Real Estate Investing in Mendota, Illinois (61342)

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

La Salle County • Population: 8,373 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 61342 (Mendota, IL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (83/100)

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: 9.1% 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 Mendota, IL (61342)?

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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 $183,236
Avg Monthly Rent $918
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $66,967
% Renters 25.4%

Market Analysis: 61342 Mendota

The 61342 ZIP covers a section of Mendota that demands careful diligence. Prices near $183K look accessible, but the work to make a deal cash flow is real.

Rent of $918/mo on a $183K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 61342 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

The gap between 61342 and stronger Mendota ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Resident income in 61342 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. robust returns are possible in 61342, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Mendota:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 77/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
9/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+9.5%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $918/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
🏠

Property Strategy for 61342

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
4BR
5.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+10.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$48,761/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $124,191 $1,020 5.9% +10.4% $62,096
3BR $172,030 $1,360 5.7% +8.7% $57,343
4BR $195,046 $1,610 5.9% +9.3% $48,761

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$191K$170K$148K$127K$106K$84KJan 2009Oct 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 61342 Compare?

Metric 61342 Mendota Ottawa, IL Illinois
Home Value $183,236 $183,236 N/A $279,761
5-Year CAGR 7.7% 7.7% N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $918 $918 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.9% 3.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 61342? 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.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 61342 (Mendota, IL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+7.7%
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 $183,236
Monthly Rent $918
Price-to-Rent 16.6:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.0%
Cap Rate 3.9%
5-Year IRR 11.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +9.5% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.9%). 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
9.1%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.7%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 61342

Population: 8,373

💰 Median Household Income
$66,967
This area
$66,967
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
25.4%
This area
25.4%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.2%
This area
2.2%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
20.4%
This area
20.4%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.3 years
This area
41.3 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.1%
This area
9.1%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 82.8%
Other/Mixed 15.0%
Hispanic/Latino 13.2%
Asian 1.4%
Black/African American 0.7%
👶 Under 18
22.0%
This area
22.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
20.3%
This area
20.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.2%
This area
6.2%
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 61342

A Avg School Grade
4 Schools
13.2:1 Avg Class Size
$18,234 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Mendota Twp High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
484 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$23,431 Per Student
A Very Good

Lincoln Elem School

📚 02 – 04 Elementary
👥
323 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$16,501 Per Student
A Very Good

Northbrook School

📚 05 – 08 School
👥
481 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$16,501 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Blackstone Elem School

📚 K – 01 Elementary
👥
212 Students
👨‍🏫
12.5:1 Class Size
💰
$16,501 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
Educators of Beauty College of Cosmetology-Peru
60 students · 13.0 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Do rentals sit vacant long in Mendota, IL?

Rental vacancy in Mendota, IL is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

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

Mendota, IL records an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $183K and average rents around $918/mo. That combination puts it in the notable tier for investor interest.

What is the average home sale price in Mendota, IL?

Typical homes in Mendota, IL go for around $183K. The 5-year CAGR of 0.0% even-keeled price movement.

Does house hacking work in Mendota, IL?

House hacking works a challenging in Mendota, IL. Rents of $918/mo against $183K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

How qualified is the tenant pool in Mendota, IL?

Expect a solid tenant pool in Mendota, IL. The rental market absorbs $918/mo rents without meaningful friction.

You know 61342 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 61342 ranks in Ottawa, IL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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