Is Cook County, IL good for real estate investing?

Cook County has an investment score of 70/100, rated as "Buy". The county ranks #148 nationally among 1000 counties analyzed.

What is the rent-to-price ratio in Cook?

The rent-to-price ratio in Cook County is 8.06% annually, which ranks in the 92th percentile nationally. Higher ratios indicate better cash flow potential.

What is the median home price in Cook?

The median home price in Cook County is $314,517. This ranks #613 in affordability among all US counties.

Can you cash flow on rental properties in Cook?

Based on median values with 20% down at current rates, a typical rental in Cook County would generate negative cash flow of $275/month. Individual property performance varies based on purchase price, rent, and operating expenses.

Cook County

IllinoisPopulation: 5,225,367

/100

Buy

#148 of 1,000 counties

#63 in Illinois (102 counties)

Market Snapshot

$314,517

Median Home Price

15% above national median

$2,113/mo

Median Rent

41% above national median

8.06%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Top 8% nationally

-$275

Est. Monthly Cash Flow

With 20% down at 6.9% rate

Price History

Trend based on YoY growth rate. Source: Zillow ZHVI/ZORI

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$314,517

Down Payment (20%)$62,903

Loan Amount$251,614

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$2,113

Monthly P&I-$1,649

Est. Expenses (35%)-$740

Net Cash Flow-$275/mo

5.2%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-4.6%

Cash-on-Cash Return

8.06%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 5.2% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

70/100

Cash Flow(30%)

81/100

Based on 8.06% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

79/100

Based on 2.9% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

70/100

Price-to-income ratio of 4.0x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

Scores are calculated using real Zillow home value and rent data, Census population data, and economic indicators. The weighted average produces the overall investment score. Markets with missing rent data use estimated values based on regional averages.

Investment Outlook

Strengths

+Above-average rent-to-price ratio (8.06%)
+Affordable relative to local incomes
+Complete rent data available

Challenges

-Negative cash flow at typical financing (-$275/mo)
-Negative leverage (cap rate 5.2% < mortgage rate 6.9%)

Economic Indicators

Population

5,225,367

Median Income

$78,304

vs $62,400 national est.

Unemployment Rate

—

Data pending

Price-to-Income

4.0x

Moderately affordable

Compare to Nearby Counties

County					Verdict
McHenryIL	71	$349,331	$2,114	7.26%	Buy	View
ChampaignIL	71	$226,633	$1,395	7.38%	Buy	View
CurrentCookIL	70	$314,517	$2,113	8.06%	Buy
KendallIL	70	$380,573	$2,307	7.27%	Buy	View
LeeIL	70	$176,055	$912	6.22%	Buy	View
WillIL	69	$361,064	$2,121	7.05%	Buy	View

The Bottom Line

BuyCook offers solid investment potential with good cash flow or appreciation prospects.

Cook County in Illinois scores 70/100, ranking #148 of 1,000 US counties (top 15%). The 8.06% rent-to-price ratio exceeds the 1% rule target, suggesting strong cash flow potential.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-275/mo

Cap Rate

5.2%

Cash-on-Cash

-4.6%

Ready to Analyze a Deal in Cook?

Use our investment calculators to run detailed numbers on specific properties.

Single Family1-4 unit rentals, BRRRR House HackOwner-occupied strategy Multifamily5+ unit properties

Explore Other Markets

Quick Investment Calculator

Down Payment20%

5%50%100%

Purchase

Purchase Price$314,517

Down Payment (20%)$62,903

Loan Amount$251,614

Interest Rate6.85%

Monthly Cash Flow

Gross Rent+$2,113

Monthly P&I-$1,649

Est. Expenses (35%)-$740

Net Cash Flow-$275/mo

5.2%

Cap Rate (all cash)

-4.6%

Cash-on-Cash Return

8.06%

Rent-to-Price Ratio

Negative leverage: At 6.85% rates, borrowing costs exceed the 5.2% cap rate. All-cash buyers may see better returns.

* Based on county median values. 35% expenses include taxes, insurance, maintenance, vacancy, and property management. Actual results vary by property.

Run Full Analysis Try House Hack Strategy

Score Breakdown

Overall Investment Score

70/100

Cash Flow(30%)

81/100

Based on 8.06% rent-to-price ratio. Higher ratios indicate stronger cash flow potential.

Appreciation(25%)

79/100

Based on 2.9% YoY price growth. Moderate growth (3-8%) scores highest.

Stability(25%)

50/100

Population data not available.

Affordability(20%)

70/100

Price-to-income ratio of 4.0x. Lower ratios indicate more affordable markets.

County

Verdict

McHenryIL

$349,331

$2,114

7.26%

Buy

View

ChampaignIL

$226,633

$1,395

7.38%

Buy

View

CurrentCookIL

$314,517

$2,113

8.06%

Buy

KendallIL

$380,573

$2,307

7.27%

Buy

View

LeeIL

$176,055

$912

6.22%

Buy

View

WillIL

$361,064

$2,121

7.05%

Buy

View

The Bottom Line

BuyCook offers solid investment potential with good cash flow or appreciation prospects.

Cook County in Illinois scores 70/100, ranking #148 of 1,000 US counties (top 15%). The 8.06% rent-to-price ratio exceeds the 1% rule target, suggesting strong cash flow potential.

Monthly Cash Flow

$-275/mo

Cap Rate

5.2%

Cash-on-Cash

-4.6%