Real Estate Investing in Galesburg, Illinois (61401)

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

Knox County • Population: 30,684 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 61401 (Galesburg, IL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (75/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (57/100)

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: 12.9% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Galesburg, IL (61401)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $106,110
Avg Monthly Rent $872
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $45,426
% Renters 38.8%

Market Analysis: 61401 Galesburg

ZIP 61401 in Galesburg, IL carries a robust set of headwinds. Home values near $106K and rents of $872/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

The 61401 ZIP can work — but only with a tight operating hand. Remote landlords and passive investors tend to struggle here more than the underwriting suggests.

Statewide comparisons place 61401 among IL's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Employment concentration in 61401 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

The right play in 61401 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Galesburg:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 81/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+16.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $872/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: This area shows favorable conditions for homebuyers. Solid fundamentals with reasonable affordability.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Galesburg, 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 Galesburg, IL metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 61401

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
7.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+4.4% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$41,344/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $93,474 $750 5.8% $93,474
3BR $124,031 $1,210 7.0% +4.4% $41,344

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$110K$100K$89K$79K$69K$59KFeb 2009Nov 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

No data available

📊 How Does 61401 Compare?

Metric 61401 Galesburg Galesburg, IL Illinois
Home Value $106,110 $53,055 N/A $279,761
5-Year CAGR 5.6% 5.6% N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $872 $872 N/A -
Cap Rate 6.4% 6.4% - -
💡 Why Invest in 61401? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 39% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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 61401 (Galesburg, IL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
6.4%
Good
5yr Growth
+5.6%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Galesburg, IL metro

1/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
1/3
57%
Days Pending
0/2
0 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $106,110
Monthly Rent $872
Price-to-Rent 10.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 9.9%
Cap Rate 6.4%
5-Year IRR 12.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +16.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +10.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Neutral Leverage Cap Rate: 6.4%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage is roughly neutral here.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) is close to the estimated cap rate (6.4%). Financing this market at current rates produces a cash-on-cash return near the cap rate. Appreciation and tax benefits may still support the investment.

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
12.9%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 61401

Population: 30,684

💰 Median Household Income
$45,426
This area
$45,426
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
38.8%
This area
38.8%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.7%
This area
2.7%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
21.0%
This area
21.0%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
42.2 years
This area
42.2 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
12.9%
This area
12.9%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 80.0%
Other/Mixed 9.8%
Black/African American 8.7%
Hispanic/Latino 6.3%
Asian 1.5%
👶 Under 18
18.6%
This area
18.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
23.1%
This area
23.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
13.2%
This area
13.2%
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 61401

B Avg School Grade
15 Schools
15.3:1 Avg Class Size
$23,463 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Silas Willard Elem School

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
427 Students
👨‍🏫
11.9:1 Class Size
💰
$23,463 Per Student
A+ Excellent

King School

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
525 Students
👨‍🏫
14.3:1 Class Size
💰
$23,463 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Lombard Middle School

📚 05 – 06 School
👥
517 Students
👨‍🏫
12.1:1 Class Size
💰
$23,463 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Steele School

📚 K – 04 Elementary
👥
520 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 Class Size
💰
$23,463 Per Student
A Very Good

Bright Futures Pre-K Prog

📚 Pre-K – K Elementary
👥
180 Students
👨‍🏫
17.7:1 Class Size
💰
$23,463 Per Student
B Good

Galesburg Jr High School

📚 07 – 08 Middle Limited Data
💰
$23,463 Per Student
B Good

Galesburg Senior High School

📚 07 – 12 High School
👥
1,735 Students
👨‍🏫
22.9:1 Class Size
💰
$23,463 Per Student
C+ Average

Knox Co Mary Davis Detention Home

📚 06 – 12 High School Limited Data
💰
$23,463 Per Student
C Below Average

Galesburg Area Voc Ctr

📚 11 – 12 High School Limited Data
C Below Average

Knox-Warren SpEd Multi-Needs Prog

📚 Grade M Elementary Limited Data
C Below Average

RAES East Alt Ed

📚 06 – 12 High School Limited Data
C Below Average

RAES Night School

📚 06 – 12 High School Limited Data
C Below Average

RAES RSSP

📚 06 – 12 High School Limited Data
C Below Average

RAES West

📚 06 – 12 High School Limited Data
C Below Average

RAES West Alt Ed

📚 06 – 12 High School Limited Data
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 437 Off-Campus Students
C+
Knox College
1,001 students · 0.8 mi
C
Carl Sandburg College
1,688 students · 2.7 mi
C
Monmouth College
727 students · 13.1 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do rents currently stand in Galesburg, IL?

Expect rents around $872/mo per month in Galesburg, IL. With home values at $106K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

What real estate strategy is ideal for Galesburg, IL?

Investors who focus on careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management typically do well in Galesburg, IL. The numbers - $106K homes against $872/mo rents - support that play.

How does Galesburg, IL rate as a rental market?

Investors tracking Galesburg, IL will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $106K median home values and $872/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting even-keeled returns.

What is the typical vacancy rate in Galesburg, IL?

Expect elevated vacancy in Galesburg, IL. Rents at $872/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

Are eviction rules reasonable in Galesburg, IL?

Rental owners in Galesburg, IL deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

You know 61401 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 61401 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 61401 ranks in Galesburg, IL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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