Real Estate Investing in Bloomington, Illinois (61701)

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

McLean County • Population: 35,577 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 61701 (Bloomington, 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 (52/100)

Rare combination of both appreciation and cash flow. These markets don't last long — worth serious consideration.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • Elevated vacancy: 10.3% vacancy may signal weakening demand.

What’s happening in Bloomington, IL (61701)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $180,383
Avg Monthly Rent $1,149
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $54,799
% Renters 44.1%

Market Analysis: 61701 Bloomington

ZIP 61701 in Bloomington, IL carries a healthy set of headwinds. Home values near $180K and rents of $1,149/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 61701 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Nearby ZIPs in Bloomington have seen price recovery that 61701 has not matched. McLean County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Employment concentration in 61701 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 61701 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Bloomington:

B+ Great
Buy Confidence Score: 81/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 3.3× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,149/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
Bloomington, IL Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
26 days
Average time to sell
Fast
10.8%
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 Bloomington, IL metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 61701

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
1BR
7.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+9.8% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$58,938/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
1BR $99,402 $970 7.0% +8.6% $99,402
2BR $142,064 $1,260 6.4% +9.8% $71,032
3BR $189,338 $1,660 6.3% +9.2% $63,113
4BR $241,560 $1,670 5.0% +9.0% $60,390
5BR $294,691 +8.2% $58,938

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$186K$169K$152K$134K$117K$99KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,229$1,106$983$860$737$614Oct 2017Mar 2022Jul 2026

📊 How Does 61701 Compare?

Metric 61701 Bloomington Bloomington, IL Illinois
Home Value $180,383 $196,740 N/A $279,761
5-Year CAGR 8.2% 7.1% N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $1,149 $1,314 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.0% 3.7% - -
💡 Why Invest in 61701? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 44% 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.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 61701 (Bloomington, IL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 61701 (Bloomington, IL)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
5.0%
Fair
5yr Growth
+8.2%
Strong

📉 Market Crash Risk Index

Based on Bloomington, IL metro

0/10
Low Risk
Price YoY
0/3
N/A
Rent YoY
0/2
N/A
Below List
0/3
38%
Days Pending
0/2
26 days

View all metro crash risk rankings →

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $180,383
Monthly Rent $1,149
Price-to-Rent 13.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 7.6%
Cap Rate 5.0%
5-Year IRR 13.2%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +8.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +4.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -3.3% ▼
3-Year CAGR +4.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +7.4% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 5.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (5.0%). 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
10.3%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+8.2%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 61701

Population: 35,577

💰 Median Household Income
$54,799
This area
$54,799
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
44.1%
This area
44.1%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.7%
This area
2.7%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
35.1%
This area
35.1%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
36.0 years
This area
36.0 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
10.3%
This area
10.3%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 76.6%
Black/African American 11.7%
Other/Mixed 8.3%
Hispanic/Latino 4.1%
Asian 3.4%
👶 Under 18
19.3%
This area
19.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.0%
This area
15.0%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
13.3%
This area
13.3%
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 61701

B Avg School Grade
11 Schools
14.4:1 Avg Class Size
$16,973 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Bloomington Jr High School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
997 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$16,973 Per Student
A Very Good

Bent Elem School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
370 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$16,973 Per Student
A Very Good

Irving Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
312 Students
👨‍🏫
12.2:1 Class Size
💰
$16,973 Per Student
A Very Good

Oakland Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
428 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$16,973 Per Student
A Very Good

Sheridan Elem School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
355 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$16,973 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Washington Elem School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
356 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$16,973 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Bloomington High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,395 Students
👨‍🏫
13.6:1 Class Size
💰
$16,973 Per Student
B Good

Sarah A Raymond Sch of Early Educ

📚 Grade PK Elementary
👥
212 Students
👨‍🏫
19.3:1 Class Size
💰
$16,973 Per Student
C Below Average

Bloomington Area Career Center

📚 11 – 12 High School Limited Data
C Below Average

Regional Alop School

📚 07 – 12 High School Limited Data
C Below Average

Safe School Program

📚 07 – 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

6 Nearby 3,442 Off-Campus Students
C
Hairmasters Institute of Cosmetology
77 students · 0.7 mi
B
Illinois Wesleyan University
1,576 students · 0.9 mi
C+
Illinois State University
20,989 students · 2.2 mi
C
Paul Mitchell the School-Normal
79 students · 2.8 mi
C
Tricoci University of Beauty Culture-Normal
92 students · 3.8 mi
C
Heartland Community College
4,795 students · 4.0 mi

Investor Insight: With 3,442 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are rents high in Bloomington, IL?

Bloomington, IL rentals go for roughly $1,149/mo a month. That puts gross yield in solid territory relative to $180K acquisition costs.

What is the tenant pool like in Bloomington, IL?

The tenant pool in Bloomington, IL is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $1,149/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

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

Expect median prices around $180K in Bloomington, IL. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been reliable.

What approach is best for Bloomington, IL real estate?

The best-fit strategy in Bloomington, IL is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Bloomington, IL?

Bloomington, IL is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $180K price point reasonable to enter.

You know 61701 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 61701 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.

Compare Plans

How 61701 ranks in Bloomington, IL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 61701 (Bloomington)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 61701 (Bloomington, IL).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.