West Englewood (60636) Yields 9.2% in Cook County, Roughly Triple the City Median

Yields across 167 neighborhoods in Cook County (Illinois) range from 9.2% in West Englewood (60636) down to under 3% in premium North Shore and western suburbs. That spread is wider than the gap between long-term rental and short-term rental at the county level, which means WHERE you buy matters more than HOW you rent it out. This ranking shows which neighborhoods lead on gross yield and why the pattern clusters so heavily in the south suburbs.

West Englewood (60636) Leads at 9.2%, with Four South Suburbs Close Behind

Gross yields = annual income / sale price. Based on 3-bed house medians. The dashboard shows every property type and bedroom count.

Low Entry Prices Drive the South Suburb Yield Cluster

The top five neighborhoods share one defining characteristic: entry prices well below the Cook County median of $483,049. West Englewood (60636), on Chicago's South Side, leads because its median house price of $189,916 is among the lowest in the county while rents of $1,463 per month hold relatively firm. This is a neighborhood with deep affordability challenges and high tenant demand; rents do not fall proportionally with purchase prices because tenants still need housing regardless of what surrounding properties sell for. Investors should note that West Englewood (60636) carries higher management intensity and vacancy risk than the numbers alone suggest.

Woodlawn/Hyde Park (60637) and Roseland/Pullman (60628) sit just south of Chicago's city limits along the Metra Electric corridor. Woodlawn/Hyde Park (60637) prices at $213,983 with rents of $1,581 reflect a suburb with accessible commuter rail but limited commercial amenity. Roseland/Pullman (60628) commands higher rents at $1,624 on a higher price base of $222,083, suggesting slightly stronger tenant demand, likely driven by its proximity to retail along Sibley Boulevard and relative stability compared to neighboring communities. Both are primarily long-term rental markets where tenant turnover and property condition drive returns more than tourism demand.

Back of the Yards (60609) at $245,000 and Schaumburg (60173) at $324,768 round out the top five. Schaumburg (60173) is the most interesting of the group for short-term rental operators: it sits closer to the I-80/I-294 interchange, draws some business traveler demand, and its higher price point suggests more investor-grade housing stock. For investors who want short-term rental exposure, Schaumburg (60173) and Roseland/Pullman (60628) are more likely to sustain occupancy than the cheapest options on this list.

Cheaper Suburbs Yield More Because Rent Does Not Fall as Fast as Price

The inverse relationship between price and yield is sharper in Cook County than in most US markets. An investor entering at $189,916 in West Englewood (60636) versus $483,049 at the county median faces a fundamentally different capital-risk profile. The cheaper property yields more on paper, but that yield compensates for real risks: slower appreciation, higher maintenance costs on older housing stock, and a tenant pool more sensitive to economic downturns. The county median of 4.4% reflects the blend across all 167 neighborhoods, including premium areas where buyers pay for school districts and walkability rather than rental income.

This trade-off is not unique to Cook County, but the magnitude is. The spread between the top-yielding neighborhood and premium inner suburbs exceeds 10 percentage points, which means an investor choosing based on yield alone versus amenity alone would see radically different cash flow profiles from day one. The right choice depends on whether you are optimizing for current income or long-term capital growth, and that decision should be made before you start comparing specific neighborhoods.

Premium Suburbs Trade Yield for Stability and Growth

For context, here is how some of Cook County's most in-demand suburbs compare. These are established neighborhoods where investors typically accept lower yields in exchange for capital growth and liquidity.

High-demand suburbs for context. Same methodology as the yield ranking above.

These premium neighborhoods command the highest rents in Cook County, but their purchase prices climb faster still, compressing yields. Buyers in these areas are typically owner-occupiers competing with investors, which inflates prices beyond what rental income alone justifies. The short-term rental yield column is worth watching here: some of these well-known suburbs attract tourist and business traveler demand that can push short-term rental returns meaningfully above their long-term rental yields, partially closing the gap with the high-yield south suburbs.

What the Yield Ranking Does Not Capture

A high gross yield can signal depressed prices rather than strong rents. Several of the top-ranked neighborhoods have experienced population decline and deferred infrastructure investment, which means the purchase price reflects real risk that the yield figure alone does not communicate. Capital growth in these areas has historically trailed Cook County's premium suburbs by a wide margin, so total returns (income plus appreciation) may favor lower-yielding neighborhoods over a 10-year hold.

Vacancy risk also differs sharply across the county. High-yield neighborhoods can have thinner rental pools and more turnover, which eats into the effective yield an investor actually collects. Meanwhile, property tax rates in Cook County average around 2.0% of assessed value, and assessment practices vary by township, meaning two properties at the same price can carry very different tax bills. These are city-level medians; the dashboard breaks down each neighborhood individually so you can compare actual operating costs, not just headline yield.

Cook County Yields Sit Below the Illinois State Median

The county-wide long-term rental yield of 4.4% compared to the Illinois state median of 6.1% and the national median of 4.9% tells a clear story: Cook County's elevated property prices pull the average yield down relative to both benchmarks. However, that county median masks enormous internal variance. The top-ranked suburb at 9.2% comfortably exceeds both the state and national averages, while many premium North Shore and western suburbs trail the national figure. This is why suburb selection in Cook County matters more than in most US markets: you can land above or below the national average depending entirely on which neighborhood you choose, all within the same county.

Short-Term Rental Regulations Vary Within Cook County

Illinois has no statewide short-term rental ban. Chicago requires licensing. Other municipalities may have their own rules. State and local hotel taxes apply. Investors considering short-term rental should verify local ordinances at the municipal level before committing. Chicago's licensing requirements differ from suburban Cook County, and enforcement intensity varies. The short-term rental yields shown in the tables above assume compliance with local rules and a lodging tax rate of approximately 6.3%, though total tax rates including local levies can run significantly higher in some municipalities.

For investors comparing strategies, the county-wide short-term rental gross yield of 8.6% substantially exceeds the long-term rental yield of 4.4%, but this comes with higher operating costs and regulatory complexity. The gross break-even occupancy sits at roughly 24%, meaning short-term rental gross revenue matches long-term rental annual rent at modest occupancy levels. The actual after-costs break-even is higher because short-term rental carries greater operating expenses. Whether that margin justifies the additional management burden depends on the specific neighborhood and your willingness to operate (or pay someone around 22% to manage) a hospitality business. After All Costs, Cook County's Short-Term Rental Edge Narrows Sharply (remove entirely)

Data reflects market conditions as of April 2026. Methodology details are available on the market score methodology and data sources pages.

This information is for educational purposes only and should not be considered financial or legal advice. Regulations and market conditions change frequently. Verify current rules with local authorities before making investment decisions.