Real Estate Investing in West Frankfort, Illinois (62896)

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

Franklin County • Population: 10,691 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 62896 (West Frankfort, IL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (57/100)

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 (57/100)

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: 13.5% of homes vacant — above national norms.
  • Declining values: -1.6% 5-year CAGR — values have moved lower.

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

What’s happening in West Frankfort, IL (62896)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

1.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

5.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $107,938
Avg Monthly Rent $837
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $51,816
% Renters 26.6%

Market Analysis: 62896 West Frankfort

From a cash-flow lens, ZIP 62896 has challenges — vacancy pressure, softer price growth, and tenant stability concerns sit alongside the $108K median. It rewards specialists, not generalists.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 62896 reports the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Statewide comparisons place 62896 among IL's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

From an investor standpoint, 10,691 residents fill the ZIP, renter turnover runs higher than neighboring postal codes and delinquency risk is a real line item rather than a theoretical one.

Distressed ZIPs reward experience. sturdy returns are possible in 62896, 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 West Frankfort:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 66/100
Affordability
25/25
Appreciation
5/25
Stability
11/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.1× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+13.6%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $837/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
Carbondale-Marion, IL Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
60 days
Average time to sell
Average
8.2%
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 Carbondale-Marion, IL metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$126K$119K$112K$104K$97K$90KNov 2013Mar 2020Jul 2026

📊 How Does 62896 Compare?

Metric 62896 West Frankfort Carbondale-Marion, IL Illinois
Home Value $107,938 $107,938 N/A $279,761
5-Year CAGR N/A N/A N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $837 $837 N/A -
Cap Rate 6.1% 6.1% - -
💡 Why Invest in 62896? 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 62896 (West Frankfort, IL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
6.1%
Good
5yr Growth
-1.6%
Declining

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $107,938
Monthly Rent $837
Price-to-Rent 10.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 9.3%
Cap Rate 6.1%
5-Year IRR 4.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +13.6% ▲
3-Year CAGR +0.8% ▲
5-Year CAGR -1.6% ▼
10-Year CAGR +0.3% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 6.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (6.1%). 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
13.5%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
-1.6%
Flat
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 62896

Population: 10,691

💰 Median Household Income
$51,816
This area
$51,816
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
26.6%
This area
26.6%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
5.1%
This area
5.1%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
13.8%
This area
13.8%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.4 years
This area
43.4 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
13.5%
This area
13.5%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 96.9%
Other/Mixed 2.6%
Hispanic/Latino 0.9%
Black/African American 0.5%
👶 Under 18
21.8%
This area
21.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
19.4%
This area
19.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
18.3%
This area
18.3%
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 62896

A+ Avg School Grade
4 Schools
12.9:1 Avg Class Size
$19,244 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Frankfort Comm High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
414 Students
👨‍🏫
10.8:1 Class Size
💰
$19,244 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Central Jr High School

📚 07 – 08 Middle
👥
218 Students
👨‍🏫
11.7:1 Class Size
💰
$19,244 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Frankfort Intermediate School

📚 03 – 06 School
👥
419 Students
👨‍🏫
12.7:1 Class Size
💰
$19,244 Per Student
A Very Good

Denning Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 02 Elementary
👥
474 Students
👨‍🏫
16.6:1 Class Size
💰
$19,244 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 611 Off-Campus Students
C
John A Logan College
3,120 students · 14.0 mi

Investor Insight: With 611 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are home prices like in West Frankfort, IL?

Expect median prices around $108K in West Frankfort, IL. The market has run at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, so entry costs have been consistent.

What monthly rent should investors expect in West Frankfort, IL?

Expect rents around $837/mo per month in West Frankfort, IL. With home values at $108K, the yield math works out to reasonable levels for rental investors.

What is it like being a landlord in West Frankfort, IL?

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

Should investors consider West Frankfort, IL?

Our data puts West Frankfort, IL at 3.0/5 for investability. Home prices of $108K and rents around $837/mo create a solid backdrop for investor activity.

What is the best play in West Frankfort, IL?

A careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management strategy West Frankfort, IL best. The market produces predictable results for that approach at the $108K price point.

You know 62896 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 62896 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 62896 ranks in Carbondale-Marion, IL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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