Real Estate Investing in Brookfield, Wisconsin (53045)

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

Waukesha County • Population: 23,072 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 53045 (Brookfield, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (68/100)

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
CLEAN

No major risk flags on the data we track.

What’s happening in Brookfield, WI (53045)?

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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 $554,859
Avg Monthly Rent $2,314
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $115,202
% Renters 22.5%

Market Analysis: 53045 Brookfield

ZIP 53045 inside Waukesha County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $555K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

If the plan assumes clean turnover, on-time rent, and low maintenance on a $555K asset, 53045 is the wrong submarket. If the plan prices in friction, the yield can still work.

Within WI, ZIP 53045 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Waukesha County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and substantial enough to shape underwriting.

The 53045 ZIP's population of 23,072 has faced economic pressure over the last decade. That pressure shows up in rent delinquency patterns that clocks in at the need for careful underwriting.

Experienced landlords with local relationships tend to find 53045 workable. Turnkey investors from out of state usually find the numbers do not hold up in practice.

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 Brookfield:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 68/100
Affordability
10/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4.8× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+7.8%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,314/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
BALANCED
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
⚖️
BALANCED MARKET
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI Metro Area
Even conditions for buyers and sellers
36 days
Average time to sell
Average
7.5%
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 Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 53045

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
3BR
3.9% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+7.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
3BR
$153,338/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $390,163 $2,010 3.7% +7.7% $195,082
3BR $460,015 $2,480 3.9% +7.2% $153,338
4BR $633,926 $2,680 3.0% +7.3% $158,482
5BR $860,877 +7.6% $172,175

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$579K$512K$445K$377K$310K$242KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,345$2,255$2,166$2,076$1,987$1,897Mar 2025Nov 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 53045 Compare?

Metric 53045 Brookfield Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI Wisconsin
Home Value $554,859 $534,973 N/A $320,446
5-Year CAGR 6.1% 6.3% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $2,314 $2,206 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.3% 3.2% - -
💡 Why Invest in 53045? Click to expand

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

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 53045 (Brookfield, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Waukesha County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Home Path Property Management offers home rentals, build-to-rent options, and vacation rentals in the Milwaukee Area. summary from their website

Short-term rentals
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MPC Property Management offers a wide range of property management services for residential, commercial, and association properties in Wisconsin. summary from their website

Single-familySmall multifamilyCommercialHOA
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Diamond Property Management LLC appears to offer property management services based on the domain and name, though homepage content is technical. summary from their website

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Listings are shown for convenience — Repit doesn’t endorse or vet these companies. Ratings shown come only from email-verified visitors.

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
3.3%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.1%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $554,859
Monthly Rent $2,314
Price-to-Rent 20.0:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 5.0%
Cap Rate 3.3%
5-Year IRR 9.3%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.8% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +5.8% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year +16.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.3%). 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
4.7%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.1%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 53045

Population: 23,072

💰 Median Household Income
$115,202
This area
$115,202
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
22.5%
This area
22.5%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.4%
This area
1.4%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
62.2%
This area
62.2%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
45.8 years
This area
45.8 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
4.7%
This area
4.7%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 80.3%
Asian 12.4%
Other/Mixed 6.2%
Hispanic/Latino 3.5%
Black/African American 1.2%
👶 Under 18
21.8%
This area
21.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
25.2%
This area
25.2%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.9%
This area
4.9%
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 53045

B+ Avg School Grade
3 Schools
10.5:1 Avg Class Size
$14,850 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

B+ Above Average

Wisconsin Hills Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
822 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,850 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Brookfield Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
676 Students
👨‍🏫
16.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,850 Per Student
B Good

Fairview South

📚 05 – 12 High School
👥
6 Students
👨‍🏫
0.6:1 Class Size
💰
$14,850 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

B+ Above Average

Dixon Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 2400 Pilgrim Square Dr, Brookfield
👥
672 Students
👨‍🏫
16.3:1 Class Size
💰
$14,850 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Burleigh Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 16185 Burleigh Pl, Brookfield
👥
915 Students
👨‍🏫
16.9:1 Class Size
💰
$14,850 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Swanson Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 305 N Calhoun Rd, Brookfield
👥
806 Students
👨‍🏫
15.4:1 Class Size
💰
$14,850 Per Student
B Good

Brookfield Central High

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 16900 W Gebhardt Rd, Brookfield
👥
1,172 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,850 Per Student
B Good

Brookfield East High

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 3305 N Lilly Rd, Brookfield
👥
1,398 Students
👨‍🏫
16.8:1 Class Size
💰
$14,850 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

8 Nearby 4,204 Off-Campus Students
D
Herzing University-Brookfield
383 students · 2.7 mi
C
Ottawa University-Milwaukee
116 students · 2.8 mi
C
Paul Mitchell the School-Milwaukee
111 students · 4.9 mi
D
Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa
952 students · 5.2 mi
D
Milwaukee Career College
73 students · 5.3 mi
C+
Waukesha County Technical College
7,757 students · 5.3 mi
C+
Carroll University
3,176 students · 5.5 mi
C
Mount Mary University
1,224 students · 6.1 mi

Investor Insight: With 4,204 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is real estate in Brookfield, WI a good investment right now?

Brookfield, WI scores 3.0/5 for investability. Home values sit at $555K and rents near $2,314/mo, which keeps the rent-to-price ratio in reasonable territory for buy-and-hold investors.

How do landlord-tenant laws work in Brookfield, WI?

WI ranks as a landlord-friendly state for landlord-tenant law. Brookfield generally follows the statewide framework, so landlords face reasonable operating rules.

What is the typical vacancy rate in Brookfield, WI?

Brookfield, WI vacancy trends elevated. Investors running standard buy-and-hold plays see reasonable downtime between tenants.

Is Brookfield, WI a good market for FHA house hackers?

Brookfield, WI is a a challenging market for house hackers. FHA or conventional owner-occupant buyers find the $555K price point reasonable to enter.

What is the best play in Brookfield, WI?

For Brookfield, WI, careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management is the standard investor playbook. The market structure makes it a reasonable default approach.

You know 53045 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 53045 compares to every other market. Investor ($19/mo) screens every U.S. ZIP by cap rate, the 1% rule, vacancy and landlord climate, and exports your shortlist.

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How 53045 ranks in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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