Real Estate Investing in Johnson Creek, Wisconsin (53038)

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

Jefferson County • Population: 4,319 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 53038 (Johnson Creek, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (64/100)

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 price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 29.1 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

• Modeled rent — no observed market rent for this ZIP; the figure is estimated from HUD fair-market rent.

What’s happening in Johnson Creek, WI (53038)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $420,852
Avg Monthly Rent $1,206
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $91,229
% Renters 19.0%

Market Analysis: 53038 Johnson Creek

Investors eyeing 53038 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $421K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Rent of $1,206/mo on a $421K basis reads well until vacancy, delinquency, and capex enter the model. The honest cap rate in 53038 sits below the stated 0.0% once reality is priced in.

Regionally, 53038 sits on the difficult end of the WI spectrum. The a credible choice for read — for disciplined operators — is that pricing reflects the difficulty.

Employment concentration in 53038 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

New investors are better served looking at Johnson Creek's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 53038. The learning curve here is expensive when the lesson is wrong.

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 Johnson Creek:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 60/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
7/20
Timing
6/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,206/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
WARM
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
☀️
WARM MARKET
Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI Metro Area
Seller-favorable conditions, steady activity
0 days
Average time to sell
Very Fast
7.3%
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 Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI metro data

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$441K$382K$324K$265K$206K$147KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 53038 Compare?

Metric 53038 Johnson Creek Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI Wisconsin
Home Value $420,852 $420,852 N/A $320,446
5-Year CAGR 6.6% 6.6% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,206 $1,206 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.2% 2.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 53038? Click to expand

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

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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 53038 (Johnson Creek, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.2%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.6%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $420,852
Monthly Rent $1,206
Price-to-Rent 29.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.4%
Cap Rate 2.2%
5-Year IRR 8.8%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.9% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.5% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.2%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.2%). 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
2.8%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.6%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 53038

Population: 4,319

💰 Median Household Income
$91,229
This area
$91,229
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
19.0%
This area
19.0%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.3%
This area
2.3%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
30.7%
This area
30.7%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
38.0 years
This area
38.0 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
2.8%
This area
2.8%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 90.7%
Other/Mixed 4.7%
Asian 3.3%
Hispanic/Latino 1.9%
Black/African American 1.3%
👶 Under 18
21.7%
This area
21.7%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
11.9%
This area
11.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.0%
This area
2.0%
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 53038

A+ Avg School Grade
1 Schools
10.1:1 Avg Class Size
$26,300 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Johnson Creek Public School

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12
👥
620 Students
👨‍🏫
10.1:1 Class Size
💰
$26,300 Per Student
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

1 Nearby
C+
Maranatha Baptist University
977 students · 8.0 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

How do home values compare in Johnson Creek, WI?

In Johnson Creek, WI the median home value sits at $421K. Against the broader WI market, that reads as reasonable for most investors.

Is vacancy a concern in Johnson Creek, WI?

Rental vacancy in Johnson Creek, WI is elevated. Investors should budget normal turnover but not chronic empty units.

Does Johnson Creek, WI favor landlords or tenants?

Rental owners in Johnson Creek, WI deal with a landlord-friendly legal framework. Most standard eviction processes run on reasonable timelines.

What monthly rent should investors expect in Johnson Creek, WI?

Average rent in Johnson Creek, WI is approximately $1,206/mo per month. Against $421K home values that yields a reasonable rent-to-price ratio.

Is it easy to find good tenants in Johnson Creek, WI?

The renter base in Johnson Creek, WI is reasonable for the $1,206/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields reliable tenants.

You know 53038 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 53038 ranks in Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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