Real Estate Investing in Sullivan, Wisconsin (53178)

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

Jefferson County • Population: 2,741 • Data updated: September 2026

☆ Watch this market Free account

Should you buy in 53178 (Sullivan, WI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
MIXED
Grade C (64/100)

Mixed — home prices are stretched relative to local incomes. Run the math on your specific situation.

📈 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 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 Sullivan, WI (53178)?

Click any question — our AI will research it live from the web and show you sources.

✨ Live AI + Web Search
Want to ask your own questions? Upgrade to Pro for unlimited custom queries.
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 $439,229
Avg Monthly Rent $1,116
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $87,625
% Renters 28.1%

Market Analysis: 53178 Sullivan

Not every below-median market is a bargain. Sullivan's 53178 ZIP stands at signals that favor experienced operators who can absorb the risk $439K pricing implies.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 53178 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

ZIP 53178's metrics run below Jefferson County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

A resilient renter share of 28% in 53178 is not, on its own, a problem — but paired with below-average income and high mobility, it changes the operating playbook.

The 53178 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 Sullivan:

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 (+7.3%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,116/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)

$460K$401K$341K$282K$223K$164KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

📊 How Does 53178 Compare?

Metric 53178 Sullivan Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI Wisconsin
Home Value $439,229 $439,229 N/A $320,446
5-Year CAGR 6.6% 6.6% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,116 $1,116 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.0% 2.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 53178? 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 →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
Open the Market Finder →
Free to search · investor plans from $19/mo

Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 53178 (Sullivan, WI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

Do you own or manage rentals in ZIP 53178 (Sullivan, WI)?

~25 seconds · no account needed · your report is anonymous

Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.6%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $439,229
Monthly Rent $1,116
Price-to-Rent 32.8:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.1%
Cap Rate 2.0%
5-Year IRR 8.5%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +7.3% ▲
3-Year CAGR +6.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.6% ▲
10-Year CAGR +7.3% ▲

🏠 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
4.7%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.6%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 53178

Population: 2,741

💰 Median Household Income
$87,625
This area
$87,625
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
28.1%
This area
28.1%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.8%
This area
2.8%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
24.2%
This area
24.2%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
49.0 years
This area
49.0 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 97.7%
Other/Mixed 1.9%
Hispanic/Latino 0.4%
Asian 0.4%
👶 Under 18
16.8%
This area
16.8%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
22.6%
This area
22.6%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
3.5%
This area
3.5%
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 53178

A Avg School Grade
1 Schools
13.1:1 Avg Class Size
$17,424 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Sullivan Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
152 Students
👨‍🏫
13.1:1 Class Size
💰
$17,424 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

3 Nearby 506 Off-Campus Students
C
Nashotah House
125 students · 9.7 mi
C+
Maranatha Baptist University
977 students · 13.8 mi
C+
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
11,519 students · 14.9 mi

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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

House hacking in Sullivan, WI is a challenging. With home values around $439K and rents at $1,116/mo, owner-occupants can offset a meaningful share of PITI.

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

The renter base in Sullivan, WI is reasonable for the $1,116/mo price point. Screening well and pricing to market typically yields consistent tenants.

What is the smart move for investors in Sullivan, WI?

In Sullivan, WI the solid play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $439K prices and $1,116/mo rents suits that approach.

How does Sullivan, WI rate as a rental market?

Sullivan, WI rates 3.0/5 for investability. With median values at $439K and rents near $1,116/mo, the market offers reasonable fundamentals for rental investors.

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

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

You know 53178 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

This page stays free — all of it. What one page can’t tell you is how 53178 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.

Compare Plans

How 53178 ranks in Watertown-Fort Atkinson, WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
🤖

AI Market Advisor

Ask questions about investing in 53178 (Sullivan)

Loading...

Community Ratings

What people who’ve spent time here actually say. Not paid reviews.

Be the first to rate 53178 (Sullivan, WI).

It takes 30 seconds. No signup. Your rating helps everyone who comes here after you.