Real Estate Investing in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin (53172)

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

Milwaukee County • Population: 20,547 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 53172 (South Milwaukee, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (63/100)

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 South Milwaukee, WI (53172)?

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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 $314,995
Avg Monthly Rent $1,154
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $68,801
% Renters 34.9%

Market Analysis: 53172 South Milwaukee

This part of Milwaukee County is not an easy win. The 53172 ZIP sits at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

From an investor standpoint, the numbers look inviting — $315K purchase price, 0.0% nominal cap — the work to hit that pro forma in 53172 is substantial and deserves full respect.

Statewide comparisons place 53172 among WI's softer markets. That context does not make the ZIP uninvestable, but it does raise the bar for due diligence.

Employment concentration in 53172 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 South Milwaukee's stable or hybrid ZIPs before stepping into 53172. 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 South Milwaukee:

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 4.6× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+8.7%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,154/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 53172

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
3.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
2BR
+9.3% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
4BR
$79,316/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $238,006 $1,270 3.8% +9.3% $119,003
3BR $298,162 $1,560 3.8% +7.8% $99,387
4BR $317,266 $1,690 3.8% +7.4% $79,316

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$332K$290K$249K$208K$167K$126KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,447$1,378$1,308$1,239$1,170$1,100Jan 2024May 2025Jul 2026

📊 How Does 53172 Compare?

Metric 53172 South Milwaukee Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI Wisconsin
Home Value $314,995 $314,995 N/A $320,446
5-Year CAGR 5.5% 5.5% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,154 $1,154 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.9% 2.9% - -
💡 Why Invest in 53172? 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 53172 (South Milwaukee, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Property managers serving Milwaukee County

Manage rentals here? List your business →

Bodner Properties offers great apartments for rent in the Greater Milwaukee area. summary from their website

Small multifamily
Unclaimed — is this your business? Claim it free

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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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
2.9%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.5%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $314,995
Monthly Rent $1,154
Price-to-Rent 22.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.4%
Cap Rate 2.9%
5-Year IRR 8.4%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +8.7% ▲
3-Year CAGR +4.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.5% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.0% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -16.6% ▼
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.9%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.9%). 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
5.7%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.5%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 53172

Population: 20,547

💰 Median Household Income
$68,801
This area
$68,801
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
34.9%
This area
34.9%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.3%
This area
2.3%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
25.9%
This area
25.9%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
41.6 years
This area
41.6 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.7%
This area
5.7%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 86.0%
Other/Mixed 10.9%
Hispanic/Latino 5.1%
Black/African American 2.3%
Asian 0.8%
👶 Under 18
20.8%
This area
20.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
18.9%
This area
18.9%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
10.0%
This area
10.0%
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 53172

A Avg School Grade
6 Schools
13.0:1 Avg Class Size
$16,813 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Lakeview Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
284 Students
👨‍🏫
11.3:1 Class Size
💰
$16,813 Per Student
A Very Good

Blakewood Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
326 Students
👨‍🏫
13.5:1 Class Size
💰
$16,813 Per Student
A Very Good

Rawson Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
379 Students
👨‍🏫
13.3:1 Class Size
💰
$16,813 Per Student
A Very Good

South Milwaukee Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
605 Students
👨‍🏫
12.4:1 Class Size
💰
$16,813 Per Student
B+ Above Average

E W Luther Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
210 Students
👨‍🏫
13.2:1 Class Size
💰
$16,813 Per Student
B+ Above Average

South Milwaukee High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
979 Students
👨‍🏫
14.2:1 Class Size
💰
$16,813 Per Student

Nearby Schools (5 more)

Schools in adjacent ZIP codes that may serve this area

A+ Excellent

Cudahy Middle

📚 07 – 08 Middle
📍 5530 S Barland Ave, Cudahy
👥
263 Students
👨‍🏫
10.5:1 Class Size
💰
$19,407 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Kosciuszko Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 5252 S Kirkwood Ave, Cudahy
👥
219 Students
👨‍🏫
11.5:1 Class Size
💰
$19,407 Per Student
A+ Excellent

Mitchell Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 5950 S Illinois Ave, Cudahy
👥
412 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$19,407 Per Student
A Very Good

Lincoln Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 06 School
📍 4416 S Packard Ave, Cudahy
👥
295 Students
👨‍🏫
12.6:1 Class Size
💰
$19,407 Per Student
A Very Good

Cedar Hills Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
📍 2225 W Sycamore Ave, Oak Creek
👥
307 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$16,088 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 5,091 Off-Campus Students
D
Empire Beauty School-Milwaukee
98 students · 4.9 mi
C
Alverno College
1,719 students · 7.1 mi
C
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
885 students · 8.5 mi
C+
The Institute of Beauty and Wellness
207 students · 8.8 mi
C
Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology
153 students · 9.2 mi
B
Marquette University
11,373 students · 9.4 mi
C+
Milwaukee School of Engineering
2,834 students · 9.5 mi
C+
Milwaukee Area Technical College
13,190 students · 9.6 mi

Investor Insight: With 5,091 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How landlord-friendly is South Milwaukee, WI?

The landlord environment in South Milwaukee, WI is landlord-friendly. Statewide rules shape most day-to-day operations for rental owners.

Should investors consider South Milwaukee, WI?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in South Milwaukee, WI reflects its $315K prices and $1,154/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within WI.

How strong is the working-renter base in South Milwaukee, WI?

Tenant demand in South Milwaukee, WI is solid. The local workforce $1,154/mo rents across most rental classes.

How much do tenants pay in South Milwaukee, WI?

Rent in South Milwaukee, WI is around $1,154/mo. The resulting rent-to-value relationship with $315K pricing is reasonable for most investor models.

Does a duplex house hack pencil in South Milwaukee, WI?

The a challenging house-hack environment in South Milwaukee, WI reflects the rent-to-price spread. Expect meaningful PITI offset at market rents.

You know 53172 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 53172 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 53172 ranks in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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