Real Estate Investing in Walnut, Illinois (61376)

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

Bureau County • Population: 2,021 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 61376 (Walnut, IL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GREAT FIT
Grade A (91/100)

Strong fundamentals — affordable, appreciating, and stable. A confident pick for primary residence.

📈 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 poverty: 22.1% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.

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

What’s happening in Walnut, IL (61376)?

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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 $154,934
Avg Monthly Rent $1,143
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $55,398
% Renters 26.8%

Market Analysis: 61376 Walnut

This part of Bureau County is not an easy win. The 61376 ZIP sits at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

The 61376 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Nearby ZIPs in Walnut have seen price recovery that 61376 has not matched. Bureau County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Resident income in 61376 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

New investors are better served looking at Walnut's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 61376. 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 Walnut:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 75/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+14.1%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,143/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.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Ottawa, IL Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
28 days
Average time to sell
Fast
8.5%
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 Ottawa, IL metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$162K$142K$123K$103K$83K$64KMar 2009Nov 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 61376 Compare?

Metric 61376 Walnut Ottawa, IL Illinois
Home Value $154,934 $154,934 N/A $279,761
5-Year CAGR 7.1% 7.1% N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $1,143 $1,143 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.8% 5.8% - -
💡 Why Invest in 61376? 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 61376 (Walnut, IL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.8%
Fair
5yr Growth
+7.1%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Ottawa, IL metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
58%
Days Pending
0/2
28 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $154,934
Monthly Rent $1,143
Price-to-Rent 11.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.9%
Cap Rate 5.8%
5-Year IRR 12.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +14.1% ▲
3-Year CAGR +8.1% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.8%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.8%). 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
7.8%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.1%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 61376

Population: 2,021

💰 Median Household Income
$55,398
This area
$55,398
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
26.8%
This area
26.8%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.0%
This area
4.0%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
27.4%
This area
27.4%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
45.3 years
This area
45.3 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
7.8%
This area
7.8%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 98.6%
Other/Mixed 1.1%
Hispanic/Latino 0.8%
Black/African American 0.4%
👶 Under 18
19.0%
This area
19.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
25.4%
This area
25.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
22.1%
This area
22.1%
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 61376

A Avg School Grade
1 Schools
8.8:1 Avg Class Size
$18,237 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Bureau Valley North

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
171 Students
👨‍🏫
8.8:1 Class Size
💰
$18,237 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 is the best play in Walnut, IL?

Walnut, IL investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($155K prices, $1,143/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

Are eviction rules reasonable in Walnut, IL?

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

What are rental rates like in Walnut, IL?

Rental rates in Walnut, IL average $1,143/mo. Tenant demand and $155K home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

How strong is the working-renter base in Walnut, IL?

The renter base in Walnut, IL is reasonable for the $1,143/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields even-keeled tenants.

How does Walnut, IL stack up for property investment?

Walnut, IL reports an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $155K and average rents around $1,143/mo. That combination puts it in the resilient tier for investor interest.

You know 61376 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 61376 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 61376 ranks in Ottawa, IL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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