Real Estate Investing in Prophetstown, Illinois (61277)

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

Whiteside County • Population: 2,983 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 61277 (Prophetstown, IL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (73/100)

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

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 15.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.

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

What’s happening in Prophetstown, IL (61277)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $176,366
Avg Monthly Rent $837
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $77,727
% Renters 17.3%

Market Analysis: 61277 Prophetstown

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Prophetstown's 61277 ZIP reports signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $176K pricing implies.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 61277 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Looking more closely, 61277 offers a low basis, the region around Prophetstown has moved on in ways that the ZIP itself has not fully absorbed. The result is a discount with genuine reasons.

From an investor standpoint, 2,983 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

Strategy in 61277 is an operator game, not a passive one. Looking more closely, entry prices of $176K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 Prophetstown:

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 2.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+17.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $837/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)

$183K$164K$145K$126K$107K$88KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 61277 Compare?

Metric 61277 Prophetstown Sterling, IL Illinois
Home Value $176,366 $176,366 N/A $279,761
5-Year CAGR 7.3% 7.3% N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $837 $837 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.7% 3.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 61277? 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 61277 (Prophetstown, IL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.3%
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 $176,366
Monthly Rent $837
Price-to-Rent 17.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.7%
Cap Rate 3.7%
5-Year IRR 11.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +17.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.7%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.7%). 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
15.5%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.3%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 61277

Population: 2,983

💰 Median Household Income
$77,727
This area
$77,727
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
17.3%
This area
17.3%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.3%
This area
3.3%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
20.0%
This area
20.0%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
46.6 years
This area
46.6 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.5%
This area
15.5%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 95.2%
Other/Mixed 2.4%
Black/African American 1.4%
Hispanic/Latino 1.0%
Asian 1.0%
👶 Under 18
22.5%
This area
22.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.9%
This area
22.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.7%
This area
4.7%
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 61277

B+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
14.2:1 Avg Class Size
$15,100 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Prophetstown Elem School

📚 Pre-K – 03 Elementary
👥
234 Students
👨‍🏫
15.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,100 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Prophetstown High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
216 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,100 Per Student
B+ Above Average

PLT Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
169 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,100 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

1 Nearby
C
Morrison Institute of Technology
54 students · 13.4 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Is housing expensive in Prophetstown, IL?

Prophetstown, IL median home values land near $176K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $837/mo-per-month rentals.

Are tenants stable in Prophetstown, IL?

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

How strict are landlord regulations in Prophetstown, IL?

Prophetstown, IL operates under IL law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect measured treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

How does Prophetstown, IL rate as a rental market?

Prophetstown, IL scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $176K and rents near $837/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

What is the best play in Prophetstown, IL?

Prophetstown, IL investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($176K prices, $837/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

You know 61277 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 61277 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 61277 ranks in Sterling, IL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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