Real Estate Investing in Carbondale, Illinois (62902)

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

Williamson County • Population: 4,217 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 62902 (Carbondale, IL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (73/100)

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
1 flag
  • High vacancy: 15.7% of homes vacant — above national norms.

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

What’s happening in Carbondale, IL (62902)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

4.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $200,820
Avg Monthly Rent $846
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $68,125
% Renters 34.6%

Market Analysis: 62902 Carbondale

Investors eyeing 62902 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $201K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

The investment case in 62902 is resilient only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $201K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

Within IL, ZIP 62902 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Williamson County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and healthy enough to shape underwriting.

Employment concentration in 62902 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

The right play in 62902 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Carbondale:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 77/100
Affordability
20/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Affordable
Homes cost 2.9× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+13.2%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $846/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)

$212K$186K$160K$134K$108K$82KMay 2008Jun 2017Jul 2026

📊 How Does 62902 Compare?

Metric 62902 Carbondale Carbondale-Marion, IL Illinois
Home Value $200,820 $178,181 N/A $279,761
5-Year CAGR 9.0% 8.9% N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $846 $787 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.3% 3.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 62902? 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 62902 (Carbondale, IL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+9.0%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $200,820
Monthly Rent $846
Price-to-Rent 19.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.1%
Cap Rate 3.3%
5-Year IRR 12.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +13.2% ▲
3-Year CAGR +9.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +9.0% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.3%). 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.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

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

Vacancy
15.7%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+9.0%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 62902

Population: 4,217

💰 Median Household Income
$68,125
This area
$68,125
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
34.6%
This area
34.6%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.7%
This area
2.7%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
43.7%
This area
43.7%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.6 years
This area
39.6 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
15.7%
This area
15.7%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 86.8%
Other/Mixed 5.6%
Asian 4.3%
Black/African American 3.3%
Hispanic/Latino 3.2%
👶 Under 18
18.8%
This area
18.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
16.2%
This area
16.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.8%
This area
4.8%
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 62902

C+ Avg School Grade
2 Schools
14.5:1 Avg Class Size
$16,346 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Giant City Elem School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
242 Students
👨‍🏫
14.5:1 Class Size
💰
$16,346 Per Student
C Below Average

TCSE-CARBONDALE HS

📚 Grade M Elementary Limited Data
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 974 Off-Campus Students
C
John A Logan College
3,120 students · 5.4 mi
B
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
11,359 students · 6.3 mi
D
Southern Illinois University-System Office
0 students · 6.8 mi

Investor Insight: With 974 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How should investors approach Carbondale, IL?

In Carbondale, IL the healthy play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $201K prices and $846/mo rents suits that approach.

Should investors consider Carbondale, IL?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Carbondale, IL reflects its $201K prices and $846/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within IL.

How qualified is the tenant pool in Carbondale, IL?

The tenant pool in Carbondale, IL is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $846/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Carbondale, IL?

IL ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Carbondale generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

What does house hacking look like in Carbondale, IL?

The a challenging house-hack environment in Carbondale, IL reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

You know 62902 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 62902 ranks in Carbondale-Marion, IL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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