
Monthly Rent $954
Price-to-Rent 15.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.6%
Cap Rate 4.3%
5-Year IRR 10.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +10.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +3.9% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.3%). 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
10.2%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.5%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 61270

Population: 7,067

💰 Median Household Income
$82,054
This area
$82,054
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
18.6%
This area
18.6%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.4%
This area
2.4%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
30.2%
This area
30.2%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
42.1 years
This area
42.1 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.2%
This area
10.2%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.1%
Other/Mixed 4.0%
Hispanic/Latino 2.1%
Black/African American 0.7%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
23.3%
This area
23.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.5%
This area
20.5%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.5%
This area
5.5%
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 61270

C+ Avg School Grade
9 Schools
15.3:1 Avg Class Size
$16,034 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Morrison High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
290 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$16,034 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Morrison Jr High School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
214 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$16,034 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Northside School

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
263 Students
👨‍🏫
16.4:1 Class Size
💰
$16,034 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Southside School

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
218 Students
👨‍🏫
16.6:1 Class Size
💰
$16,034 Per Student
C Below Average

Bi-County Sp Ed-3-5 Life Skills-M

📚 Grade M Elementary Limited Data
C Below Average

Bi-County Sp Ed-K-2 Life Skills-M

📚 Grade M Elementary Limited Data
C Below Average

Bi-County Sp Ed-Life Skill Jr Hgh

📚 Grade M Elementary Limited Data
C Below Average

Bi-County Sp Ed-Life Skills HS-Mo

📚 Grade M Elementary Limited Data
C Below Average

Morrison Alt Learning Program

📚 09 – 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

2 Nearby
C
Morrison Institute of Technology
54 students · 2.3 mi
C
Educators of Beauty College of Cosmetology-Sterling
57 students · 14.3 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Morrison, IL make sense for an investment property?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Morrison, IL ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $173K and rents of $954/mo drive the underlying numbers.

Is Morrison, IL better for rentals, flips, or BRRRR?

For Morrison, IL, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

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

Occupancy in Morrison, IL runs measured with elevated vacancy. Well-priced units at $954/mo lease on reasonable timelines.

How expensive is real estate in Morrison, IL?

Median home price in Morrison, IL is near $173K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been stable and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

Are renters plentiful in Morrison, IL?

Working renters make up the core of the Morrison, IL tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

You know 61270 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 61270 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 61270 ranks in Sterling, IL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 61270 (Morrison)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 61270 (Morrison, IL).

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