Real Estate Investing in Kenosha, Wisconsin (53142)

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

Kenosha County • Population: 33,572 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 53142 (Kenosha, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
GOOD FIT
Grade B (80/100)

Solid choice — values are growing steadily and the market is stable enough to buy with confidence.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (52/100)

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 Kenosha, WI (53142)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

4.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $334,918
Avg Monthly Rent $1,825
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $83,073
% Renters 25.8%

Market Analysis: 53142 Kenosha

Investors eyeing 53142 need to respect the fundamentals at play. Home values of $335K come alongside slower price movement and elevated management overhead.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 53142 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Nearby ZIPs in Kenosha have seen price recovery that 53142 has not matched. Kenosha County data supports the view that the spread is structural rather than temporary.

Employment concentration in 53142 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

The right play in 53142 usually involves deep tenant screening, aggressive delinquency response, and a conservative capex buffer. Anything less, and the discount can turn into a trap.

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 Kenosha:

B Good
Buy Confidence Score: 73/100
Affordability
15/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
8/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Moderate
Homes cost 4× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+10.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,825/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.
🏠

Property Strategy for 53142

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
5.1% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+7.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$96,812/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $221,271 $1,580 5.1% +7.7% $110,635
3BR $310,764 $2,140 5.0% +7.0% $103,588
4BR $420,519 $2,450 4.2% +7.3% $105,130
5BR $484,062 +7.3% $96,812

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$351K$305K$258K$212K$166K$120KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,215$2,071$1,927$1,783$1,639$1,495Dec 2021Apr 2024Jul 2026

📊 How Does 53142 Compare?

Metric 53142 Kenosha Wisconsin
Home Value $334,918 $86,663 $320,446
5-Year CAGR 6.1% 6.8% 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,825 $1,703 -
Cap Rate 4.3% 4.6% -
💡 Why Invest in 53142? 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 53142 (Kenosha, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
4.3%
Fair
5yr Growth
+6.1%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $334,918
Monthly Rent $1,825
Price-to-Rent 15.3:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 6.5%
Cap Rate 4.3%
5-Year IRR 10.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +10.4% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.6% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -11.8% ▼
3-Year CAGR -2.3% ▼
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 4.3%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (4.3%). 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
3.6%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.1%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 53142

Population: 33,572

💰 Median Household Income
$83,073
This area
$83,073
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
25.8%
This area
25.8%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.8%
This area
2.8%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
33.9%
This area
33.9%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
39.9 years
This area
39.9 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.6%
This area
3.6%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 78.0%
Other/Mixed 12.9%
Hispanic/Latino 10.0%
Black/African American 5.8%
Asian 3.4%
👶 Under 18
24.1%
This area
24.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
14.8%
This area
14.8%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
5.2%
This area
5.2%
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 53142

B+ Avg School Grade
7 Schools
13.4:1 Avg Class Size
$15,612 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Forest Park Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
326 Students
👨‍🏫
12.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,612 Per Student
A Very Good

Lance Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
783 Students
👨‍🏫
13.9:1 Class Size
💰
$15,612 Per Student
A Very Good

Stocker Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
302 Students
👨‍🏫
13.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,612 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Jeffery Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
280 Students
👨‍🏫
14.0:1 Class Size
💰
$15,612 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Nash Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
511 Students
👨‍🏫
15.5:1 Class Size
💰
$15,612 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Roosevelt Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
458 Students
👨‍🏫
16.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,612 Per Student
B Good

Kenosha High School of Technology Enhanced Curriculum

📚 09 – 11 High School Charter
👥
61 Students
👨‍🏫
8.1:1 Class Size

Nearby Schools (4 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A Very Good

Whittier Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 8542 Cooper Rd, Pleasant Prairie
👥
426 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$15,612 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Pleasant Prairie Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 9208 Wilmot Rd, Pleasant Prairie
👥
486 Students
👨‍🏫
16.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,612 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Prairie Lane Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 10717 47th Ave, Pleasant Prairie
👥
373 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,612 Per Student
B Good

Lakeview Technology Academy

📚 09 – 12 High School
📍 9449 88th Ave, Pleasant Prairie
👥
391 Students
👨‍🏫
24.4:1 Class Size
💰
$15,612 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 5,231 Off-Campus Students
C
The Salon Professional Academy-Kenosha
95 students · 4.4 mi
C+
Gateway Technical College
10,134 students · 6.3 mi
D
Herzing University-Kenosha
545 students · 6.5 mi
C+
Carthage College
2,771 students · 8.0 mi
D
University of Wisconsin-Parkside Flex
143 students · 8.1 mi
C+
University of Wisconsin-Parkside
4,008 students · 8.3 mi
C
Midwest College of Oriental Medicine-Racine
47 students · 10.1 mi
C+
Shepherds College
91 students · 11.3 mi

Investor Insight: With 5,231 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How expensive is real estate in Kenosha, WI?

The median home value in Kenosha, WI is roughly $335K. That puts it reasonable relative to the WI statewide average.

How deep is the rental pool in Kenosha, WI?

The tenant pool in Kenosha, WI is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $1,825/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

Should investors consider Kenosha, WI?

With a 3.0/5 investability score, Kenosha, WI ranks as a solid market for rental property investors. Median prices of $335K and rents of $1,825/mo drive the underlying numbers.

What kind of vacancy should I budget for in Kenosha, WI?

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

Is Kenosha, WI a friendly market for rental owners?

For rental operators, Kenosha, WI rates as landlord-friendly. The regulatory environment standard buy-and-hold operations.

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