Real Estate Investing in Sheffield, Illinois (61361)

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

Bureau County • Population: 1,363 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 61361 (Sheffield, IL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (80/100)

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
  • High vacancy: 20.8% 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 Sheffield, IL (61361)?

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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 $140,686
Avg Monthly Rent $963
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $87,535
% Renters 14.9%

Market Analysis: 61361 Sheffield

ZIP 61361 inside Bureau County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $141K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

For an experienced owner, 61361 can be a worth a close look for hunting ground — but the discount at $141K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

The gap between 61361 and stronger Sheffield ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Employment concentration in 61361 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Strategically, 61361 can be a high-return sleeve of a diversified portfolio — but it should not be the whole portfolio, and it should not be someone's first deal.

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 Sheffield:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 80/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 1.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+25.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $963/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This area shows favorable conditions for homebuyers. Solid fundamentals with reasonable affordability.
⚖️
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)

$147K$129K$112K$95K$78K$61KApr 2009Dec 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 61361 Compare?

Metric 61361 Sheffield Ottawa, IL Illinois
Home Value $140,686 $140,686 N/A $279,761
5-Year CAGR 7.7% 7.7% N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $963 $963 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.3% 5.3% - -
💡 Why Invest in 61361? 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 61361 (Sheffield, IL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.3%
Fair
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 $140,686
Monthly Rent $963
Price-to-Rent 12.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.2%
Cap Rate 5.3%
5-Year IRR 13.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +25.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +10.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.2% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.3%). 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
20.8%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+7.7%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 61361

Population: 1,363

💰 Median Household Income
$87,535
This area
$87,535
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
14.9%
This area
14.9%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.0%
This area
2.0%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
21.7%
This area
21.7%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.0 years
This area
41.0 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
20.8%
This area
20.8%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.8%
Other/Mixed 3.6%
Hispanic/Latino 2.4%
Black/African American 1.6%
👶 Under 18
18.1%
This area
18.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
13.8%
This area
13.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.0%
This area
3.0%
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 61361

A+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
10.4:1 Avg Class Size
$18,237 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Bureau Valley High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
303 Students
👨‍🏫
10.4:1 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

How strong is Sheffield, IL for real estate investors?

Sheffield, IL sits at an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $141K and average rents around $963/mo. That combination puts it in the substantial tier for investor interest.

What is the typical rental rate in Sheffield, IL?

Rents in Sheffield, IL run near $963/mo. Compared with median home prices of $141K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

How should investors approach Sheffield, IL?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Sheffield, IL. The numbers - $141K homes against $963/mo rents - support that play.

Are landlord laws favorable in Sheffield, IL?

IL ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Sheffield generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

What is the typical home price in Sheffield, IL?

Sheffield, IL home values average about $141K. That price point suits investors targeting rentals with $963/mo in monthly income.

You know 61361 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 61361 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 61361 ranks in Ottawa, IL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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