Real Estate Investing in Sherrard, Illinois (61281)

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

Mercer County • Population: 2,610 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 61281 (Sherrard, IL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (71/100)

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
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.8% 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 Sherrard, IL (61281)?

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

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $267,894
Avg Monthly Rent $900
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $82,262
% Renters 8.4%

Market Analysis: 61281 Sherrard

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Sherrard's 61281 ZIP registers signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $268K pricing implies.

The 61281 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

In the broader IL picture, 61281 is a reminder that not every low-priced ZIP is a value-add opportunity — some are simply distressed, and the difference matters.

Stepping back, 2,610 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 61281 is an operator game, not a passive one. Put differently, entry prices of $268K 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 Sherrard:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 75/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+12.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $900/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)

$280K$245K$211K$176K$142K$108KJan 2012May 2019Jul 2026

📊 How Does 61281 Compare?

Metric 61281 Sherrard Illinois
Home Value $267,894 $267,894 $279,761
5-Year CAGR 7.5% 7.5% 6.6%
Avg Rent $900 $900 -
Cap Rate 2.6% 2.6% -
💡 Why Invest in 61281? 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 61281 (Sherrard, IL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 61281 (Sherrard, IL)?

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

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.6%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.5%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $267,894
Monthly Rent $900
Price-to-Rent 24.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.0%
Cap Rate 2.6%
5-Year IRR 10.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +12.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.6%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.6%). 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
8.8%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.5%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 61281

Population: 2,610

💰 Median Household Income
$82,262
This area
$82,262
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
8.4%
This area
8.4%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.5%
This area
1.5%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
22.4%
This area
22.4%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
49.4 years
This area
49.4 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.8%
This area
8.8%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 96.4%
Other/Mixed 3.6%
Hispanic/Latino 3.0%
👶 Under 18
19.7%
This area
19.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.1%
This area
20.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
1.6%
This area
1.6%
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 61281

B+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
14.4:1 Avg Class Size
$15,504 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Sherrard High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
456 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$15,504 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Sherrard Jr High School

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
206 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$15,504 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Sherrard Elementary School

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
236 Students
👨‍🏫
16.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,504 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

3 Nearby 265 Off-Campus Students
C
Black Hawk College
3,853 students · 12.7 mi
C
Trinity College of Nursing & Health Sciences
76 students · 13.0 mi
C+
Augustana College
2,484 students · 14.0 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Sherrard, IL rate as a rental market?

Sherrard, IL rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $268K and rents near $900/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

Are eviction rules reasonable in Sherrard, IL?

For rental operators, Sherrard, IL rates as landlord-friendly. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

What monthly rent should investors expect in Sherrard, IL?

Rental rates in Sherrard, IL average $900/mo. Tenant demand and $268K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

Is Sherrard, IL good for house hacking?

The house hack math a challenging in Sherrard, IL. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $900/mo rents and $268K home values.

How tight is the rental market in Sherrard, IL?

Sherrard, IL carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect measured absorption at market rents of $900/mo.

You know 61281 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 61281 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 61281 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 61281 (Sherrard)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 61281 (Sherrard, IL).

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