Real Estate Investing in Farmington, Illinois (61531)

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

Fulton County • Population: 3,018 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 61531 (Farmington, IL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (78/100)

Solid choice — stable market with a reasonable entry point and good rental backup if you ever need to move.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

A cash-flow market — rent-to-price math works from day one, though value growth is modest. Great for income-focused investors.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 8.7% 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 Farmington, IL (61531)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

2.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $132,410
Avg Monthly Rent $882
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $63,276
% Renters 21.9%

Market Analysis: 61531 Farmington

ZIP 61531 inside Fulton County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $132K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

The 61531 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 Farmington have seen price recovery that 61531 has not matched. Fulton County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Employment concentration in 61531 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

seems to the ZIP is not uninvestable, but it is unforgiving. Section 8 landlords, local operators, and specialized value-add funds are the investor types that tend to succeed.

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 Farmington:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 73/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+15.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $882/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
Peoria, IL Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
27 days
Average time to sell
Fast
11.8%
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 Peoria, IL metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 61531

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
7.7% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+5.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$42,522/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $93,438 $980 7.6% +5.4% $46,719
3BR $127,565 $1,360 7.7% +5.5% $42,522

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$137K$124K$110K$97K$83K$70KFeb 2009Nov 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 61531 Compare?

Metric 61531 Farmington Peoria, IL Illinois
Home Value $132,410 $132,410 N/A $279,761
5-Year CAGR 4.6% 4.6% N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $882 $882 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.2% 5.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 61531? 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 61531 (Farmington, IL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.2%
Fair
5yr Growth
+4.6%
Moderate

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Peoria, IL metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
43%
Days Pending
0/2
27 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $132,410
Monthly Rent $882
Price-to-Rent 12.5:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.0%
Cap Rate 5.2%
5-Year IRR 9.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +15.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.2%). 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
8.7%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 61531

Population: 3,018

💰 Median Household Income
$63,276
This area
$63,276
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
21.9%
This area
21.9%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
4.4%
This area
4.4%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
29.1%
This area
29.1%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.9 years
This area
38.9 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
8.7%
This area
8.7%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.1%
Other/Mixed 2.5%
Hispanic/Latino 1.4%
Black/African American 0.3%
Asian 0.1%
👶 Under 18
26.4%
This area
26.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.0%
This area
19.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.6%
This area
5.6%
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 61531

A Avg School Grade
3 Schools
13.5:1 Avg Class Size
$14,388 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Farmington Central Jr High Sch

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
249 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,388 Per Student
A Very Good

Farmington Central High Sch

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
367 Students
👨‍🏫
13.3:1 Class Size
💰
$14,388 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Farmington Central Elem Sch

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
620 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,388 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

2 Nearby 407 Off-Campus Students
C
Graham Hospital School of Nursing
36 students · 9.0 mi
C
Spoon River College
1,225 students · 10.9 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I expect to pay for a home in Farmington, IL?

Expect median prices around $132K in Farmington, IL. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been measured.

What kind of tenants rent in Farmington, IL?

Tenant quality in Farmington, IL ranks as solid. Landlords generally report predictable occupancy at market rents of $882/mo.

What is the rental occupancy rate in Farmington, IL?

Farmington, IL vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

Is Farmington, IL landlord-friendly?

IL law landlord-friendly for landlords, and Farmington inherits those rules. Investors should still review local ordinances for rental licensing.

How does Farmington, IL rate as a rental market?

Farmington, IL scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $132K and rents near $882/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

You know 61531 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 61531 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 61531 ranks in Peoria, IL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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