Real Estate Investing in Carbondale, Illinois (62903)

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

Jackson County • Population: 2,533 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 62903 (Carbondale, IL)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (65/100)

Mixed signals — some positives, some negatives. Worth considering but not a slam-dunk.

📈 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: 20.3% of homes vacant — above national norms.

What’s happening in Carbondale, IL (62903)?

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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 $203,924
Avg Monthly Rent $812
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $46,012
% Renters 56.6%

Market Analysis: 62903 Carbondale

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Carbondale's 62903 ZIP reports signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $204K pricing implies.

Distressed markets are won on execution, not on spreadsheets. ZIP 62903 reports the profile where tenant screening, deferred maintenance, and local relationships determine the outcome.

Within IL, ZIP 62903 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Jackson County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and robust enough to shape underwriting.

The 62903 ZIP's population of 2,533 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that records the need for careful underwriting.

The 62903 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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: 72/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
25/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+14.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $812/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)

$219K$189K$159K$130K$100K$70KMar 2009Nov 2017Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$832$774$716$658$600$543Jan 2026Apr 2026May 2026

📊 How Does 62903 Compare?

Metric 62903 Carbondale Carbondale-Marion, IL Illinois
Home Value $203,924 $178,181 N/A $279,761
5-Year CAGR 10.2% 8.9% N/A 6.6%
Avg Rent $812 $787 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.1% 3.5% - -
💡 Why Invest in 62903? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

57% of households rent in this area, creating consistent tenant demand for landlords.

📊 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 62903 (Carbondale, IL). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.1%
Low
5yr Growth
+10.2%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $203,924
Monthly Rent $812
Price-to-Rent 20.9:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.8%
Cap Rate 3.1%
5-Year IRR 13.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +14.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +11.3% ▲
5-Year CAGR +10.2% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.1%). 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
20.3%
Elevated risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+10.2%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 62903

Population: 2,533

💰 Median Household Income
$46,012
This area
$46,012
State
$75,721
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
56.6%
This area
56.6%
State
22.2%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.5%
This area
2.5%
State
-3.3%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
47.3%
This area
47.3%
State
16.4%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
28.6 years
This area
28.6 years
State
32.6 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
20.3%
This area
20.3%
State
11.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 70.7%
Black/African American 11.3%
Other/Mixed 11.1%
Asian 6.9%
Hispanic/Latino 5.5%
👶 Under 18
20.4%
This area
20.4%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
15.4%
This area
15.4%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
9.2%
This area
9.2%
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 62903

B Avg School Grade
2 Schools
12.8:1 Avg Class Size
$16,262 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Unity Point Elem School

📚 Pre-K – 08 School
👥
660 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$16,262 Per Student
C Below Average

TCSE-UNITY POINT ELEM

📚 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
D
Southern Illinois University-System Office
0 students · 3.4 mi
B
Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
11,359 students · 4.3 mi
C
John A Logan College
3,120 students · 11.4 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average monthly rent in Carbondale, IL?

Average rent in Carbondale, IL is approximately $812/mo per month. Against $204K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

How landlord-friendly is Carbondale, IL?

Carbondale, IL falls under IL landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

Is Carbondale, IL a smart market for rental property?

Investors tracking Carbondale, IL will find a 3.0/5 rating supported by $204K median home values and $812/mo rents. That profile suits long-term holders targeting even-keeled returns.

How do experienced investors play Carbondale, IL?

In Carbondale, IL the impressive play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $204K prices and $812/mo rents suits that approach.

Is house hacking profitable in Carbondale, IL?

The house hack math a challenging in Carbondale, IL. Owner-occupant buyers benefit from the $812/mo rents and $204K home values.

You know 62903 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 62903 ranks in Carbondale-Marion, IL

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

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