Real Estate Investing in Worden, Illinois (62097)

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

Madison County • Population: 2,627 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 62097 (Worden, IL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (67/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

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 price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 26.4 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

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

What’s happening in Worden, IL (62097)?

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

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $316,453
Avg Monthly Rent $999
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $75,586
% Renters 12.1%

Market Analysis: 62097 Worden

This part of Madison County is not an easy win. The 62097 ZIP sits at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 62097 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

The gap between 62097 and stronger Worden ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

The 62097 ZIP's population of 2,627 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that registers the need for careful underwriting.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. sturdy returns are possible in 62097, but they flow to investors who already understand how to operate in soft markets.

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 Worden:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 67/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.2× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+9.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $999/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
St. Louis, MO-IL Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
30 days
Average time to sell
Fast
11.0%
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 St. Louis, MO-IL metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 62097

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.0% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
4BR
+7.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$79,683/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $159,366 $1,110 5.0% $79,683
3BR $281,970 $1,420 3.6% +7.6% $93,990
4BR $339,720 $1,680 3.6% +7.7% $84,930

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$331K$289K$248K$207K$166K$124KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 62097 Compare?

Metric 62097 Worden St. Louis, MO-IL Illinois
Home Value $316,453 $316,453 N/A $279,761
5-Year CAGR 6.5% 6.5% N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $999 $999 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.5% 2.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 62097? 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.
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 62097 (Worden, IL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 62097 (Worden, IL)?

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

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.5%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.5%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $316,453
Monthly Rent $999
Price-to-Rent 26.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.8%
Cap Rate 2.5%
5-Year IRR 8.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +9.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.5%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.5%). 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
6.0%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.5%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 62097

Population: 2,627

💰 Median Household Income
$75,586
This area
$75,586
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
12.1%
This area
12.1%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.7%
This area
3.7%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
17.1%
This area
17.1%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
47.6 years
This area
47.6 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.0%
This area
6.0%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 98.6%
Other/Mixed 0.9%
Black/African American 0.4%
Asian 0.1%
👶 Under 18
15.2%
This area
15.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.9%
This area
15.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.3%
This area
4.3%
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 62097

B+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
15.9:1 Avg Class Size
$14,508 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Worden Elementary School

📚 03 – 05 Elementary
👥
260 Students
👨‍🏫
15.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,508 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

1 Nearby 2,192 Off-Campus Students
C+
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
12,045 students · 12.5 mi

Investor Insight: With 2,192 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Worden, IL make sense for an investment property?

Worden, IL records an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $316K and average rents around $999/mo. That combination puts it in the solid tier for investor interest.

Are eviction rules reasonable in Worden, IL?

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

How do experienced investors play Worden, IL?

Worden, IL investors pursuing careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The underlying economics ($316K prices, $999/mo rents) make it a reasonable choice.

Can I live-in-and-rent in Worden, IL?

Worden, IL offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $999/mo rent level.

What are vacancy rates like in Worden, IL?

Worden, IL carries elevated vacancy risk. Expect stable absorption at market rents of $999/mo.

You know 62097 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 62097 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 62097 ranks in St. Louis, MO-IL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 62097 (Worden)

Loading...

Community Ratings

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

Be the first to rate 62097 (Worden, IL).

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