Real Estate Investing in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin (53213)

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

Milwaukee County • Population: 26,293 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 53213 (Wauwatosa, 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 Wauwatosa, WI (53213)?

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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 $442,382
Avg Monthly Rent $1,749
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $93,702
% Renters 41.5%

Market Analysis: 53213 Wauwatosa

This part of Milwaukee County is not an easy win. The 53213 ZIP comes in at softness in key indicators, and the playbook that works in cleaner markets often stalls here.

The investment case in 53213 is robust only for operators who understand what they are buying. A $442K median suggests accessibility, but management intensity, vacancy drift, and capex surprises are real.

ZIP 53213's metrics run below Milwaukee County's averages on price growth and tenant stability. Investors who ignore that regional gap tend to relearn it the hard way.

Employment concentration in 53213 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

Strategy in 53213 is an operator game, not a passive one. Stepping back, entry prices of $442K are inviting, the management lift is real and non-optional.

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 Wauwatosa:

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 4.7× the median income
Value Trend
Rising (+10.0%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $1,749/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 53213

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
3.5% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+8.0% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
5BR
$105,105/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $299,856 $1,470 3.5% +6.7% $149,928
3BR $402,055 $1,810 3.2% +7.5% $134,018
4BR $457,983 $1,960 3.1% +7.4% $114,496
5BR $525,523 +8.0% $105,105

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$463K$404K$345K$286K$227K$168KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$1,929$1,830$1,731$1,632$1,533$1,434Jan 2021Oct 2023Jul 2026

📊 How Does 53213 Compare?

Metric 53213 Wauwatosa Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI Wisconsin
Home Value $442,382 $433,146 N/A $320,446
5-Year CAGR 6.8% 6.5% N/A 7.3%
Avg Rent $1,749 $1,679 N/A -
Cap Rate 3.1% 3.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 53213? Click to expand

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

A healthy rental market with 42% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 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.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 53213 (Wauwatosa, 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
3.1%
Low
5yr Growth
+6.8%
Strong

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $442,382
Monthly Rent $1,749
Price-to-Rent 21.1:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 4.8%
Cap Rate 3.1%
5-Year IRR 9.9%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year +10.0% ▲
3-Year CAGR +7.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +6.8% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.7% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year -7.3% ▼
3-Year CAGR -0.9% ▼
5-Year CAGR +2.1% ▲
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 3.1%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (3.1%). 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
3.0%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
5.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+6.8%
Growing
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 53213

Population: 26,293

💰 Median Household Income
$93,702
This area
$93,702
State
$73,177
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
41.5%
This area
41.5%
State
22.0%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
1.6%
This area
1.6%
State
-1.8%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
61.9%
This area
61.9%
State
17.1%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
35.7 years
This area
35.7 years
State
35.3 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
3.0%
This area
3.0%
State
17.1%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
White 83.7%
Other/Mixed 6.5%
Black/African American 5.5%
Asian 4.2%
Hispanic/Latino 2.5%
👶 Under 18
21.6%
This area
21.6%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
14.3%
This area
14.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.6%
This area
2.6%
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 53213

B+ Avg School Grade
10 Schools
14.9:1 Avg Class Size
$16,669 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Jefferson Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
232 Students
👨‍🏫
10.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,937 Per Student
A Very Good

Wilson Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
208 Students
👨‍🏫
10.5:1 Class Size
💰
$15,937 Per Student
A Very Good

Lincoln Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
336 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,937 Per Student
A Very Good

Longfellow Middle

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
750 Students
👨‍🏫
14.6:1 Class Size
💰
$15,937 Per Student
A Very Good

Roosevelt Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
406 Students
👨‍🏫
13.7:1 Class Size
💰
$15,937 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Hawley Environmental School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
297 Students
👨‍🏫
17.2:1 Class Size
💰
$19,598 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Washington Elementary

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
289 Students
👨‍🏫
13.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,937 Per Student
B+ Above Average

MacDowell Montessori School K3-12

📚 Pre-K – 12 K-12
👥
860 Students
👨‍🏫
18.0:1 Class Size
💰
$19,598 Per Student
B Good

East High

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,041 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$15,937 Per Student
C+ Average

Wauwatosa STEM

📚 K – 05 Elementary Charter
👥
131 Students
👨‍🏫
21.8:1 Class Size
💰
$15,937 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
C
Medical College of Wisconsin
1,661 students · 1.1 mi
C+
Wisconsin Lutheran College
1,094 students · 1.3 mi
C
Mount Mary University
1,224 students · 2.2 mi
D
Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa
952 students · 2.5 mi
D
Milwaukee Career College
73 students · 2.9 mi
C
Paul Mitchell the School-Milwaukee
111 students · 3.2 mi
B
Marquette University
11,373 students · 3.8 mi
C
Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology
76 students · 4.1 mi

Frequently Asked Questions

Are eviction rules reasonable in Wauwatosa, WI?

Wauwatosa, WI falls under WI landlord-tenant law, which is landlord-friendly. That backdrop makes day-to-day property management reasonable.

Are renters plentiful in Wauwatosa, WI?

Working renters make up the core of the Wauwatosa, WI tenant base. The pool is reasonable for investors targeting long-term holds.

Does house hacking make sense in Wauwatosa, WI?

House hacking works a challenging in Wauwatosa, WI. Rents of $1,749/mo against $442K acquisition make the strategy solid for owner-occupants.

Which investment style suits Wauwatosa, WI?

Investors usually favor careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management in Wauwatosa, WI. With home values at $442K and rents near $1,749/mo, other strategies can work but produce even-keeled rather than outsized returns.

How much does a house cost in Wauwatosa, WI?

Homes in Wauwatosa, WI typically sell near $442K. Prices have moved at a 0.0% 5-year CAGR, which even-keeled long-term demand.

You know 53213 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 53213 ranks in Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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