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RE Intelligence

Rental numbers for ZIP 61516 (Benson, IL)

Negative cash flow at any interest rate with 25% down: the rent does not cover operating costs and principal.

Rent here is HUD's Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom, because Zillow does not publish a rent index for this ZIP. It is the 40th percentile of gross rents, so market rent for a typical home is likely higher and the yield and cash flow below are conservative.
Gross yield
7.9%
rent x 12 / price
Est. cap rate
2.5%
NOI / price
Cash flow
-$538/mo
at 7.78%, 25% down
Typical price
$161,000
Zillow ZHVI, Aug 2026
HUD Fair Market Rent
$1,060/mo
HUD Fair Market Rent, 2 bedroom, FY2026

The pro forma

Typical home, default assumptions

Income and expenses, per year
OperatorLineAmountSource
Gross rent$12,720
Vacancy$636
Management$967
Property tax$3,753
Insurance$1,776
Maintenance$1,614
Net operating income$3,975
Loan payments$10,434
Cash flow-$6,459
Purchase and loan
OperatorLineAmountSource
Typical price$161,352
Down payment (25%)$40,338
Loan$121,014
Rate7.78%
Monthly payment$869
Cash in$45,179
Cash-on-cash return-14.3%
DSCR0.38
Break-even ratenone
Down payment25%
A common minimum for investment-property and DSCR loans.
Interest rate7.78%
Freddie Mac 30-year 7.03% (week of 2026-09-24) + 0.75 point investor premium.
Loan term30 years
Fixed, fully amortising.
Closing costs3% of price
Added to cash invested.
Insurance$1,776 a year
NAIC 2023 average homeowners (HO-3) premium for Illinois, $1,480, x 1.2 for a landlord policy.
Maintenance1% of price a year
The 1% rule of thumb; older homes run higher.
Vacancy5% of rent
About 18 days empty a year.
Management8% of collected rent
A typical full-service fee; zero if you self-manage.

Trends

Five years to August 2026

Price, 12 months
+2.0%
Rent, 12 months
n/a
no Zillow rent series here
Rent minus price growth
n/a
positive means yields are improving
Typical value (Zillow ZHVI)Indexed to 100 at Aug 2021
9510010511011512020222023202420252026
Show the numbers
MonthTypical value
Aug 2021$140,008
Aug 2022$154,530
Aug 2023$145,376
Aug 2024$139,361
Aug 2025$158,152
Aug 2026$161,352

Rent references

Two sources, never blended

SourceStudio1 bed2 bed3 bed4 bed
HUD Small Area FMR, FY2026$770$830$1,060$1,370$1,480
Zillow observed rent, Aug 2026not published for this ZIP

HUD's Fair Market Rent is the 40th percentile gross rent (rent plus utilities) for a standard unit, and it is what Section 8 vouchers pay against. Zillow's index tracks asking rents on listed homes. The two measure different things, so they are shown side by side and never averaged. HUD area: Peoria, IL MSA.

Property tax

Effective rate
2.33%
ZIP area, ACS
At the typical price
$3,753/yr

Median real estate taxes paid divided by median home value, Census ACS 2020 to 2024. Woodford County: 2.13%. Actual bills depend on the assessment, exemptions and any non-homestead rate.

Supply

Permits per 1,000 households
1.6
Woodford County, last 12 months
National percentile
22th
among US counties

23 new housing units permitted in 2025-09 to 2026-08, Census Building Permits Survey. A high figure means more new supply competing for tenants.

Nearby ZIP codes

ZIPDistanceTypical priceRentGross yieldCash flow /mo
61561Roanoke5.2 mi$182,000$1,120*7.4%-$616
61760Minonk6.3 mi$158,000$1,110*8.5%-$440
61369Toluca8.9 mi$115,000$920*9.6%-$260
61738Minonk9.3 mi$208,000$1,040*6.0%-$918
61771Secor9.9 mi$234,000$1,060*5.5%-$945
61570Washburn10.8 mi$138,000$980*8.5%-$370
61545Lowpoint11.6 mi$211,000$1,100*6.3%-$835
61530Eureka12.2 mi$220,000$970*5.3%-$1,060

* HUD Fair Market Rent, 2 bedroom (no Zillow rent index for that ZIP).

Every ZIP in Woodford CountyPeoria, IL metroIllinois

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Open the calculator for 61516

Questions

Is 61516 good for rental property?
On the typical home here, priced at $161,000 and renting for $1,060 a month (HUD Fair Market Rent, 2 bedroom, FY2026), the gross yield is 7.9% and the estimated cap rate is 2.5%. At a 7.78% investor rate with 25% down, estimated cash flow is -$538 a month. The median gross yield across the 8,418 ZIP codes with full Zillow data is 5.6%. These are figures for a typical property, not a judgement on any particular one.
What is the typical rent in 61516?
Zillow does not publish a rent index for 61516. HUD's FY2026 Small Area Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom here is $1,060, the 40th percentile of gross rents and the basis for Section 8 payment standards.
What is the property tax rate in 61516?
The effective property tax rate is about 2.33% of value (median taxes paid divided by median home value, Census ACS 2020 to 2024). On the typical $161,000 home that is about $3,753 a year. Your bill depends on the assessment and local exemptions.
What interest rate makes a rental in 61516 break even?
With the default assumptions, no interest rate brings cash flow to zero: rent does not cover operating costs plus principal on a 30-year loan with 25% down.
How fast are prices and rents changing in 61516?
Over the 12 months to August 2026, the typical home value changed +2.0%.

Sources and method

Data: Zillow Research (ZHVI, ZORI), HUD, US Census Bureau, Freddie Mac. Every formula is on the methodology page.

Estimates from public data for a typical property. Not investment, tax or legal advice. Your property, financing and costs will differ.