Real Estate Investing in East Saint Louis, Illinois (62204)

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

Saint Clair County • Population: 4,824 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 62204 (East Saint Louis, IL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (61/100)

Mixed — values have been flat. OK for long-horizon buyers, less attractive if you may need to sell soon.

📈 For Investors
STRONG
4.0 / 5 (86/100)

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
5 flags
  • High vacancy: 33.8% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Declining values: -4.9% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.
  • Elevated poverty: 27.1% poverty rate — can affect rent collection.
  • Higher unemployment: 7.2% unemployment — tenant risk signal.

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

What’s happening in East Saint Louis, IL (62204)?

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4.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $36,071
Avg Monthly Rent $891
1% Rule ✓ Meets
Median Income $33,730
% Renters 32.6%

Market Analysis: 62204 East Saint Louis

ZIP 62204 offers what many appreciation markets cannot: an affordable basis at $36K and rent support of $891/mo for rehab-driven equity creation in Saint Clair County.

Cap rate math of 0.0% understates the return here. Post-rehab, stabilized yields climb, and the 62204 ZIP's older housing stock gives operators the opportunity set to execute.

Statewide, IL value-add investors migrate toward ZIPs with 62204's profile — older stock, soft but real rent growth, and $36K pricing that keeps rehab math workable.

Household income in 62204 supports the rent-lift thesis. 4,824 residents, deep working-age cohort, and the kind of tenant profile that responds to upgraded stock.

ZIP 62204 fits investors who can swing a hammer — or pay someone to swing one well. BRRRR, fix-and-flip, and fix-and-hold all work when the rehab scope is matched to the rent lift.

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 East Saint Louis:

C Below Average
Buy Confidence Score: 55/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
0/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 1.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+5.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $891/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: This market may be challenging for buyers. Consider your timing and budget carefully.
⚖️
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

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$50K$46K$42K$38K$34K$30KFeb 2016May 2021Jul 2026

📊 How Does 62204 Compare?

Metric 62204 East Saint Louis St. Louis, MO-IL Illinois
Home Value $36,071 $41,551 N/A $279,761
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $891 $963 N/A -
Cap Rate 19.3% 18.6% - -
💡 Why Invest in 62204? Click to expand

This ZIP code meets the 1% rule with rent at $891/mo on homes averaging $36,071 — a strong indicator of cash flow potential.

Our analysis gives this area a 4/5 investability rating, placing it in the top tier for rental property potential.

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 62204 (East Saint Louis, IL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Excellent
Cap Rate
19.3%
Excellent
5yr Growth
-4.9%
Declining

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $36,071
Monthly Rent $891
Price-to-Rent 3.4:1
1% Rule ✓ Passes

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 29.6%
Cap Rate 19.3%
5-Year IRR 14.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +5.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR -2.2% ▼
5-Year CAGR -4.9% ▼
10-Year CAGR -0.1% ▼

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Positive Leverage Market Cap Rate: 19.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage may enhance returns here.

The estimated cap rate (19.3%) exceeds the current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%). When borrowing costs less than a property yields, leverage can increase your cash-on-cash return above the cap rate.

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
33.8%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
-4.9%
Declining
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 62204

Population: 4,824

💰 Median Household Income
$33,730
This area
$33,730
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
32.6%
This area
32.6%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
7.2%
This area
7.2%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
5.6%
This area
5.6%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.0 years
This area
37.0 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
33.8%
This area
33.8%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Black/African American 88.1%
Other/Mixed 8.9%
Hispanic/Latino 4.4%
White 2.2%
Asian 0.8%
👶 Under 18
29.2%
This area
29.2%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.7%
This area
18.7%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
27.1%
This area
27.1%
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 62204

A+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
11.6:1 Avg Class Size
$27,942 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

James Avant Elementary School

📚 K – 05 Elementary
👥
329 Students
👨‍🏫
9.1:1 Class Size
💰
$27,942 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Wyvetter Younge Sch of Excellence

📚 K – 08 School
👥
477 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$27,942 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Annette Officer Elementary

📚 K – 04 Elementary
📍 558 N 27th St, East Saint Louis
👥
331 Students
👨‍🏫
11.8:1 Class Size
💰
$27,942 Per Student
A+ Excellent

East St Louis-Lincoln Middle Sch

📚 05 – 08 School
📍 12 S 10th St, East Saint Louis
👥
400 Students
👨‍🏫
8.2:1 Class Size
💰
$27,942 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Katie Harper-Wright Elem

📚 Pre-K – 04 Elementary
📍 7710 State St, East Saint Louis
👥
383 Students
👨‍🏫
12.0:1 Class Size
💰
$27,942 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Mason/Clark Middle Sch

📚 05 – 08 School
📍 5510 State St, East Saint Louis
👥
599 Students
👨‍🏫
10.9:1 Class Size
💰
$27,942 Per Student
A Very Good

Vivian Adams Early Child Ctr

📚 Grade PK Elementary
📍 501 Katherine Dunham Pl, East Saint Louis
👥
376 Students
👨‍🏫
15.7:1 Class Size
💰
$27,942 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

8 Nearby
C+
Stevens-The Institute of Business & Arts
95 students · 5.7 mi
D
Ponce Health Sciences University-St Louis
119 students · 6.4 mi
C+
Harris-Stowe State University
1,098 students · 6.9 mi
B
Saint Louis University
17,202 students · 7.5 mi
C
Aquinas Institute of Theology
83 students · 7.6 mi
C
Ranken Technical College
1,696 students · 8.4 mi
C
Barnes-Jewish College Goldfarb School of Nursing
499 students · 8.8 mi
C+
University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis
631 students · 8.9 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How well does BRRRR work in East Saint Louis, IL?

East Saint Louis, IL BRRRR deals are a strong. With proper buy-side discipline, operators can recycle most of their capital post-refinance.

What real estate strategy is ideal for East Saint Louis, IL?

Investors who focus on value-add and BRRRR deals typically do well in East Saint Louis, IL. The numbers - $36K homes against $891/mo rents - support that play.

What is the median home value in East Saint Louis, IL?

East Saint Louis, IL median home values land near $36K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $891/mo-per-month rentals.

How viable is house hacking in East Saint Louis, IL?

East Saint Louis, IL offers an attractive house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $891/mo rent level.

Is East Saint Louis, IL a 1% rule market?

With rents of $891/mo on $36K homes, East Saint Louis, IL close to the 1% rule for most properties. The actual rent-to-price ratio is 2.47%.

You know 62204 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 62204 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 62204 ranks in St. Louis, MO-IL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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