Real Estate Investing in Cerro Gordo, Illinois (61818)

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

Piatt County • Population: 1,608 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 61818 (Cerro Gordo, IL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GREAT FIT
Grade A (91/100)

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

📈 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
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 Cerro Gordo, IL (61818)?

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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 $150,282
Avg Monthly Rent $1,008
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $61,389
% Renters 22.7%

Market Analysis: 61818 Cerro Gordo

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Cerro Gordo's 61818 ZIP reflects signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $150K pricing implies.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $150K asset, 61818 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Regionally, 61818 sits on the difficult end of the IL spectrum. The a strong candidate for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Demographically, 61818 is a market where tenant selection matters more than unit finishes. Operators who understand that tend to do fine; those who do not tend to learn why the ZIP trades at a discount.

Strategy in 61818 is an operator game, not a passive one. Meanwhile, entry prices of $150K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 Cerro Gordo:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 75/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
18/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.4× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-0.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,008/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Champaign-Urbana, IL Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
45 days
Average time to sell
Average
11.2%
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 Champaign-Urbana, IL metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$158K$141K$124K$106K$89K$71KJan 2012May 2019Jul 2026

📊 How Does 61818 Compare?

Metric 61818 Cerro Gordo Champaign-Urbana, IL Illinois
Home Value $150,282 $150,282 N/A $279,761
5-Year CAGR 4.6% 4.6% N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $1,008 $1,008 N/A -
Cap Rate 5.2% 5.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 61818? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 61818 (Cerro Gordo, IL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $150,282
Monthly Rent $1,008
Price-to-Rent 12.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 8.1%
Cap Rate 5.2%
5-Year IRR 9.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -0.8% ▼
3-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +4.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.4% ▲

🏠 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
4.2%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+4.6%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 61818

Population: 1,608

💰 Median Household Income
$61,389
This area
$61,389
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
22.7%
This area
22.7%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
6.5%
This area
6.5%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
15.9%
This area
15.9%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.4 years
This area
38.4 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.2%
This area
4.2%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.0%
Other/Mixed 6.0%
Hispanic/Latino 2.0%
👶 Under 18
25.6%
This area
25.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
17.6%
This area
17.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
6.3%
This area
6.3%
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 61818

A Avg School Grade
2 Schools
11.5:1 Avg Class Size
$18,739 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Cerro Gordo Elem School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
240 Students
👨‍🏫
10.9:1 Class Size
💰
$18,739 Per Student
A Very Good

Cerro Gordo Jr and Sr High Sch

📚 06 – 12 High School
👥
220 Students
👨‍🏫
12.1:1 Class Size
💰
$18,739 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

3 Nearby 374 Off-Campus Students
C
Richland Community College
2,214 students · 9.3 mi
C
Reflections Academy of Beauty
29 students · 12.4 mi
C+
Millikin University
1,659 students · 14.0 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the investability score for Cerro Gordo, IL?

Yes - Cerro Gordo, IL a 3.0/5 investability score. With $150K home prices against $1,008/mo monthly rent, the market delivers a reasonable entry point for new investors.

What do rentals go for in Cerro Gordo, IL?

Average rent in Cerro Gordo, IL is approximately $1,008/mo per month. Against $150K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

What strategy should investors use in Cerro Gordo, IL?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy Cerro Gordo, IL best. The market produces steady results for that approach at the $150K price point.

What are vacancy rates like in Cerro Gordo, IL?

Vacancy in Cerro Gordo, IL is elevated, which keeps landlord downtime on reasonable timelines. Most properties lease within the standard window at $1,008/mo.

What are home prices like in Cerro Gordo, IL?

Median home price in Cerro Gordo, IL is near $150K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been steady and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

You know 61818 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 61818 ranks in Champaign-Urbana, IL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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