Real Estate Investing in Paw Paw, Illinois (61353)

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

Lee County • Population: 1,219 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 61353 (Paw Paw, IL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (60/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 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: 20.0% 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 Paw Paw, IL (61353)?

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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 $235,879
Avg Monthly Rent $1,125
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $57,639
% Renters 23.1%

Market Analysis: 61353 Paw Paw

The 61353 ZIP in Paw Paw, IL is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $236K entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 61353 records the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Nearby ZIPs in Paw Paw have seen price recovery that 61353 has not matched. Lee County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

The 61353 ZIP's population of 1,219 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that records the need for careful underwriting.

The 61353 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Paw Paw:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+9.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,125/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Dixon, IL Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
11.4%
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 Dixon, IL metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$249K$211K$172K$134K$95K$57KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 61353 Compare?

Metric 61353 Paw Paw Dixon, IL Illinois
Home Value $235,879 $235,879 N/A $279,761
5-Year CAGR 5.4% 5.4% N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $1,125 $1,125 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.7% 3.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 61353? 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 →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 61353 (Paw Paw, IL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.7%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.4%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Dixon, IL metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
46%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $235,879
Monthly Rent $1,125
Price-to-Rent 17.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.7%
Cap Rate 3.7%
5-Year IRR 9.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +9.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲
10-Year CAGR +9.7% ▲

🏠 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
20.0%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.4%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 61353

Population: 1,219

💰 Median Household Income
$57,639
This area
$57,639
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
23.1%
This area
23.1%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.1%
This area
3.1%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
14.2%
This area
14.2%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
34.5 years
This area
34.5 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
20.0%
This area
20.0%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 98.9%
Hispanic/Latino 0.9%
Other/Mixed 0.9%
Black/African American 0.2%
👶 Under 18
28.1%
This area
28.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.2%
This area
16.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.2%
This area
2.2%
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 61353

A Avg School Grade
2 Schools
7.6:1 Avg Class Size
$32,847 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Paw Paw Elem School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
99 Students
👨‍🏫
10.4:1 Class Size
💰
$32,847 Per Student
A Very Good

Paw Paw Junior High School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
28 Students
👨‍🏫
4.9:1 Class Size
💰
$32,847 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

Where do rents currently stand in Paw Paw, IL?

Investors in Paw Paw, IL typically see rents near $1,125/mo per month against $236K home values - a solid setup for rental cash flow.

How deep is the rental pool in Paw Paw, IL?

The tenant pool in Paw Paw, IL is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $1,125/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

Is IL a landlord-friendly state?

Landlord-friendliness in Paw Paw, IL is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

What does house hacking look like in Paw Paw, IL?

For house hackers, Paw Paw, IL is a challenging. The $1,125/mo rent on a unit helps defray the mortgage on a $236K property.

Where do home prices stand in Paw Paw, IL?

Paw Paw, IL median home values land near $236K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $1,125/mo-per-month rentals.

You know 61353 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 61353 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 61353 ranks in Dixon, IL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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