Real Estate Investing in Palmyra, Wisconsin (53156)

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

Jefferson County • Population: 3,314 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 53156 (Palmyra, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (54/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 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
2 flags
  • Elevated vacancy: 9.1% vacancy may signal weakening demand.
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 32.8 — 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 Palmyra, WI (53156)?

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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 $379,243
Avg Monthly Rent $963
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $75,795
% Renters 24.1%

Market Analysis: 53156 Palmyra

ZIP 53156 inside Jefferson County looks affordable on the surface — median value of $379K — but the discount exists for reasons that a careful buyer should understand before committing.

For an experienced owner, 53156 can be a a credible choice for hunting ground — but the discount at $379K reflects genuine risk that outside investors often underestimate.

The gap between 53156 and stronger Palmyra ZIPs is not closing quickly. Investors should weight long-horizon assumptions accordingly.

Who lives in 53156 is part of why the ZIP is priced as it is. The demographic profile requires hands-on management, tight screening, and local knowledge.

The 53156 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

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 Palmyra:

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 5× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+6.9%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $963/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)

$396K$348K$300K$252K$204K$157KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 53156 Compare?

Metric 53156 Palmyra Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI Wisconsin
Home Value $379,243 $379,243 N/A $320,446
5-Year CAGR 6.1% 6.1% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $963 $963 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.0% 2.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 53156? 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 53156 (Palmyra, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.1%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $379,243
Monthly Rent $963
Price-to-Rent 32.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.1%
Cap Rate 2.0%
5-Year IRR 8.1%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +6.9% ▲
3-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.0%). 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
9.1%
Moderate risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.1%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 53156

Population: 3,314

💰 Median Household Income
$75,795
This area
$75,795
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
24.1%
This area
24.1%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.7%
This area
1.7%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
22.0%
This area
22.0%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
40.4 years
This area
40.4 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
9.1%
This area
9.1%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 94.6%
Other/Mixed 4.8%
Hispanic/Latino 4.0%
Asian 0.4%
Black/African American 0.3%
👶 Under 18
19.3%
This area
19.3%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.9%
This area
18.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
4.8%
This area
4.8%
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 53156

A Avg School Grade
3 Schools
7.7:1 Avg Class Size
$23,355 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A+ Excellent

Palmyra-Eagle High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
178 Students
👨‍🏫
9.7:1 Class Size
💰
$23,355 Per Student
A Very Good

Palmyra-Eagle Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
99 Students
👨‍🏫
7.9:1 Class Size
💰
$23,355 Per Student
A Very Good

Palmyra Eagle Montessori School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
13 Students
👨‍🏫
5.7:1 Class Size
💰
$23,355 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 506 Off-Campus Students
C+
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
11,519 students · 8.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 506 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the median home value in Palmyra, WI?

Palmyra, WI median home values land near $379K. That is reasonable territory for investors looking at $963/mo-per-month rentals.

What is the best play in Palmyra, WI?

The best-fit strategy in Palmyra, WI is careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. That approach the rent and price profile of the market.

Can I live-in-and-rent in Palmyra, WI?

Palmyra, WI offers a challenging house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $963/mo rent level.

Is Palmyra, WI landlord-friendly?

Landlord-friendliness in Palmyra, WI is landlord-friendly. Eviction timelines and lease enforcement are considered reasonable by most property managers.

Are renters plentiful in Palmyra, WI?

The tenant pool in Palmyra, WI is solid, supported by local employment and population fundamentals. Rents of $963/mo are well-absorbed by the market.

You know 53156 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 53156 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 53156 ranks in Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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