Real Estate Investing in Bethany, Illinois (61914)

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

Moultrie County • Population: 1,855 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 61914 (Bethany, IL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GREAT FIT
Grade A (88/100)

Strong fundamentals — affordable, appreciating, and stable. A confident pick for primary residence.

📈 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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Bethany, IL (61914)?

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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 $168,299
Avg Monthly Rent $873
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $62,396
% Renters 21.8%

Market Analysis: 61914 Bethany

From an investor standpoint, ZIP 61914 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $168K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 61914 reports the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Statewide comparisons place 61914 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 61914 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

trends toward 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 Bethany:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 75/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+14.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $873/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.
🏠

Property Strategy for 61914

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
6.2% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+7.5% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$51,605/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $113,148 $970 6.2% +7.5% $56,574
3BR $154,816 $1,340 6.2% +7.1% $51,605

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$180K$156K$132K$108K$84K$60KMay 2009Dec 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 61914 Compare?

Metric 61914 Bethany Illinois
Home Value $168,299 $168,299 $279,761
5-Year CAGR 8.9% 8.9% 6.6%
Avg Rent $873 $873 -
Cap Rate 4.1% 4.1% -
💡 Why Invest in 61914? 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 61914 (Bethany, IL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.1%
Fair
5yr Growth
+8.9%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $168,299
Monthly Rent $873
Price-to-Rent 16.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.2%
Cap Rate 4.1%
5-Year IRR 13.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +14.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +9.4% ▲
5-Year CAGR +8.9% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.1%). 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
5.5%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+8.9%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 61914

Population: 1,855

💰 Median Household Income
$62,396
This area
$62,396
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
21.8%
This area
21.8%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.8%
This area
0.8%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
19.2%
This area
19.2%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
46.4 years
This area
46.4 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.5%
This area
5.5%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 98.1%
Other/Mixed 1.9%
👶 Under 18
22.9%
This area
22.9%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
26.9%
This area
26.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.5%
This area
3.5%
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 61914

A Avg School Grade
2 Schools
10.7:1 Avg Class Size
$16,707 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Okaw Valley Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
👥
169 Students
👨‍🏫
10.1:1 Class Size
💰
$16,707 Per Student
A Very Good

Okaw Valley High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
169 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$16,707 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

What is it like being a landlord in Bethany, IL?

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

Are there empty rentals in Bethany, IL?

Vacancy in Bethany, IL is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $873/mo.

Which investment style suits Bethany, IL?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Bethany, IL. With home values at $168K and rents near $873/mo, other strategies can work but produce reliable rather than outsized returns.

Is Bethany, IL suited for a house hack?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Bethany, IL reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

How qualified is the tenant pool in Bethany, IL?

The tenant pool in Bethany, IL is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $873/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

You know 61914 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 61914 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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