Real Estate Investing in Saint Jacob, Illinois (62281)

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

Madison County • Population: 3,018 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 62281 (Saint Jacob, IL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (71/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 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
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 Saint Jacob, IL (62281)?

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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 $365,457
Avg Monthly Rent $1,386
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $98,651
% Renters 8.1%

Market Analysis: 62281 Saint Jacob

ZIP 62281 in Saint Jacob, IL carries a resilient set of headwinds. Home values near $365K and rents of $1,386/mo sit inside a market where underwriting has to be tight.

Put differently, the numbers look inviting — $365K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 62281 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Nearby ZIPs in Saint Jacob have seen price recovery that 62281 has not matched. Madison County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Resident income in 62281 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. robust returns are possible in 62281, 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 Saint Jacob:

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 3.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,386/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 62281

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
4.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
3BR
+7.1% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$90,850/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
3BR $293,676 $1,980 4.9% +7.1% $97,892
4BR $382,420 $2,290 4.3% +6.6% $95,605
5BR $454,248 +6.7% $90,850

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$380K$337K$293K$250K$206K$163KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 62281 Compare?

Metric 62281 Saint Jacob St. Louis, MO-IL Illinois
Home Value $365,457 $365,457 N/A $279,761
5-Year CAGR 5.7% 5.7% N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $1,386 $1,386 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.0% 3.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 62281? 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 62281 (Saint Jacob, IL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.7%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $365,457
Monthly Rent $1,386
Price-to-Rent 22.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.6%
Cap Rate 3.0%
5-Year IRR 8.6%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.0%). 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
6.9%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.7%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 62281

Population: 3,018

💰 Median Household Income
$98,651
This area
$98,651
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
8.1%
This area
8.1%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
0.5%
This area
0.5%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
38.9%
This area
38.9%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
37.5 years
This area
37.5 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
6.9%
This area
6.9%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 97.3%
Other/Mixed 2.5%
Hispanic/Latino 1.2%
Asian 0.2%
👶 Under 18
29.0%
This area
29.0%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
9.1%
This area
9.1%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
0.7%
This area
0.7%
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 62281

B Avg School Grade
2 Schools
16.1:1 Avg Class Size
$13,124 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B Good

St Jacob Elem School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
239 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$13,124 Per Student
B Good

Triad Middle School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
948 Students
👨‍🏫
17.2:1 Class Size
💰
$13,124 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

2 Nearby 2,192 Off-Campus Students
C
McKendree University
2,075 students · 6.9 mi
C+
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
12,045 students · 13.1 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Saint Jacob in IL worth investing in?

Our data puts Saint Jacob, IL at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $365K and rents around $1,386/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

What do rentals go for in Saint Jacob, IL?

Average rent in Saint Jacob, IL is approximately $1,386/mo per month. Against $365K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

What are home prices like in Saint Jacob, IL?

Median home price in Saint Jacob, IL is near $365K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been stable and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Saint Jacob, IL?

Saint Jacob, IL is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $365K price point reasonable to enter.

What investment strategy works best in Saint Jacob, IL?

Most investors in Saint Jacob, IL run a careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy. It aligns with the 3.0/5 investability profile and the market fundamentals.

You know 62281 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 62281 ranks in St. Louis, MO-IL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable → 1% Rule →
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