Real Estate Investing in West Salem, Illinois (62476)

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

Edwards • Population: 1,279 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 62476 (West Salem, IL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (59/100)

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

📈 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
2 flags
  • High vacancy: 24.2% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Flat appreciation: Values have barely moved over 5 years (0.1% CAGR).

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

What’s happening in West Salem, IL (62476)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $150,857
Avg Monthly Rent $828
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $62,829
% Renters 10.4%

Market Analysis: 62476 West Salem

This part of Edwards is not an easy win. The 62476 ZIP clocks in at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

On the rental side, the numbers look inviting — $151K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 62476 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Within IL, ZIP 62476 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Edwards submarkets outperform. The gap is real and impressive enough to shape underwriting.

Resident income in 62476 sits below the county median. That reality colors rent collection, vacancy, and reinvestment math in ways that outside investors often underestimate.

New investors are better served looking at West Salem's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 62476. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 West Salem:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 65/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
10/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+16.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $828/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.

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$158K$150K$142K$135K$127K$120KFeb 2021Nov 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 62476 Compare?

Metric 62476 West Salem Illinois
Home Value $150,857 $150,857 $279,761
5-Year CAGR 0.1% 0.1% 6.6%
Avg Rent $828 $828 -
Cap Rate 4.3% 4.3% -
💡 Why Invest in 62476? 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 62476 (West Salem, IL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.3%
Fair
5yr Growth
+0.1%
Slow

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $150,857
Monthly Rent $828
Price-to-Rent 15.2:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.6%
Cap Rate 4.3%
5-Year IRR 4.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +16.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR -0.6% ▼
5-Year CAGR +0.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR N/A

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.3%). 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.

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⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
24.2%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+0.1%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 62476

Population: 1,279

💰 Median Household Income
$62,829
This area
$62,829
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
10.4%
This area
10.4%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
3.9%
This area
3.9%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
10.7%
This area
10.7%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
46.8 years
This area
46.8 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
24.2%
This area
24.2%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 96.2%
Other/Mixed 3.3%
Hispanic/Latino 0.9%
Black/African American 0.5%
👶 Under 18
17.5%
This area
17.5%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.6%
This area
22.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.1%
This area
3.1%
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 62476

A Avg School Grade
1 Schools
12.9:1 Avg Class Size
$17,239 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

West Salem Grade School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
178 Students
👨‍🏫
12.9:1 Class Size
💰
$17,239 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 203 Off-Campus Students
D
Illinois Eastern Community College-System Office
0 students · 14.1 mi
C
Wabash Valley College
906 students · 14.3 mi
C+
Olney Central College
880 students · 14.8 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best play in West Salem, IL?

For West Salem, IL, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

How much rent can I charge in West Salem, IL?

Rents in West Salem, IL run near $828/mo. Compared with median home prices of $151K that produces solid gross yields for typical rentals.

How expensive is real estate in West Salem, IL?

Median home price in West Salem, IL is near $151K, with a 5-year CAGR of 0.0%. Prices have been consistent and supportive of buy-and-hold strategies.

How strict are landlord regulations in West Salem, IL?

West Salem, IL operates under IL law, which is landlord-friendly overall for landlords. Expect consistent treatment in typical lease and eviction cases.

What is the investability score for West Salem, IL?

West Salem, IL records an investability rating of 3.0/5, with median home values near $151K and average rents around $828/mo. That combination puts it in the notable tier for investor interest.

You know 62476 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 62476 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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