c.1915 Three Bedroom Illinois Craftsman Bungalow – A Beauty Inside and Out Under $160K

c.1915 Three Bedroom Illinois Craftsman Bungalow – A Beauty Inside and Out. This house is a total dream home. From the welcoming front porch to the incredible interior, wow.

If interested in a property, pleases contact the realtor whose link is provided in the post below, or contact an agent of your own choosing. Independent verification of details and status is recommended.

525 W Ash St, Chillicothe, IL 61523.  $159,900

• Contact Realtor: Bryson Smith
• Google Map
• Niche 

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Pros

1. Affordable housing & overall cost of living

• The median home value in Chillicothe is around $167,000, with a year‐over‐year increase of ~9.2% recently.

• Rent and cost of living are reported to be significantly below Illinois averages. For example, one site lists median home value ~$152,500, lower than IL average ~$242,000.

• Because housing is more affordable, you may get more for your money (space, yard, etc) compared to pricier suburbs/metros.

2. Relatively good safety / lower crime in many parts

• According to one crime‐stats site, Chillicothe ranks in the 87th percentile for safety (safer than about 87% of US cities) with total crime rate ~13.32 per 1,000 residents.

• Another site notes that the “chance of being a crime victim” is lower than many comparable small cities.

• For families or folks seeking a quieter, safe locale, this is a positive.

3. Small‐town charm with access to nature and local amenities

• The town gives “small river‐town” feel, with the Illinois River nearby, some local downtown shops and character.

• Housing market showing growth (as above) suggests some positive investment potential.

4. Good livability scores in some areas

• One livability index gives Chillicothe a score of 72/100 (“above average”) with strong marks for cost of living, housing.

• Niche ratings: Chillicothe is ranked around #20 of 362 for “Suburbs with the Lowest Cost of Living in Illinois.”

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Cons

1. Limited amenities / fewer entertainment/retail options

• While it has charm, one drawback: “amenities” category scored poorly in livability metrics.

• Some residents comment that while the town is nice, there simply isn’t as much variety in dining/shopping/entertainment as in larger cities. For example:

  “This small town is very friendly … The downside is, I think I had a pretty boring childhood.”

• If you value lots of restaurants, clubs, cultural events, you may need to travel or accept fewer local options.

2. Economic/job market may be constrained

• One write‐up mentions “limited job opportunities, primarily in healthcare, retail, and manufacturing” compared to major metros.

• Population size is small (~6,000) so local economy is smaller in scale.

• While housing is affordable, if you need to commute to a major job hub or you’re seeking high‐wage specialty employment, you may face trade‐offs.

3. Neighborhood variation & caution required

• While some parts are very good, crime and quality vary by neighborhood. For example, crime grade site shows differences: “northeast” neighborhoods had 1 in 32 chance of being a victim versus 1 in 143 in the west.

• A Reddit thread echoes this:

  “Avoid the east side … there are some pretty decent family‑friendly neighborhoods out western ave.”

• So due diligence on which part of town you choose is important.

4. Less rapid socio‑economic growth / potential stagnation

• While housing is rising, the city is small and may not have the same momentum as fast‐growing suburbs.

• One source flags “declining population growth” as a con: “population has seen a steady decline in past 5 years.”

• Also, infrastructure (utilities, etc) is older in some places.

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